by The Editors on December 29, 2011
On December 20, 2011 Duxbury, Massachusetts based helmet manufacturer Bern Unlimited, Inc. filed patent infringement lawsuits against Burton Snowboards, Vans, and Salomon parent company Amer Sports, according to documents filed with the United States District Court District of Massachusetts.
The suits claim that all three companies continue to manufacture products that infringe patent (US D572,865 S) for a helmet with a small brim. The helmets Bern claims are infringing include the Red Mutiny, the Vans Pro-Tec Riot and the Salomon Ghost and Brigade Audio.
In their “Prayer For Relief” Bern lawyers from the Boston, Massachusetts firm Birnbaum & Godkin are requesting that Burton, Vans, and Amer Sports enjoin from further infringement and that Bern Unlimited, Inc. be awarded “damages in an amount to be proven at trial” and “multiple damages, costs and attorneys fees.”
The patent, awarded to Jonathan Baker of Thornton, New Hampshire on July 8, 2008, shows a helmet that looks much like a batting helmet with no ear covers and a shorter brim. It will be interesting to see if lawsuits based on helmet brim length do in court.
For a full view of the patent (and the lawsuit filed against) follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 29, 2011
by The Editors on December 22, 2011
New Smyrna Beach, Florida’s Friction surf and skate shop is using Apple FaceTime technology to “bridge the gap” between online and brick and mortar shopping. Every day, between 12 – 7 PM EST, customers with an Apple device can speak directly with sales people on the floor.
“I’d been implementing social media and in-store / online connections for about a year at my other store before opening Friction,” Friction partner and executive buyer Evan Rebadow says. “To me this is the evolution of a concept where small boutique stores like ours can compete online by offering personal interaction. It’s one thing to read about a surf board on a static website, it’s something completely different to be able to dial us up on your iPhone from anywhere you have service and talk to us one on one about what kind of surf you’re going to be riding it in and how it performs for your skill level.
Seems like a phone call would be just as effective, but then that wouldn’t have caught our attention. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 21, 2011
The first member of what we hearing will be solid skate team was announced yesterday when Praxis Footwear welcomed Karl Watson to the family.
“We at Praxis are excited to have a skate legend and pioneer like Karl Watson as the foundation of our team” comments co-founder William Rienzi. “We believe he is the perfect embodiment of the Praxis brand. Karl stands for both breaking boundaries and bridging communities in his daily life — this is theory driven action. We look forward to a long term partnership with Karl as we rise together to build Praxis.
We’ll all get a chance to check out Praxis’ new line of skate shoes at booth #E3 of the Agenda Show, January 5-6, 2011 in Long Beach, California. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 21, 2011
The good news is there appears to be a floor stopping Billabong’s two-day free fall. Yes, on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 shares bounced up 10.16 percent to close at $1.95, according to a story on Business Spectator.
Surfwear retailer and manufacturer Billabong International Ltd has lifted over 10 per cent, clawing back some of its massive losses from earlier in the week.
And though it’s not exactly back in solid terrain, at least the stock didn’t fall below a dollar. That may be thanks to IOOF Holdings 1.1 million share purchase on Monday, December 19, 2011.
[Link: Business Spectator]
by The Editors on December 21, 2011
When we think of hard-charging snowboard boarder cross racers bumping and hopping down an icy race course, we don’t exactly think L.L. Bean. But it appears the Maine based maker of all things classically backwoodsy is trying to change that by signing up two-time Olympic Gold medalist Seth Wescott as a “brand ambassador.” Apparently:
“Seth and L.L.Bean share many of the same values – a love and respect of the outdoors and a passion to educate and inspire youth to enjoy the outdoors,” said Steve Fuller, L.L.Bean Chief Marketing Officer. “He will be a great brand ambassador both here in Maine and around the world.”
The deal is for three years. It would be kind of epic to see Seth flying down a world cup BX course in this. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 20, 2011
Stainless steel water bottle maker Mizu has announced today (December 20, 2011) that Ride Snowboards co-founder Tim Pogue is their new CEO, according to Mizu’s Jussi Oksanen.
“We’ve built the Mizu brand on a strong foundation in action sports with several industry partnerships and new pro bottles,” said Mizu founder, Jussi Oksanen. “Tim’s extensive experience with brands like Mizu will help us take the company to the next level in 2012.”
Sounds like exactly what the company needed. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 19, 2011
Thanks to a new deal between NBC Sports Group’s Alli and Red Bull Media House we’re all one step closer to our sponsored, logo’d, caffeinated Idiocracy future. The partnership will launch a series of advertainment on NBC’s new 24-hour sports network.
The Red Bull Signature Series will include the most progressive and innovative snowboarding, mountain biking, freestyle motocross, ice cross downhill, skiing and BMX events, showcased on custom courses from the inspiration of the athletes themselves. The series features some of Red Bull’s top events including X-Fighters, Supernatural, Crashed Ice, Dream Line, Rampage and Cold Rush and other third party action sports competitions (see below for details on shows). The Red Bull Signature Series kicks off on NBC with Crashed Ice on Saturday, January 21.
Just more sad proof that the future of mainstream action sports content is advertising. Luckily, this will all be on cable where no one will see it. Follow the jump for the official info. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 18, 2011
On November 25, 2011, when we linked a story saying that Billabong’s stock had “mysteriously” dropped 12.5 percent in one of the busiest days of Billabong stock trading all fall, one of our commenters speculated the following: “Insider trading. Someone’s gotta know something.”
Oddly, today, December 19, 2011 saw Billabong stock fall 44 percent (to a record low) after the company reported that “sales growth had ‘deteriorated significantly'” in the pre Christmas months “as fears of global recession undermined consumer confidence,” according to a story in The Australian.
Billabong has forecast earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of between $70 million and $75m for the first half of the financial year, down from $94.6m in the previous comparable period. . . The company also said the “poor macroeconomic and trading environment” meant it was unable to provide any forecast for the rest of the financial year, but noted “strong underlying EBITDA growth compared to the previous comparable period in constant currency terms for the full year is not expected”.
Those people who got out three weeks ago must simply be blessed with perfect timing. Unfortunately, founder Gordon Merchant, Billabong’s largest shareholder, was not one of them. His fortune took a reported $78 million fall today, at least on paper. For more Billabong’s current financial situation check out the Wall Street Journal.
[Link: The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, and The Wall Street Journal]
by The Editors on December 16, 2011
Vans released numbers today saying that the Triple Crown of Surfing served 10.4 million live streams during the 13 days of competition for the 2011 season.
Even if you figure that many of the people (like us) signed in at least 30 times during those days that’s still a lot. in fact, Vans says 1.8 million unique individuals tuned into the events. They’re calling it an action sports record.
“Surfing’s audience is passionate, active and adventurous, and, if they cannot watch in person, they’re finding Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events on their computers and mobile devices,” says Vans Vice President of Marketing, Doug Palladini. “Hawaii also helps us to reach a broader audience than any other surfing event given it’s incredible scenery, dramatic waves and rich beach culture.”
Now, if we figure that one day of modern surf webcasting costs roughly $55,000 (on the low end), then Vans, Reef, and Billabong and the rest of the sponsors of the Triple Crown ended up spending about 40 cents to reach each viewer. That may not seem all that expensive considering the brand bath viewers are immersed in while watching surf broadcasts. On the other hand, if Boardistan.com charged those ad rates then we’d definitely have someone else typing these words right now.
Follow the jump for the official word from Vans. [click to continue…]
