by The Editors on February 2, 2011
When Shaun White announced that he was going to enter the celebrity video game market with a skateboarding game, we all wondered how he would do against the granddaddy of action sports videos Tony Hawk. According to a story in the Hollywood Reporter, Mr. White has had his ass handed to him in 2010.
In a battle between two generations of skateboarders, Hawk ruled the roost and kicked newcomer White to the curb. Activision’s Tony Hawk Shred sold over 135,000 copies in the U.S. alone in 2010, compared to under 60,000 copies of Ubisoft’s Shaun White Skateboarding, according to video game tracking firm The NPD Group.
We’ll have to see how those numbers will look when Shaun White’s games have been on the market for 10 years. . .
[Link: Hollywood Reporter]
by The Editors on January 30, 2011
by The Editors on January 29, 2011
Yesterday, January 28, 2011, while Skullcandy founder Rick Alden was busy bringing together some of the most authentic, pioneers in snowboarding (Chuck Barfoot, Terry Kidwell, and Kelly Jo Kelly) for a poster signing at the company’s SIA Snow Show booth, other execs were filing a Form S-1 with the SEC.
What had been simply rumor and speculation was now official: Skullcandy is going public.
When we tweeted the news, Alden seemed surprised that the word was out. “Who told you that,” he asked. We just shrugged.
According to a story on Reuters Alden and his crew plan to raise $125 million in an initial public offering.
The underwriters are being led by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. The shares are expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol “SKUL.
Click here to read the entire S-1 filing. It’s long, but there are some interesting numbers in there including staff salaries, sales, etc. . .
by The Editors on January 28, 2011
In its annual review of the top 100 Most Powerful Athletes, Businessweek has named Shaun White as number two right behind football player Payton Manning and just ahead of Tiger Woods. Why did they put him on the list:
With his fiery red locks and dorky attempts to look cool, Shaun White is the lovable face of both snowboarding and skateboarding. He dominated the halfpipe at the Olympics this year, proving once again that he is the world’s best snowboarder and an attractive athlete to brands that want to appeal to youth.
They estimate his annual earnings to be around $8.8 million. When compared to other athletes’ annual pay and sponsorship deals Mr. White seems like a bit of a novelty player on the Businessweek list, but that what snowboarding is to many people and what’s good for Shaun is good for snowboarding, right?
[Link: Businessweek]
by The Editors on January 28, 2011
After shuttling in from the airport, getting our badges, and spending about 15 minutes figuring out that the 2011 SIA Snow Show floor is actually upstairs in the Denver Convention Center, we finally made it in for the last half of day one.
The show floor was ghostly quiet in the ski section when we arrived at 1:00 PM. People were milling about, but it seemed that everyone was speaking in hushed tones. Off in the far back distance, we could hear the low roar of the snowboard section like a siren song. Once we made it back the isles were nicely filled with people doing business, hanging out, and catching up.
Click the links for photos of some of the people and products we saw on day one: Booths, Products, People.
by The Editors on January 26, 2011
New York based fund manager Royce & Associates, LLC. filed a form 13G today (January 26 2011) with the SEC stating that they own 7.67% of Volcom common stock (1.8 million shares) and that these shares are not:
. . . held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
Good to know. Not sure why, but it’s good.
[Link: SEC]
by The Editors on January 26, 2011
Intrawest, the former majority owner of Whistler-Blackcomb and Mammoth Mountain, and current owner of six resort properties (including Steamboat, Winter Park, and Stratton), apparently announced that after getting out from under Whistler in October they’re moving their corporate offices to Colorado, according to a story in the Vancouver Sun.
An an internal memo circulated Tuesday evening and obtained by The Vancouver Sun, CEO Bill Jensen told employees that the company, the former owner of Whistler Blackcomb, will move its headquarters to Colorado from Vancouver by the end of this year. . . He said the move to a more geographically central location will be more efficient for overall business. . . “With shared services and Intrawest’s two largest resorts already in Colorado, this relocation is the logical next step to the continued growth of Intrawest, and is consistent with the company’s long-term business strategy,” he said.
It’s so good to hear stories of Intrawest doing things that make sense.
[Link: Vancouver Sun]
by The Editors on January 26, 2011
According to a report from Deutsche Bank Australia, Billabong could be a prime target for a takeover, according to a story in The Australian.
Retail analyst Alexi Baker-McLennan said in a note to clients: “We think Billabong could be an attractive LBO (leveraged buyout) target. . . “The company is trading 30 per cent below 12-month highs, highlighting that the stock could be taken out below this level with a reasonable premium. . . “An LBO of Billabong would not be for the faint-hearted. Billabong is midway through integrating a number of acquisitions, it is rolling out retail stores requiring significant further investment, it remains heavily exposed to currency and the category is undergoing significant structural change.
What a nice way to help bump up a stock price. Analysts are good that way.
[Link: The Australian]
by The Editors on January 26, 2011
The East Coast is finally getting an ASP World Tour stop as Quiksilver puts up a $1 million purse for The Quiksilver Pro New York September 4-15, 2011. It will be the sixth stop on the 2011 tour (click here for full schedule).
“We are beyond excited to host the biggest pro surf event in the world on Long Island this September,” said Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver. “There has always been a huge contingent of dedicated surfers and surf enthusiasts on the East Coast and they will now get a chance to watch the world’s best surfers in Long Beach. We are also bringing the best and brightest Quiksilver, Roxy and DC athletes to New York City, the largest media arena in the world, for twelve days of surf, skate, BMX, fashion, art and music that will bring incredible global attention to these phenomenal athletes and the action sports culture and lifestyle.”
Finally, a good reason to visit New York. Follow the jump for all the details.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 25, 2011
Looks like Geoff Rowley has signed up for another year overseeing the design of Maloof Money Cup courses (which have grown to include an event in South Africa).
Rowley will lead the design team of pro skateboarders and experts alongside Joe Ciaglia from California Skateparks, whose company has built all four Maloof Money Cup courses since its beginning in 2008. . . “I really respect the Maloofs and what they’ve accomplished with this contest,” said Rowley. “Out of all the contests out there, the Maloof Money Cup is the only one that really delivers on giving the skaters and fans what they are looking for,” said Rowley.
Rowley definitely knows what makes spectacular skate terrain no doubt. Follow the jump for all the details.
[click to continue…]
When Shaun White announced that he was going to enter the celebrity video game market with a skateboarding game, we all wondered how he would do against the granddaddy of action sports videos Tony Hawk. According to a story in the Hollywood Reporter, Mr. White has had his ass handed to him in 2010.
