by The Editors on August 17, 2007
Lately there has been a lot of talk about skateboarding and the Olympics. The most powerful sporting organization in the world is having trouble with “the kids” and they think it might be time to include skateboarding in the official program. Brian Hendrickson of The Columbian newspaper in Clark County, Washington discussed this issue of 2007 X Games Big Air Gold Medalist Bob Burnquist.
“I’d rather it not happen than happen the wrong way,” Burnquist said Thursday after finishing his preliminary run on the vert ramp at the AST Dew Tour in the Rose Garden. “They need us more than we need them. And that’s OK. But we need to figure this out.”
Hendrickson claims the TV ratings for the Olympics have been sliding lately and that “skating’s popularity has erupted.” We know at least one writer who hasn’t check the X Games or AST Dew Tour ratings in a while.
[Link: The Columbian]
by The Editors on August 17, 2007
Yes, Tod Swank should be very worried. Some Bay College students somewhere in Northern Michigan are gunning for the Guinness Book of World Records with their 31 foot long skateboard.
“When it all comes together, you see things,” explains Shaun Anderson, the project leader. “It started from a regular board, to the deck, the trucks, to the tires, and then it came into something that looks like a skateboard.”
We’ll see how long this one lasts. . .
[Link: WLUC TV]
by The Editors on August 8, 2007
Musician, writer, and former Seattle dweller Arlie John Carstens went to the 2007 X Games and then wrote about it for the LA Weekly. In his essay he included some good lines regarding X:
Aside from the thousands of hoochies running around in Frankenflops and the aforementioned OC elite with their hats and asshole glasses, the games were surprisingly boring in person. This is an entirely made-for-television event.
And an X Games truth if ever there was one:
Basically, any activity where there’s a good chance someone might wipe out badly, suffer paralysis or die spectacularly has always been fair game for X Games coverage, subtleties of soul and style be damned.
Of course, Arlie finalized his essay by locking into the philosophical out that almost everyone takes: the money. Oh yeah, it’s all okay because everyone is getting paid. And after all, that’s what action sports are about. Just click the link and read it. It’s better than we’re making it sound.
[Link: LA Weekly]
by The Editors on July 20, 2007
John Van Hazinga, 29, the owner of Burlington, Vermont’s Ridin’ High Skate Shop has been in a coma for the last week after suffering a head injury while downhilling near Smuggler’s Notch.
During a run, Van Hazinga’s board wobbled, causing him to flip in the air. Van Hazinga, who was wearing a helmet, protective gloves and knee and elbow pads at the time, crashed onto the pavement and sustained serious head trauma.
The local skate community has wholly supported the Van Hazinga’s family since the accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
[Link: BurlingtonFreePress.com]
by The Editors on July 19, 2007
It’s a good day for Volcom’s Vice President of Sales Tom Ruiz. As part of a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan Tom exercised 5,000 options of Volcom at $19 today and then immediately sold them off at approximately $49 netting himself a healthy profit of $150,000. Congrats, Tom.
[Link: Forbes via AP]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
The Motley Fool’s Alyce Lomax says she was amused by Volcom’s presenting at the buttoned-down CIBC World Markets’ Consumer Growth Conference.
Of course, given this two-time Motley Fool Hidden Gems pick’s impressive recent growth, it’s no wonder that Wall Street wants to hear more about the magic behind its success. I took a peek at the transcript from the conference.
Click the link for a comprehensive outsider’s look at what makes Volcom function in the world of youth fashion.
[Link: The Motley Fool]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
Tony Hawk has had his name associated with some pretty whack stuff, however, this may top it all. Nicole Medica, 26, and her groom, Jeremy Farley, 29, were one of seven couples married on July 7, 2007 at 7:07 AM while riding Tony Hawk’s Big Spin roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis.
They had originally planned to marry on the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge Historic Site in Hillsboro Saturday evening until they heard about the “Thrilled Ever After” radio contest on 93.7 FM. “It just seems fun,” Medica said. “It’s definitely us–not conventional.”
Thanks, Tony.
[Link: St. Louis Today]
by The Editors on December 10, 2006
The latest version of Apple’s PC vs. Mac TV ad (click to watch) features some suspicious stickers: Chocolate and Girl. They are plastered on the PC guy’s left and right shoulder. PC says, “Kids happen. I was bought for a home and now I have movies, blogs, listen to music, everything. . . all I want to do is balance their checkbooks.” Yeah, Four Star probably is more PC than Mac.
[Link: Skatedaily.net]
