by The Editors on June 19, 2024
Jim Jannard, the action sporting genius entrepreneur behind Oakley BMX/motorcycle grips, glasses, and, more recently, Red Digital Cinema has reportedly sold his Malibu, California beach home for $210 million according to a story in the New York Post. This apparently breaks the record for most expensive home sale in California state history: a record formerly held by the Jay-Z/Beyoncé Corporation at $200 million.
This 15,000-square-foot stunner sprawls across 9.5 acres of prime clifftop land, boasting a private 300-foot stretch of ocean near El Pescador State Beach. . . The palatial pad includes eight bedrooms, a staggering 14 bathrooms, a massive courtyard, a gym and two guesthouses. . . Interiors designed by Michael S. Smith — the same guy who revamped the Oval Office at the White House — feature ornate columns, beamed ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling steel and glass windows. . . The backyard includes a lush lawn and a pool with ocean views.
Work hard kids, and all this can be yours.
[Link: New York Post]
by The Editors on June 7, 2024
Ground has been broken on the Coachella Valley’s next wave pool, according to a story on Blooloop.
Wavegarden, a leading manufacturer of artificial wave-generating systems, is celebrating the start of construction for DSRT Surf at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. . . The DSRT Surf resort will be anchored by a Wavegarden Cove surf park spanning 5.5 acres and is expected to open to visitors in early summer 2026. This will be the second and largest Wavegarden Cove in the US.
Ok. Cool. Might have to try this one. . . if we’re not too old when it’s finally finished.
[Link: Blooloop]
by The Editors on May 20, 2024
On Tuesday May 14, 2024 Burton Snowboard’s CEO John Lacy reportedly sent an email to the employed faithful explaining that because of the “current challenging market,” and some “strong competition,” and “climate change,” oh, and finally “flat participation in snowboarding,” that some heads were going to roll, according to a story on Burlington, Vermont’s NBC 5’s website.
But it’s only a “small percentage” of current employees. So whatever. Hard business, hard choices. For not one additional detail, please click the link below.
[Link: My NBC 5]
by The Editors on May 16, 2024
The Tampa Bay Times checks in on the Tampa skateboarding scene from Ryan Clements’ dream driveway to Brian Schaefer’s the SPoT with all the heads, shops, skaters, and manus in between, thanks to some clever reporting by Paul Guzzo.
Tampa Bay is a global hub for the skateboarding industry. It’s where the modern skateboard was designed, where a historic skatepark is located, where a major skateboard competition is held every year.
Click the link and remind yourself that regardless of the current times, Florida still has a few good things going for it.
[Link: Tampa Bay Times]
by The Editors on April 8, 2024
Kelly Slater has a rental property that he would like you to consider buying. Not really a surf-out-front house, but on the water and not too shabby. The only problem? He wants $20 million for it, according to My San Antonio.
Built in 2001, the retreatlike residence is on just over a half-acre. There are ocean views throughout, with soaring ceilings and equally high glass doors. . . There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread across a main home and two guesthouses. Organic influences are also apparent: Wood factors prominently throughout the design in several living and sitting areas. . .An infinity pool and a hot tub are surrounded by mature tropical landscaping, and the beach is just behind the house. . . The listing calls the pad “an exclusive showcase of nature’s splendor, and every moment spent in the gardens feels like an escape to a personal retreat.”
Slater apparently purchased the home in 2017 for $7.8 million. $12 million profit for seven years of not doing much doesn’t sound so bad. Way to let your money work for you, Kelly! Click the link for all the details.
[Link: Realtor.com]
by The Editors on March 26, 2024
So the 90s really are back. Are we sure we want to do this all over again?
According to a post to Venice, California based Sidewalk Skateboard Distribution’s Instagram, Steve Rocco, founder of World Industries, Big Brother Magazine, et. al. is officially back in skateboarding. (Click the image for all the details.)
Here’s how he explains it:
After flooding the market with worthless cartoon characters, I sold the company and walked away, believing my mission was accomplished. It has, however, come to my attention that skateboarding is still alive. But Barely. . . Therefore, I would like to announce that I am joining Sidewalk Distribution to finish off skateboarding once and for all. Then everyone can rest and enjoy their lives once again.
Is it the return of big pants that got him re-interested? Or does he just have money to burn. On that note: Mr. Rocco if you’d like to pay way too much for a pristine set of years 1-4 of Big Brother, please hit us up. We’d like to buy a new Duffy Boat.
[Link: Sidewalk Skateboard Distribution]
by The Editors on February 22, 2024
We wondered what plans Jamie Slater aka Athentic Brands Group had for Quiksilver, Billabong, et. al. when he purchased the Boardrider Group back on September 1, 2023, so we’re not surprised to see him begin selling it off in little pieces to whomever is interested. The first piece of Boardriders is reportedly going to French group Beaunamoir, according to a story on Fashion Network. The company, which owns a load of fashion brands you’ve likely never heard of, has reportedly “entered into exclusive negotiations . . . to buy the Western European activities of the Boardriders Group made up of Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, Element and RVCA.”
Roland Beaumanoir, the group’s CEO, believes that this takeover “would develop the Beaumanoir Group’s expertise in the lifestyle segment, which is doing well. The Boardriders brands are emblematic and offer a lifestyle that is both relaxed and driven by a passion for outdoor sports. We would therefore be delighted to take on the challenge of promoting these brands on the European market.” Details of the countries covered by the agreement have not yet been released.
Brands are brands and apparently they have value long after they’ve died. If Jamie knows anything, it’s Zombie brands. So we’re going to just trust him to do the right thing for his wallet.
[Link: Fashion Network]
by The Editors on February 12, 2024
It’s not often that a rad, little resort in Vermont makes the pages of The New Yorker Magazine, especially in a story featuring hundreds of millions in potentially mishandled funds. But that’s exactly the position Jay Peak and former resort manager Bill Stenger are in this month with a story titled “The Rural Ski Slope Caught Up in an International Scam,” by Sheelah Kolhatkare.
The crux of the story revolves around how Stenger and a business partner raised money for development at the resort and what they actually did with the money they raised. Here’s the how:
He [Stenger] raised money using the EB-5 visa program, which aimed to channel foreign investments into businesses that created jobs for Americans, especially in rural or economically depressed parts of the country. For five hundred thousand dollars (the amount has since risen to nine hundred thousand), foreign investors and their families became eligible for green cards, so long as that money succeeded in creating at least ten jobs.
As for what they did with all the money, you’ll have to read the story. In the end, it goes to show that running a resort isn’t always about keeping the snow guns blowing and the cats repaired. There is much, much, more involved. And sometimes it even a little prison time. Click the link for the rest of the story.
[Link: The New Yorker]
by The Editors on January 5, 2024
The thing that no one ever mentions about Westbeach (and Lululemon) founder Chip Wilson is that the guy can dance. Put on some swing music and he will drag the most uncoordinated person out on the floor and make them look like Willa Ma Ricker. This vision keeps coming back to us as we’ve watched Wilson negotiate all kinds of business successes and snafus over the years. But now, as a guy with a reportedly $7 billion wallet and a large chunk of Atomic and Salomon parent company Amer Sport some are wondering what he’s been up to lately. Forbes finds out.
Wilson, who famously stepped away from the yoga-inspired fashion brand he started in 2013 after landing in hot water for blaming an issue with see-through leggings on “some women’s bodies,” specifically those with thicker thighs, has spent a good chunk of the past year opening up about his disease, a rare form of muscular dystrophy that slowly eats away at muscle strength in the upper body and shoulders. Though he was diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) over 30 years ago, more than a decade before he started Lululemon in 1998, it wasn’t until last year that he revealed his diagnosis and launched a full-scale assault on FSHD, which impacts an estimated 870,000 people around the world. Citing his likely need for a wheelchair in the next few years, the Vancouver-based billionaire in March 2022 pledged the equivalent of $75 million to a new organization he set up to stamp out FSHD by 2027.
For the rest of the interview, please click the link and if you don’t have a subscription to Forbes, you can just turn javascript off in your browser and read it for free.
[Link: Forbes]
by The Editors on December 6, 2023
Apparently, Josh Harris and David Blitzer (the owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and NJ Devils sporting teams) have purchased the Mt. Hood snowboard camp conglomerate known as We Are Camp. They’re saying they purchased it in partnership with the one and only snowboarder/business man Shaun White according to a story on TMZ Sports.
“I’m honored to officially partner with We Are Camp along with Josh and David. I’m excited to step in and help elevate a place that’s so special to me, so come June, you’ll know where to find me!”
Shaun White is just the icing on the cake. Looks like We Are Camp got a wonderful exit and now the sports guys can pour money into it for a while. They’ve for sure made money easier ways than running snowboard camps. How long do you think it will take them to flip the camps to the next round of PE bros?
[Link: TMZ Sports]
