We drove past the VansWorld HQ in Costa Mesa, California last week on another of our NorCal-to-SoCal journeys. We saw empty parking lots, a large construction project in their backyard, and thought to ourselves–we should check in with Doug Palladini to see how Vans is handling the current situation. Few in action sports are dealing with more of the new now than the global president of Vans.
As many would point out, that would require us to do a little more work than we’re used to doing. Luckily, GroupY (which is turning 14 this year) got the old CrossRocket band back together and interviewed Doug for us– on video. Please, sit back and enjoy this interview conducted by former TransWorld Media Publisher, Snowboarder Magazine Editor, Swell.com Editor, content programming strategist, and media executive Rob Campbell.
Hawaiian surf royalty, two-time Pipeline Master, four-time Triple Crown of Surfing champ, and first Hawaiian world surfing champion Derek Ho has died of a heart attack on Friday, July 17, 2020, according to a story on SurferMag.com. He was 55 years old.
The stylish goofyfoot leaves behind a legacy of incredible Pipe feats and a community of friends and loved ones on the North Shore. Ho became a standout at Pipeline as a teenager, alongside his older brother Michael Ho, and by his early 20s, he had already charged his way to a Pipe Masters win. At 29, he became Hawaii’s first male world champ and solidified himself as one of the most talented and respected surfers along the Seven Mile Miracle. Up until this last winter, Ho was regularly seen packing some of the heaviest waves during the season’s best swells.
Derek was uncle to Mason and Coco Ho. Our thoughts are with Ho’s family, friends, and the entire surf world.
O’Neill founder Jack O’Neill’s daughter Shawne is putting her 55 acre Santa Cruz estate up for auction, according to a story in the Sacramento Bee.
A 55-acre Santa Cruz area ranch . . . is heading to auction. . . Previously listed for $6.3 million, Rancho de los Corralitos – nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Coast – is selling without reserve. . . Platinum Luxury Auctions, a Miami-based luxury auction company, will oversee the bidding on July 18, 2020.
Despite being visually pitched as a property for a-hole polo players, the house is pleasantly understated and that cabin!!! We’d pony up a $10,000 bid, but we’re guessing the property taxes are a bit out of our league. From the looks of it, wetsuits have certainly done well for the O’Neill family.
We surfed all winter with an Apple Watch safely tucked beneath the cuff of our wetsuit. Several times the wetsuit got blasted up our arm, leaving the watch exposed, but still attached. . . luckily.
Now that summer has arrived and we’re more likely to be surfing without a wetsuit, the Apple Watch’s post and hole band closure isn’t looking as solid as it has in the past. Though we’ve never had one fall open, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to hang it out there as a test. That’s why we were stoked to see that Urban Armor Gear has added a Tang buckle to a silicone band that keeps the clean lines of Apples silicone band while adding the safety of a Tang buckle. And though the bands have a buckle, they still keep the strap clean by feeding the loose end back under the band just like the Apple band.
The UAG bands come in two styles the Scout and Civilian. The Scout is a single color band that comes in three colors (black, olive, and orange) and retails for $29.95. The Civilian features two layers of silicone, a “branded stainless steel buckle” and comes in two colors (black/orange and slate/orange). It retails for $39.95.
We haven’t tested them yet, but we can say for sure that the buckle makes us feel better about taking our Apple Watch into the surf. We’ll let you know how it goes. For more info, please click the link.
It’s not Monday, because that was a holiday. And Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday, too. Thursday appears to be the day for you and all the news we’ve logged in the last bit of quarantine. Hope you’re safe, well, and in need of some links because here they are.
On Saturday, Gabe McKenna, public safety superintendent with California State Parks, said a person flagged down a lifeguard patrolling the area to report the attack. . . The water 1 mile south and 1 mile north of the attack will be closed for five days, until Thursday.
They lasted longer in Oregon than most anyone thought, but the COVID crisis is forcing everyone to make the hard decisions. Dakine is no different. They are reportedly closing their Hood River offices, laying off 39 people and leaving their roots behind, according to a story in the Bellingham Herald.
“The current health crisis, and the corresponding Oregon stay at home order were unforeseen business circumstances, and have made it financially unfeasible for the company to continue operating,” Dakine human resources director Raeanne Norberg wrote in a letter to state workforce officials.
Dakine says they are moving a couple people to their SoCal offices. Sad news for sure.
They lasted longer in Oregon than most anyone thought, but the COVID crisis is forcing everyone to make the hard decisions. Dakine is no different. They are reportedly closing their Hood River offices, laying off 39 people and leaving their roots behind, according to a story in the 
