by The Editors on October 23, 2008
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]
by The Editors on October 21, 2008
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.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 20, 2008
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]
by The Editors on October 20, 2008
by The Editors on October 20, 2008
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]
by The Editors on October 20, 2008
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]
by The Editors on October 16, 2008
Props Snowboard and Skateboard Shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada went up in flames in the early hours of October 15, 2008, according to a story in the Winnipeg Sun.
I would say an early damage estimate would be in the region of $500,000,” said Det. Darryl Drewniak, of the arson strike force, who was among the first investigators on scene. “There is substantial damage to the property.”
It would appear that arson was suspected in the “mysterious fire.”
[Link: Winnipeg Sun]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
Ray’s Apparel and Split Clothing will be no longer in 60 days according to an Adam Sullivan story on Transworld Business.
“Rays Apparel has always been a very profitable company,” explains Ray’s Apparel president Jim Stark. “We got into mid-2008, probably about May, and started running into the same economic woes and problems that our competitors have been having. And for the past four or five months, we’ve been losing money. And it certainly looks that way for the balance of the year.”
While more than 60 employees will reportedly be out of a job, Stark says Split will “continue shipping product into 2009.” The Split brand, however, is up for sale. . . seems like it would be a perfect for one of the mall chain stores. PacSun? Buckle? Zumiez? Anyone?
[Link: Transworld Business]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
Tony Hawk has apparently purchased Birdhouse Skateboards from Blitz Distribution according to a press release posted on Transworld Business.
Tony Hawk and Per Welinder, business partners for the past 15 years, reached a definitive agreement whereby Tony Hawk has acquired all interest in the Birdhouse Skateboards brand from Blitz Distribution, Inc. . . . By purchasing the brand, Tony Hawk will initiate integrating Birdhouse into his overall activities and his business, Tony Hawk, Inc. Full ownership will also give Tony increased oversight and involvement to his biggest priority, the Birdhouse team riders.
Hard to believe this hadn’t happened sooner (especially considering the mainstream marketing power of Tony and Shaun White). No one does better with Tony’s brand than Tony. And maybe those new THPS controllers will be Birdhouse decks.
[Link: Transworld Business]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
The next version of Activision’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater could ship with a new kind of controller thanks to the success of Guitar Hero, according to a story on Ars Technica.
“We believe that the extra year of development time and the opportunity for consumers to shake off franchise fatigue could contribute to better unit sales than the franchise (Tony Hawk) has enjoyed in recent years,” analyst Doug Creutz said while speaking to investors. “We also view it as highly likely that the game will include some sort of skateboard peripheral with all SKUs when it ships, given the massive success (and higher price points and profitability) of Activision Blizzard’s Guitar Hero franchise.”
At a certain point, you might as well just go outside and skateboard, right?
[Link: Ars Technica]
