by The Editors on January 21, 2009
Anyone who questioned the validity of The Crossroads Skateboarding Trade Show, got a quick slap of reality today. The turnout reminded everyone that collectively the skateboard industry really can do whatever it wants.
At 10:15 AM it was difficult to find a parking spot anywhere near Jamie Thomas’ Black Box Distribution headquarters on the outskirts of Carlsbad. And by 11:30 AM when the free burgers began rolling off the grills the booths were packed with retailers, distributors, and Industry friends.
Kr3w’s Steve Clare doing double line shows with Pharmacy’s Patrick Kudrle and Asylum’s Pablo Aponte.
(Follow the jump for the rest of the story and all the photos.)
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 21, 2009
Difficult to believe this is a news story out on the wires, but because it is, were on it. Jason Lee has decided to take it easy on the skateboard these days. Here’s what he says:
My son is five now and he’s skateboarding. On the weekends we cruise around together but we don’t do anything hard because I don’t want to get injured. But I still cruise around on the old skateboard, yeah.”
NIce to know we’re in good company when we’re not doing “anything hard” on a skateboard.
[Link: Press Association]
by The Editors on January 21, 2009
The reviews coming in from the video gaming world kind of make us want to break out the console and pick up a copy of Skate 2.
Brian Rowe at Planet Xbox 360 gives Skate 2 a score of 9.1 out of 10, claiming that the title succeeds in areas that the Tony Hawk series never explored. “Once again, Skate 2 isn’t EA’s response to the stagnant Tony Hawk series,” he begins. “It’s the Tony Hawk destroyer, so long as you believe in working for your reward instead of button-mashing for instant gratification.” . . . Skate 2’s complex control scheme provides depth that other franchises lack. “Every board trick is mapped to a movement of the analog stick, with the shoulder buttons managing the myriad of grabs,” Rowe explains. “Forget about spinning ollies and blind grinds, because precision and flow are everything. A simple line like a heelflip-to-tailslide on a rail can quickly become an hour-long session of fumbling fingers and horrifying bails that’ll execute your manhood.”
Yeah, we’re in.
[Link: Gamasutra.com]
by The Editors on January 21, 2009
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Iconic skateboarder/film director Stacy Peralta has been on the commercial rampage lately. First with a documentary ad for fast food chain Burger King that stirred up a commotion for introducing third world citizens to crap American food.
Now, he’s shilling caffeinated sugar water for Amp Energy Drink with commercials featuring NASCAR drvier Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
PepsiCo and BBDO wanted the commercial to have a documentary feel to it, so once the groundwork was set, they reached out to director Stacy Peralta. . . . Peralta’s documentaries had the kind of lifestyle feel that Amp wanted for this commercial.
Apparently, authenticity is important when energy drink sales are on the line.
[Link: Sporting News]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Dave Gatto is leaving VF Corporation as part of a reorganization according to a story in the News Record.
VF said its Outdoor Americas unit will include the North Face, JanSport and Eagle Creek brands. It will be overseen by Steve Rendle, 49, currently president of The North Face. . . . The second unit, action sports Americas, will include Vans and Reef brands. It will be led by current Vans president Stephen Murray, 48.
Wonder if this is in preparation for any footwear acquisitions.
[Link: News Record]
by The Editors on January 19, 2009
We’re never been big fans of GrindTV, but apparently they are moving from El Sugundo to Aliso Viejo’s TechSpace to be closer to potential sources of action sports revenue, according to a story in the Orange County Business Journal.
“We work with a lot of folks in the action sports industry who are headquartered in Orange County and it made sense for us to bring GrindTV to Orange County,” said Erik Hawkins, the company’s chief executive.
Yeah, the move makes sense. The GrindTV site? It is actually getting much better lately. We’re kind of surprised.
[Link: Orange County Business Journal]
by The Editors on January 17, 2009
Last time we spoke to Spike Jonze he was speeding down Melrose on an old beater ten-speed with a bunch of his friends. He said he was taking a break from editing (or re-editing) Where The Wild Things Are. That was a while ago and we still haven’t seen many images from the movie, but according to Slash Film, Girl Skateboards will be releasing a few Wild Things boards.
The skateboard company that Jonze co-founded, Girl Skateboards Company, will be releasing a limited series of skateboards featuring the monsters from the film adaptation.
We’ve got no confirmation and it seems kind of strange, but we’re hoping they make some micro-minis, you know, for the kids.
[Link: Slash Film]
by The Editors on January 17, 2009
Who will take home awards in all the amateur categories? The only way to find out is to be in San Diego Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 6 PM at the San Diego Convention Center as The Skateboard Mag, Nike SB, Skate Park of Tampa, Damn Am, and ASR present the Damn Am Awards
The best part? This whole event is free and open to the public. Thanks, Nike SB.
[Link: The Skateboard Mag via Club Mumble]
by The Editors on January 16, 2009
The cover story of the latest issue of Fast Company Magazine exposes Shaun White’s amazing sponsorship aptitude: his ability to take money from the right people and keep his personal brand rolling strong.
I was so fortunate to have had some success before the Olympics,” he says. “So when the time came for everyone to come at me, I was able to step back and say, ‘Do I really want to do that? Do I want to be known for airing over some dude who is going aaaahhh! with his teeth gleaming?’ ” . . . White has sought out companies he truly connects with. Working with a tight team of advisers that include his 29-year-old brother, Jesse, and his agent, Mark Ervin of IMG, White sees these deals as a long-term investment portfolio, something that will outlast his knees. Each corporation meshes with a discrete slice of his actual life, and with each one, White dives in and takes a central role, from the design of specific products to pulling deals together among his various partners.
Shaun has been playing it smart from the beginning and it looks like the long game pays off. And we had to laugh out loud when writer Mark Borden described Shaun as having a “strange equine beauty,” because we’ve always thought of his beauty as more simian.
[Link: Fast Company]
