Good news just keeps pouring in from the surf world. GrindMedia, the producers of the Lowers Pro since 2004, announced today (March 5, 2013) that the ASP Prime surfing even at Trestles has been canceled for 2013. Though their official headline says the event was “postponed” the truth is that it’s not going to happen this year, though they say it will be back in 2014.
“We are committed to operating the Lowers Pro at the Prime level to deliver the most value to the surfers competing, our audience, and brands supporting surfing,” said GrindMedia Director of Event Operations and Lowers Pro Event Director Sean Nielsen. “Due to the economic climate and timing of the transition of the former title sponsor, we have not secured a new partner in the title position to operate at the Prime level. The content emerging from the Lowers Pro rivals that of any World Tour event, and we look forward to delivering this experience to surf fans next year.”
For a longer, more polite version of the cancellation follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The one thing New York City needs right now is another surf shop, right? And Patagonia is going to give it to them right straight in the Bowery. Work has reportedly begun at 313 Bowery according to a story on Bowery Boogie.
A batch of permits was recently filed with the DOB for “structural work in an existing store” and for the forthcoming illuminated “Fish” sign. Plus, a mess of scaffolding also made an appearance yesterday morning. Patagonia initially intended to open the surf shop in the fall, but Hurricane Sandy totally sidelined the project. With work already underway, a summertime launch doesn’t seem out of the question.
Yeah, they’d almost have to have it done by summer. For more, click the link.
With all that’s been going on with Billabong and Quiksilver lately, it probably isn’t the best time for Rip Curl to find a $400 million buyer and the owners have reportedly abandoned the sale, or at least that’s what co-founder Brian “Sing Ding” Singer is telling The Australian.
“I doubt (the sale) is going to happen,” Singer said. . . “The public market looks like a bit of a cesspit at the moment. . . But Mr Singer, who set up Rip Curl with Torquay surfing buddy Doug “Claw” Warbrick in 1969, said a sale was still on the longer-term agenda. . . He predicted the founders would exit “at some point in the next few years”.
Then again, if someone were to offer them $400 million right now, we’re guessing they take it.
Would someone really want a reality TV show about snowboarding park builders? Apparently, Chevrolet and Good Clean Fun think the amazing work that Snow Park Technologies does is worth it because they’re launching Mountain Movers sometime this spring on the National Geographic .
Reality Series stars Winter X Games course designer Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson and follows he and his crew as they construct massive, gravity-defying courses for Shaun White, Louie Vito, Danny Davis and more. Real-Life Drama of Athletes & Snow Course Designers in Harsh Conditions, Remote Locations, Battling Mother Nature in Epic Settings
Sound like a hit, right? We’re looking forward to a lot of Frank Wells up in this show, too.
Fuel TV, the cable channel experiment that hoped to prove that action sports television programing was a viable mainstream entertainment business, received the final nail in its coffin today (March 5, 2013) as Fox Sports Media Group not-so-humbly announced the August 17, 2013 launch of what they’re calling “the biggest sports cable network launch in history” called Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX Sports 1’s programming from Day 1, with college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer and UFC all on tap between launch and year’s end. In fact, the schedule on Aug. 17 features live events morning, noon and night including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan and “UFC on FS1 1” in prime time. In 2014, FSMG’s new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and postseason games to FS1.
Fuel TV will lose its name and become Fox Sports 2 (at least in the current plan). Let that be a lesson to all you action sports media biz devs: when it comes to the mass, mainstream’s appetite for sports programming no one cares about action sports.
Casual and conscious footwear makers’ Freewaters (makers of these rad Freewaters + Therm-a-rest flips) has just signed up Charleston, South Carolina’s Groundswell PR to handle all their media relations and brand communications.
“Finding business partners that genuinely share our values is always our priority and we are thrilled to welcome Groundswell PR to our extended family.” says Freewaters Co-founder Eli Marmar. “Groundswell brings core competencies across boardsport, outdoor and fashion lifestyle which is highly unique and a perfect fit for our brand.”
Quiksilver today announced today (March 4, 2013) that they’ve hired former Nike Global Brand Director Tom Hartge as Global Head of Footwear and former Lands’ End SVP, Global Sourcing Kasey Mazzone as Global Head of Supply Chain. Here’s what President and CEO Andy Mooney has to say about the changes.
“We are centralizing key functions and responsibilities across Quiksilver, Roxy and DC in order to strengthen our brands, grow sales and drive operational efficiencies,” said Andy Mooney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiksilver, Inc. “Both Tom and Kasey bring world class expertise to their respective roles, as well as extensive experience with global brands. These appointments, along with Pierre’s new role and the addition of a Chief Marketing Officer, will make our company more competitive and are key elements in our evolution from a regional management structure to a global structure with experienced leaders guiding each key functional area of the company.”
Guess this is all part of Quik’s recent reorganization. For the official word from Quik, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Tony Hawk discusses how he got started, his break with Per Wilander and how he learned to say, “No.” In a Inc. magazineHow I Got Started feature.
When we first started, I was doing all the marketing and all the promotional materials myself. I was OK at it, but I wasn’t the most qualified person. Finally, one of our team members said, “Your ads aren’t very good. You’re better at skating. Why don’t you let me take this over?” . . . So I took a step back from the business and focused on skating. I stopped being so involved in the day-to-day operations and became more of an adviser. The company was growing, and everything was working out pretty well. But all that changed when we started to move outside of the skate world.
It’s obvious to us, the Phillips family, the fans of Jim Phillips Sr. and Jimbo Phillips, and fans of the brand Santa Cruz Skateboards, as well as many in the global skateboard and skate art community that there is clear and obvious infringement by Mr. Scott. We are discussing this with our legal team to determine our next steps. . . I hope that Mr. Scott sees that his actions have hurt and affected many people, including the Phillips family, and that he has also severely damaged his own reputation. It is not too late for him to do the right thing, as an artist and creative person, and fix his error in judgement.
Look at all those happy, smiling faces. It’s Laura Enever, Joel Parkinson, Lakey Peterson, newly-appointed ASP CEO Paul Speaker, newly-appointed ASP Interim Commissioner Kieren Perrow and Brett Simpson. And what are they smiling about? The start of the new season? The demise of Quiksilver and Billabong? No, apparently they’re smiling because things are looking up at the ASP, and the fans are going to be number one. ZoSea Media says so.
“The surfers, the events and the current ASP staff have all been, and will continue to be, instrumental in elevating the sport during this transitional year,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “Our focus this season is protecting the interests of professional surfers, preserving the integrity of competition, refreshing the ASP brand and establishing a new commercial model for the sport. The ASP will be more fan-centric – the structure of tours, the production of broadcasts and everything in between will be geared towards enhancing the fans’ experience. Good luck to all our competitors and events in 2013 and we look forward to taking this next step with you.”
One thing is certain, the next year or two of professional surfing will not be boring. For the official word from Coolangatta, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Good news just keeps pouring in from the surf world. GrindMedia, the producers of the Lowers Pro since 2004, announced today (March 5, 2013) that the ASP Prime surfing even at Trestles has been canceled for 2013. Though their official headline says the event was “postponed” the truth is that it’s not going to happen this year, though they say it will be back in 2014.
![Freewaters Image 2[2]](http://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Freewaters-Image-22.jpg)
