by The Editors on January 25, 2012
In his story A Chronicle of Doing It: Nike and Destruction Kyle Beachy (an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Chicago’s Roosevelt University) rolls through the history of Nike and skateboarding pointing out the obvious dichotomy between corporate cobbling and the core skateboarding market along the way.
Here’s a sample:
I submit that Grant Taylor is one of perhaps three skaters recognizable more by his shoe sponsor than board company. It is the same sponsor who weathered the PR nightmare of sweatshop injustice, elbowed themselves into golf and soccer, supports SOPA, and might, though they have no reason to, someday manufacture their own skateboards. Because why not. The same sponsor whose strategy will clear away the clutter of poorly- and skater-run, middling footwear companies, the inept and frail and upstart alike, acting as our free market’s grand systematic broom. Whatever Nike’s next step is, it will be, like Grant Taylor, bigger and faster. We will ignore the rubber gloves and hear the parrot’s squawk as our own. Bigger, faster, bigger, bigger, bigger.
The aforementioned quote is in fact the conclusion to the piece, but read the whole story anyway because Beachy pretty much covers every angle of the Nike vs. Core discussion and ends up where we all do: with the realization that the winning brands are the ones who do it better than everyone else. And while it sometimes sucks to admit that, it is so true that we’re almost embarrassed even mentioning it.
[Link: The Classical]
by The Editors on January 25, 2012
The Winter X Games hype is beginning to build and Spy Optic is apparently in on the program as the title eyewear sponsor of Winter X Games 2012.
“The SPY crew is amping on this sponsorship because it properly underscores our commitment to snow sports generally and at the same time allows us to back the tremendous talent we have on our snow team roster,” says Kevin Casillo, SPY marketing manager. “Our snowboarders, skiers and snowmobilers put a lot of preparation and training toward this contest so we’re stoked to help make the X Games rad for them and the fans in attendance.”
This sponsorship will obviously allow Spy to “activate” on site with all the Aspen locals who crowd the base lodge to catch all the action. The games begin tomorrow (on cable) with the snowboard street final. (Do people still have cable?) Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 24, 2012
Transworld Media announced today that it has promoted former Director of Video and Photography Nick Hamilton to the position of Content Director of Transworld Snowboarding Magazine.
TransWorld Media’s Editorial Director Rob Campbell commented, “There are few people in this industry who have the kind of professionalism and aptitude for understanding the ‘big picture’ like Nick does. From conceptualization to execution, he can make it all happen.”
Hamilton is apparently ready for the task (be it with a somewhat smaller staff after the exit of editor Annie Fast at the end of 2011).
“I am very excited for this opportunity and am ready to take on new challenges as we continue to expand our brand,” Hamilton said. “It is really important for us as a media company to adapt to change constantly, because in this new digital world, nothing stays the same for very long.”
Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2012
We’ve barely begun processing Kelly Slater’s new Quiksilver travel clothing/gear/store concept VSTR and already it appears that the brand’s marketing VP Jesse Faen is on his way out and off to the wilds of South America.
The former Insight marketing guy, who had only been at Quiksilver since August 2011, recently updated his Facebook page with the following: “worked at VSTR (VP of Marketing) from Aug 2011 to Jan 2012.” His wall was updated today saying he has “tickets booked, so stoked. We leave LA the 11th of Feb, off to Chile and a whole new chapter of life about to begin.”
Obviously, we have no idea what we (or Faen) are talking about, so anyone with a little more info is encouraged to chime in. Or not.
by The Editors on January 23, 2012
Bonfire’s Amy Eichner has been promoted to the position of Product Line Manager for the brand and Kevin Stevenson is now Marketing Manager of both Bonfire and Salomon.
Brad Steward, Head of Action Sports at Amer commented on both of the appointments, “Amy and Kevin make this all so easy. Great riders, great concept and idea people—I now have the dream team, 2-headed monster, sonic fist of doom, to unleash on marketing and communication.”
For more on Amy and Kevin and exactly what they’ll be doing in their new positions, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 21, 2012
We’re super stoked to report that according to a memo sent out to Burton employees this week Jake Burton’s “cancer is toast.” Jake says:
It appears that my cancer is toast. It’s scans and observation from here forward. There is still the possibility of surgery or some radiation down the road, but it will be clean-up in nature and I’m not too stressed about it. As my oncologist Steven Ades said, “Jake, you get your diploma”. . . As I transition from being a patient to being a survivor, I move on with enormous respect for both cancer (‘The Emperor of Diseases’) and chemotherapy (how can something so beneficial be so simultaneously harmful).
Jake goes on to thank Donna, his three boys George, Timi, and Taylor and the entire Burton family. We knew he’d power through this flat spot and now we’re wishing him prolonged health. Follow the jump for the complete memo. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 18, 2012
686 is looking for some snowboard industry people who would like to settle a score, knock someone out, or just dust it up for a round in their Lights Out boxing matches during the SIA Show on January 26, 2012 at Casselman’s.
They’re describing it as “a fun-filled evening of your friends from the snowboarding industry kicking the s*$t out of each other!”
If you and a friend (or enemy) would like to go a couple rounds, then click here to let 686’s Kristin Cusic know and she’ll put you on the card.
Fights start at 9 PM. Casselman’s is located at 2620 Walnut Street, Denver, Colorado.
by The Editors on January 17, 2012
In 1997 Burton Snowboards was at the nexus of a storm of rumors. The rumors were so pervasive that some clever instigator at the company created an extremely limited edition T-shirt for the 1997 SIA Trade Show in Las Vegas. The shirt jokingly outlined all the outlandish, outrageous things people were saying about the company that season.
Now, 15 years later, we thought it might be interesting to revisit the T-shirt that set out to sarcastically dispel the rumors and see how many of them eventually came true. Follow the jump for the complete rumor breakdown.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 17, 2012
From the official news released today it would appear that Mike “Chief” Nusenow has a new boss of sorts, and someone who shares his SVP, winter sports title at Quiksilver.
Clark Gundlach, the former (wait, it’s a really, really long title) “Senior Vice President leading Sales, National Accounts, Sales Operations, Licensed Store Platforms, and Multi-Channel Distribution in North America and the Southern Hemisphere for Burton, RED and Anon brands” has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of Winter Sports at Quiksilver, Americas.
“Clark, Chief, and the rest of the snow team in the Americas, along with athletes like Travis Rice and Torah Bright, are going to take our brands and our business to new places,” stated Rob Colby, President of Quiksilver Americas. “I couldn’t be happier with this crew.”
Gundlach will report directly to Colby and Nusenow will report to Gundlach. If Quik wants to make inroads into the heart of the winter sports market there’s no better way than by hiring one more person away from the leader in the category. Follow the jump for the official word from Quik. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 13, 2012
In his story A Chronicle of Doing It: Nike and Destruction Kyle Beachy (an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Chicago’s Roosevelt University) rolls through the history of Nike and skateboarding pointing out the obvious dichotomy between corporate cobbling and the core skateboarding market along the way.
