These are the kinds of stories we wish we had time to do. Sneaker Freaker presents a 19 page online story on the history of Vans straight the mouth of Steve Van Doren (including insightful family photos). And no matter what the Vans marketing department does or doesn’t do, we still love the shoes and the man.
[Link: Sneaker Freaker via Skateboardworks]
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Christian Hosoi has signed on with Healthy Coffee USA, Inc. as a member of the companies “founders club” according to a press release on Businesswire. And to help Healthy Coffee drinkers out with just who Christian is, they offered up this bio:
Mr. Hosoi emerged as one of the top competitors of vert riding alongside such pros as Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lester Kasai, and Mark “Gator” Rogowski, with an eventual rivalry developing with Tony Hawk with two contrasting styles in both skateboarding and lifestyle — Christian, known for his flair and graceful style, and Tony, raising the bar with his technical ability and difficult tricks. Hosoi invented the Christ Air and Rocket Air, and was renowned for pulling huge aerials, at one point holding the world record.
Leave it to a company from Newport Beach, CA to launch a multi-level marketing business around coffee. Want to become a distributor? Just talk to Mr. Hosoi and he can hook you up.
[Link: Businesswire]
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Peter Ramirez, 16, died and one of his friends was injured when they both slammed into a flatbed truck while skateboarding down a hill in Loomis, California.
Due to a hill, the skateboarders and the driver could not see each other before they collided, officials said. . . Officials said the truck driver, who was questioned and released, does not appear to be at fault. His truck was impounded to check for any mechanical issues.
Oddly, both skateboarders were “wearing protective gear, including helmets and gloves.”
[Link: My58.com]
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Stoked Mentoring will be giving Tony Hawk their Stoked Achievement Award on November 12, 2008 at the Red Bull Space in New York City on November 12, 2008, to recognize the Birdman for giving away more than $2.3 million to 390 skatepark projects.
Skateboard legend Tony Hawk says, “I’m happy and excited to be given the Stoked Achievement Award. The work of the Tony Hawk Foundation, as well as the opportunities that Stoked is giving kids through action sports to make them more successful, is something that we need more of.”
The event is being sponsored by Toyota Matrix and will be hosted by our favorite entertainment reporter Sal Masekela.
Maybe we should start handing out awards. Looks like a really good reason for a party.
Follow the jump for all the details.
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Earlier today reports of Miami-based action sports mall retailer Adrenalina putting out a $293 million buyout out offer to Pacific Sunwear have now turned into stories of the whole deal being tabled according to a report on Just-style.com.
Original reports quoted Adrenalina CEO Ilia Lekach saying the following:
This action represents our confidence that Adrenalina can reinvigorate PacSun – a powerful brand name whose underlying retail concept has grown stale – by applying our innovative approach of fusing an exceptional product mix to an exciting entertainment destination,” Lekach said in a news release.
The Motley Fool has already called bullshit on the deal.
While the surf-and-skatewear company could use a lift — its stock is off about 80% from its 52-week high — this looks like little more than a publicity stunt or a bid to boost Adrenalina’s own stock price. That’s because its chairman and CEO is Ilia Lekach, who has a rich history of playing such games.
Adrenalina stock got a 40 percent bounce this morning all the way up to $1.70. So maybe the offer was enough.
[Link: Just-Style and Business Journal and The Motley Fool]
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We kind of wondered what CB and Lyn-Z have been up to lately. Remember to bring your money to the Encinitas YMCA Skatepark, girls.
[Link: Nixon Happenings]
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In a story on a skateboard photography exhibit in Auckland, New Zealand Skateboarder magazine editor Mark Barber says something we think every time we try to explain what we do to people:
It’s probably gonna sound really negative but why would anybody buy a photo of a person they don’t know doing a trick they don’t understand doing a move they don’t know, but that’s probably just me being negative about it.”
Exactly. . .
[Link: 3 News NZ]
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When the news of Van Wastell’s death began circulating at the beginning of September very few details were included in the condolence stories. Now, New York Times writer Michael Brick delves into the young skateboarder’s untimely death even though it seems no one close to the 24-year-old skater is interested in talking. Here is what The Times uncovered about the tradgedy in Berlin:
On Sept. 5, Wastell was a guest at the NH Berlin-Alexanderplatz Hotel, close to the city center in the Friedrichshain quarter, according to the front-office manager, Gerd Fromm. . . . Shortly after midnight Sept. 6, a guest heard a noise outside, looked out his window and saw a man lying on the terrace, according to Klaus Schubert, a spokesman for the Berlin police. . . . “An emergency doctor came, but there was no chance to help,” Schubert said. “It must have been a window of the stairway area in the sixth floor from where he fell or jumped down.” . . . Schubert added: “The most important question, whether it was an accident or a suicide, I cannot answer at this moment.”
While nothing can be done for the sadness the entire skateboard industry feels, sometimes more details can help process the pain. Our thoughts are with the entire Wastell family.
[Link: New York Times]
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