The stories that shape our world are the stories that we share. Here are the headlines that caught our eye during the past month. And yes, it was a rough one. But we’re not going to let that get in the way of sharing with you. Click the link for all the stories.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Snowboard World Cup took a hit this week as Kyle Mack and Lyon Farrell both tested positive for COVID-19 prior to this week’s Laax Open in Switzerland and will not be able to compete.
Mack and Farrell are asymptomatic, according to U.S. Ski and Snowboard on Monday. . . Other unnamed U.S. snowboarders who traveled and shared accommodation with Mack and Farrell, though they have not tested positive, are also out of the competition due to coronavirus policies and protocols.
Hopefully they stay asymptomatic. Shaun White had already pulled out of Laax for non-COVID reasons and Chloe Kim was “not impacted” and will compete for the first time since March 2019.
[Link: NBC Sports]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Creating these lists of news headlines is a lot like popping bubble wrap–it’s pointless, annoying, and yet so outrageously satisfying.
Here, enjoy the pointless, annoying fruits of our Monday Morning satisfaction. Click the link for December’s edition of action news from around the globe.
[click to continue…]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The world famous action hangout Pannikin Coffee & Tea in Encinitas, California has partnered with Jussi Oksanen and Tim Pogue’s Mizu on a limited-edition holiday bundle featuring one custom laser-etched 14 ounce camp cup and a 12 ounce bag of Pannikin Blend coffee.
The camp cups come with a sip through lid. They are vacuum insulated, BPA free, recyclable and made from 18/8 food grade stainless steel.
Know someone who misses mornings at the Pannikin with all their action sporting friends? This may be just what they need. Click the link for more info.
[Link: Mizu]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
December marks the 11th year that Jones Snowboards has kicked off the new season with Avalanche Awareness Month.
December is the perfect month for taking the time to focus on avalanche and rescue skills so you’re confident in your knowledge for the rest of the season.
And, to kick off the kick off, Jeremy Jones explaining his approach to the mountains and some safety lessons that he’s learned during his decades in the back country. Click play on the video below.
[Link: Jones Snowboards]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Shaun White has apparently sold his beach house in Malibu for a cool $8 million, according to a story in the LA Times.
The long, sloping lot covers an acre, combining two parcels perched just above the beach in Malibu’s Point Dume community. While many of the neighboring homes cram in as much square footage as possible, White’s house only spans about 2,200 square feet, letting a vast stretch of lawn take up most of the scenic estate.
Sound like he was a bit motivated. The Times reports he got $5 million less than he was asking, and appears to have lost $2.75 million on the property since he bought it in 2016. That might hurt a little. Click the link for more details.
[Link: LA Times]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Nidecker has just announced a new, amazing snowboard technology that is “ideal for both freestyle and general progression” and they’re calling it “the SideKick.”
SideKick mellows out a board’s riding characteristics, making landings smoother and turn transitions smoother. . . SideKick Tech is simply a gentle lifting of a boards edges at its widest points, aka the contact points. Doing this makes a board less prone to ‘catching’ when riding flat base or landing in the park, but when deliberately put on edge it still bites and retains the same hold you’d expect from a regular board.
In 1994 Morrow created this tech and called it a Spoon. Ten years later Bataleon called it “Triple Base Technology.” In both cases it was a sellable tech. It worked well enough, but then snowboard design moved on. It’s nice to see Nidecker bring something back from 26 years ago to let it roll again. For more info click the link.
[Link: Nidecker]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Burton Snowboard’s new 6,500 square foot retail store in Denver, Colorado puts the company right where it will want to be when this whole COVID retail dilemma is over. The new shop is located at 2649 Walnut Street in the “RiNo Arts District.”
“We’ve been carefully planning and building our Denver store for years now, and it was so exciting to finally open our doors to the Colorado community just in time for the holidays,” said John Lacy, CEO of Burton. “We have a number of protocols in place to help our customers shop safely at the Denver store, including reduced store occupancy, as well as social-distance friendly services like curbside pick-up and phone orders. With Colorado resorts beginning to open for the winter season, our Denver Hub will be a convenient new place to pick up gear, then head to the mountains for some fresh air, and hopefully plenty of fresh snow.”
But it’s more than a retails store. The location also features a wholesale showroom, kitchen and multi-purpose rooftop penthouse. You know, for 2024 makeout parties. For the official word from Burton, please follow the jump.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Michael Schwab (son of investment firm founder Charles Schwab) and managing director (and only partner) of Big Sky Partners says he began investing in what he loves at the age of 36, according to an essay posted on CSQ.com. He calls it “adventure capitalism.”
So far his adventure capital investments have included a couple surf resorts, Kelly Slater Wave Co., Travis Rice’s Natural Selection Tour, and Meriwether Companies, the company that is planning a “wellness resort community” around Kelly’s La Quinta, California wave pool called Coral Mountain. This is his explanation:
The shift to investing in sports-related startups is unique because not a lot of large funds have touched it to date. It’s been kind of a fringe idea that has been looked at as dangerous or unapproachable, and I want to make it more mainstream. If you asked most people if they are into action/adventure sports, they would say no. I want to change that. I call what I am doing adventure capitalism. But, like any business, the risk is failure and loss of capital. I am investing alongside friends and family, and we are all passionate about the work and believe in the future of surfing, wellness, and adventure sports.
People who invest using other people’s money always seem to figure out a way to come out ahead on the deal, but seriously, we can’t imagine any of these “investments” returning much more than a few good, fake waves and some heli time. Then again, if Charles Schwab is your dad what kind of return on “adventure” investing do you really need?
[Link: CSQ.com]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Just a little reminder: don’t let the demise of corporate action sporting magazines get you down. A quality snowboard print magazine still exists. It’s hand-crafted (or at least published) in the heart of Bellingham, Washington under the long, morning shadow of Mt. Baker. That’s right, it’s The Snowboarder’s Journal. And volume 18, number 2 is shipping right now.
The new issue features an interview with Austin Smith, a profile of Kennedi Deck, a Stephan Jende gallery, plus Wyoming, Newfoundland, and much more. to subscribe and, while you’re there, gift a subscription to someone you love.
[Link: The Snowboarder’s Journal]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
