by The Editors on January 21, 2014
686 is bringing the blood, sweat, and beers to the 2014 SIA Show with another savage round of industry showdowns with 686 Lights Out amateur boxing charity event benefitting S.O.S. Outreach on January 30, 2014.
Come watch professional snowboarders and industry insiders step up for three rounds of hard hitting action to separate the men (or women) from the boys, all in the name of charity. . . Guest hosts Danny Kass and Dingo, will be on hand making sure things stay on the border of under control and insanely fun, while a panel of pro shreds will sit as guest judges throughout the night. “I’m excited to see all of our industry coming back together like this,” said Dingo. “Last year rocked and everyone is looking forward to what this year has in store!”
For the official word from 686 follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 17, 2014
In a show of support for what the financial world still calls a “struggling brand” Joel Parkinson has re-signed with Billabong for what the company is called a “long-term” contract good for the “foreseeable future.”
“I’m over the moon to know I will continue to be partnered with Billabong for many years to come,” said Parkinson from his home on the Gold Coast. “I’ve felt like I’ve been a part of a great big surfing family since I was a scrawny 11-year-old from. When I got my first Billabong team sticker on my board it was one of the biggest moments of my life at the time, and I am happy and proud to still be flying that flag all these years later. It’s been a really good partnership for a long, long time, it’s helped me get to places I could never have dreamed, and I am seeing a lot of good things still to come in the future.”
There are those who would argue that Bilalbong has had trouble looking very far into the “foreseeable future,” but in this case it’s good to know they’re interested in keeping Parko as long as they can. For the official word from Billabong, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 13, 2014
Slash Snowboards is proud to welcome Mammoth Mountain halfpipe slayer Greg Bretz to the family which includes Johnnie Paxson, Manuel Diaz and Gigi Rüf.
“Greg Bretz doesn’t care, he catches air – to do so he chose the ATV board a couple years back and I knew how valuable his feedback was going to be as he is riding in some of the most difficult situations out there,” says Slash Founder Gigi Rüf. “Greg’s recent accomplishments in the Halfpipe are proof of his dedication in progressing snowboarding. I couldn’t be happier for him. He is onto the next level!”
For the official word from Slash by Gigi, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 13, 2014
In it’s quest to “return to core competencies” or something like that, Quiksilver has offloaded the Tony Hawk apparel brand to Cherokee, Inc. for $19 million, according to a story in the LA Times.
Hawk Designs, which Quiksilver acquired in 2000, owns a line of clothing tied to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. The brand is sold through Kohl’s Corp., and Cherokee said that relationship would continue. . . Hawk said in a statement that he “will continue to be actively involved in the brand’s development.”
Cherokee owns Sideout (remember that volley brand from the 80s?) and Teen Hearts. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you end up a couple more rungs down the zombie brand ladder.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on January 13, 2014
Click here for our Agenda Show Photo Gallery.
Tim Gavin was on the front steps of the Long Beach Convention Center with a couple of friends when we rolled up for the Agenda Show on the morning of January 7, 2014. He was wearing a Filament T-shirt and telling another friend to be sure and come by the booth. “Stop by later,” he said. “It’s booth N-13.”
It likely wasn’t his plan (we didn’t even speak with him), but the industry veteran put us in an optimistic mood from the start. If Gavin were a different sort of man we’re sure he could come up with plenty of excuses to stay away from what is now the largest action fashion and skateboarding show on the West Coast. He’s done this gig before. He’s built and run extremely successful brands (DVS, Matix) and he’s seen them slip away into “reorganization.” But there he was, out front at the show with a new skate shoe brand and a head full of lessons learned the last time around.
It’s seems 2013 is the year of rebirth for many people. Paul Naude is in a similar, though much more high profile, position himself. After building the Billabong USA business up from next to nothing after licensee Bob Hurley started Hurley International in 1999, Naude saw the ship he helped sail nearly sink in heavy financial seas. After a failed attempt to buy Billabong, Naude could have taken some time to “pursue other interests,” however he was out in the Agenda Show aisles putting his considerable reputation and might behind two new brands Vissla and D’Blanc and helping action women’s fashion veterans Mandy Fry and Summer Rapp with their soon-to-launch women’s line.
Click here for our Agenda Show Photo Gallery. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 13, 2014
Get ready for Spy branded everything. Spy announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with the Irvine, California based company The J Fin Group to sell products “including, but not limited to, men’s and boy’s apparel, unisex accessories and consumer electronics.”
“The J Fin Group in partnership with Scope’s Business Services Platform is an exciting new partner for SPY,” says Michael Marckx, SPY CEO and president. “In addition to a number of other brands, they own and market the Split and Ambig brands and understand the unique market segments we serve: active, ‘happy to be outdoors’ surfers, snowboarders, skiers, motocross riders, cyclists, and beach goers. Our vision is to develop authentic and compelling product for each of these groups leveraging the SPY brand’s newfound strength in the market and its unique and irreverent ‘happy’ point of view. We are confident that our combined experience will allow us to successfully open new channels of distribution, attract new customers, expand the product offerings and provide meaningful growth opportunities for the future.”
For the official word from Spy, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 9, 2014
After 10 years of producing Color Magazine, Canada’s Fourcorner Publishing Inc. has announced that they will no longer print the magazine and are taking an “extended hiatus from the traditional methods.”
“I may have received back just as much as we gave [while making the magazine]—which was always all of ourselves,” said founder Alessandro Grison. “I am forever grateful for the amazing people I met and got the opportunity to work with over the years. I’m thankful to walk away enriched by memorable experiences.”
The rough times in action sports media continue. Sadly, we’re guessing this won’t be the last bit of bad news we’re expecting in the coming months. For the official word from Fourcorner, follow the jump.
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by The Editors on January 9, 2014
On January 30, 2014 the shareholders of Billabong will vote on a proposal to issue 329 million shares at 41c apiece to Centerbridge Partners and Oaktree Capital Management, according to a story in The Australian. But not everyone is happy about this plan.
AN independent expert has declared a proposal to issue up to $185 million in Billabong shares to a pair of US private equity funds is unfair to existing shareholders.
To know what’s truly “unfair” you’d have to weigh dilution against dissolution.
[Link: The Australian]
by The Editors on January 6, 2014
We’re not sure we know anything about ourCaste other than their clothing looks good and their models look infinitely “hip” in an almost fetishistic way. What’s been getting us most recently is that retro “Skateboarder Magazine” font. It tickles our design center each and every time we see it. Not going to lie.
[Link: ourCaste]
by The Editors on January 6, 2014
Jason Lee and Chris Pastras are happy to announce that they’ve moved Stereo Skateboards in with Syndrome Distribution (you know, with Birdhouse).
We picked a partner that will help us improve on our products, and obviously deliver the goods! Stereo is truly honored to be alongside the brands Syndrome produces and distributes. Same team, same sound, new channel! Cheers to an Epic 2014!
Sounds great. . .
