by The Editors on January 31, 2014
Salomon Snowboards is staying true to their Euro roots with the hiring of David Pitschi as Global Brand Manager. Before making the jump to Salomon Pitschi served as European Team Manager and Marketing Manager for Billabong.
“The Salomon snowboards family is very pleased to welcome David Pitschi back to the team! He was really appreciated as a rider on our pro team back in the day and I’m sure he will be even more valuable to us as brand manager,” says Salomon Business Unit Manager Jeremy Joire. “His various experiences within the snowboard industry will bring a fresh perspective and a great deal of expertise to Salomon Snowboards. Our brand is in a really good place right now thanks to the combined strengths of our pro team, product development, and marketing efforts. David will for sure contribute to its further deployment. Attracting new snowboarders, growing the different sides of our sport while respecting the core, and pushing the tech envelop will remain at the heart of what we do. David will be a huge help to keep challenging ourselves and having fun.”
Pitschi will be based in Annecy, France at Salomon world headquarters. For the official word from Salomon, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 30, 2014
K2’s historic old factory/headquarters on Vashon Island, Washington is in the process of being sold by the Jarden Corporation to a commercial marijuana grower, according to a story in the Vashon Beach Comber.
Last month Bakkhos Holding applied with the state to both grow and process marijuana at the 180,000-square-foot K2 building. Should the sale go through and should Bakkhos be granted a state license as well as King County permits, the company would grow marijuana and manufacture Edipure-brand edible marijuana products at the building. The products would be sold to off-island distributors.
Sounds like a mellow deal. Oh, and could you please pass the Cheetos, please.
[Link: Vashon Beach Comber]
by The Editors on January 28, 2014
Thought the Agenda Show trade show season was over after NYC? Nope. Agenda moves west to Las Vegas for next month. The show runs February 17-19, 2014 and offers up a great reason to head out to Vegas, baby. Click the link for all the details.
[Link: Agenda Show]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
Patagonia announced today (January 23, 2014) that they have named executive Rose Marcario as President & CEO of Patagonia replacing Casey Sheahan who will be “stepping down” on February 7, 2014. Marcario had previously been CEO of Patagonia Works, the parent company of Patagonia.
“Over the past five years,” said Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, “Rose and Casey have launched great new products and improved our systems while breaking new ground in our commitment to use our business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. We’re well positioned for major new initiatives like $20 Million & Change, a fund that invests in likeminded companies, and Patagonia Provisions, our new sustainable food company.” Chouinard expressed his gratitude to Casey Sheahan for his service over the past decade. “He lives and breathes our company’s mission and core values and he’s leaving a tight ship. With Rose Marcario taking over the helm, Patagonia’s future could not be brighter.”
For the official word from Patagonia, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
When we spoke to Graham Stapelberg at the Agenda Show two weeks ago and asked him how things were going at Billabong, he smirked and said, “I’ve been wearing a lot of hats lately.” Now the comment makes a little more sense. Today (January 23, 2014), the Association of Surfing Professionals announced that the former Billabong Global Vice President of Marketing (and former ASP Tour Judge) is taking the roll of chief strategy officer for the organization.
Stapelberg will support ASP CEO Paul Speaker and the executive team across multiple divisions of the organization as professional surfing enters into a new era of its existence as a global sports league. . . “Graham has exhibited excellence in virtually every sector of the sport throughout his celebrated 20 years of involvement,” Speaker said. “His extensive experience across events, sponsorships, athletes, judging, operations, finances, marketing, media and activations both inside and outside the industry will prove invaluable as we grow professional surfing in exciting new ways. We’re very fortunate to have Graham with us and we look forward to accomplishing great things together.”
Guess it’s now okay for any remaining surfers in the Billabong building to pack up and head out. For the ASP, however, this is another great move in a positive direction. Especially if they hope to replace all those surf fashion sponsorships with money from the real world. For the official word from the ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 21, 2014
Just checked the weather for New York City over the next two days. The current temp is 18 and it should be up to 19 tomorrow with a low of 5 tonight. The good news comes in twos: it’s supposed to stop snowing on Wednesday and if you’re in the city you’ll have a great place to hang and look at a kinds of gear for warmer weather, the Agenda Show. Think of it as an island of summer right in the middle of frosty Manhattan.
[Link: Agenda Show]
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]
Salomon Snowboards is staying true to their Euro roots with the hiring of David Pitschi as Global Brand Manager. Before making the jump to Salomon Pitschi served as European Team Manager and Marketing Manager for Billabong.
