by The Editors on January 26, 2008
Shaun White has signed a new 10-year deal with Burton Snowboards.
Shaun White had this to say about the deal, “I started riding for Burton when I was seven years old and Jake’s support has always been there. We have some big plans for The White Collection and I can’t think of a better home for me for the future. Thanks again, Jake!”
Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards, had this to say, “Where do I even begin to comment on Shaun? Of course, I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him for another decade. I’ve watched Shaun grow up from a little grom who wasn’t afraid to push himself in the halfpipe to one of the most recognized athletes in all of action sports. I mean, to be such a talented rider and skateboarder and to contend in every competition you enter is pretty insane. But, if you think Shaun’s riding is impressive, you should check out his design skills. His products are fresh, functional and loaded with style, just like his riding.”
But the big question: was this a $20 million dollar deal? Or was it for more? We’ll have to wait and see. It is interesting to note that this contract will take Shaun through the next three winter and summer Olympics. Follow the jump for the entire press release.
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by The Editors on January 26, 2008
In the world of action sports Bnqt.com has been a bit of an outsider. Founded by a former AOL Sports-man, the site featured viral video of action sports along with a user-generated content community. Though the site never gained any traction, recognition, or significant traffic, it was still acquired by USA Today for an undisclosed amount of money.
“USA TODAY’s acquisition of Banquet is another example of the innovative ways we are trying to diversify our audience,” said Craig Moon, president and publisher of USA TODAY. “We believe that action sports are a dynamic and exciting category and that we have found an excellent stand alone brand which truly resonates with the youth audience.”
This purchase shows how desperate old media is to get involved with “the kids.” And to think, Time Warner sold their “action sports” sites a little less than a year ago. Then again, this certainly gives us hope. . .
[Link: CNNMoney.com]
by The Editors on January 26, 2008
According to a story in USA Today more people have been killed so far this year in avalanches than all of last season. So far over half have been snowmobilers.
“We had storm after storm after storm,” says Mark Moore, director of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center in Seattle, an agency administered by the U.S. Forest Service. “People are out there and they don’t know where to go, because avalanches are all around them. So there were some bad decisions.”
According to Avalanche.org 23 people have died since December 18, 2007. Hopefully, this don’t become a record year.
[Link: USA Today]
by The Editors on January 26, 2008
From The New York Times:
“A lot of stuff that we’re doing now is opening the eyes of the general public, especially the youth, that skiing is not just a dorky sport anymore,” said Peter Olenick, who won bronze in superpipe at the 2007 Games. “We can do all the stuff snowboarders do, only better.”
Yeah, Peter, keep telling yourself that and we’ll keep laughing our asses off when we watch you heading into jumps butt-first, with your poles out.
[Link: The New York Times]
by The Editors on January 26, 2008
For a couple years now the action sports world has been glomming onto celebrities during the annual Sundance Film Festival because, well there is snow and dude, like, celebrities move proddy.
This entourage makes us actually feel bad for Adrian Grenier. He doesnot look happy about his Grenade ambush.
[Link: New York Mag]
by The Editors on January 23, 2008
What do you know, it appears that SIA has jumped on the “green” wagon. Because it’s so marketable these days. For all the leafy details follow the jump.
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by The Editors on January 23, 2008
Yay! More X Games ads . . . and a bad photo of Gretchen. What more could you ask for on a Wednesday afternoon?
[Link: USA Today]
by The Editors on January 23, 2008
That’s what Steve Fisher compared himself to in a pre-X Games profile in the Aspen Times.
Steve Fisher really likes Shaun White. Said he respects “everything” the most the famous snowboarder in world does. . . . What the 25-year-old Breckenridge local doesn’t get is why the media wants to script him in the role of the Flying Tomato’s foil. Or, as Fisher puts it, the Phil Mickelson to snowboarding’s Tiger Woods.
Well Steve. . . it’s called “marketing.” And, hopefully, you’re learning more about that every year.
[Link: Aspen Times]
by The Editors on January 23, 2008
Stolen directly from The Oregonian:
Janna Meyen, the most successful Oregonian in Winter X Games history, has plenty left to accomplish. . . . On the slopes. And off. . . . One of Meyen’s main missions: Be a better role model. She wants to shed her party-girl reputation. Anyone in the snowboarding industry, she said, would say the same thing: “For over a decade, that was my image — leading the party train.” . . . The 30-year-old slopestyle boarder also said she has yet to ride the perfect run — at the X Games, or even on her home mountain of Mount Bachelor, by herself, without the hype and pressure of the year’s biggest snow sports competition. . . . “I feel like I still have quite a bit of potential I haven’t tapped into,” Meyen said. “That potential keeps driving me.”
Click the link for the rest of the story.
[Link: The Oregonian]
by The Editors on January 23, 2008
Every few years Dennis Zeller gets a little nod from the snowboard media for Sawpit Snowboards, his homegrown, deep roots snowboard company. In the age of commercial exploitation of everything we snowboarders hold dear, it’s nice to occasionally check back in on Zeller because no matter what you say, they guy’s got soul in loads.
Gerry Lopez, famous surfer of the ’60s and ’70s, has one of Zeller’s boards. So does actress Daryl Hannah. . . . “What’s unique about my boards is that I shift the core and the side-cut two or three inches back to make it ride more like surfing than skateboarding,” Zeller said.
This story from the Montrose Daily Press is required reading for anyone on their way to trade show hell.
[Link: Montrose Daily Press]
