And now for the old news department: Yes, the rumor we’ve been sitting on for nearly a month is true: The La Jolla Group has handed the . . . Lost clothing license back to co-owners Matt Biolos and Joel Cooper, according to a story on ApparelNews.net.
“There was a disparity between the clothing and the boards,” Biolos told the trade publication. “The two parts of the business didn’t relate to each other. Taking the apparel back [in-house] gives us a chance to do our own thing. We want our vibe to be consistent.”
“Disparity” is such a nice way of saying it. We’re pretty sure there is no great love lost between the “edgy” surf brand and the main stream fashion licensing corporation. It will be good to see Biolos and crew back to creating some authentic surf/skate fashion on their own with no apologies.
We didn’t pay attention enough to understand how the four-man scoring worked at the Katin Pro-Am held on the North side of the Huntington Beach Pier this weekend (January 7-8, 2011), but apparently Timmy Curran did.
Curran lived up to his reputation as one of the game’s top aerial specialists, launching the event’s most progressive maneuvers in the Final to notch the highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.77 out of 10 for a massive frontside air-reverse on a lefthand ramp on the way to earning the event’s highest heat-total, 18.50 out of 20, to leave fellow finalists Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA), 23, Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 29, and Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, in need of two scores to overtake the high-flying goofy-footer.
Those who thought the death of the ASR Show signaled the death of action sports trade shows in general were proven grossly wrong during day one of the Agenda Show in Anaheim, California January 6, 2011. All three halls were packed to the point of making it difficult to cruise the aisles. And it wasn’t people just hanging out. Lines were being shown and in many cases orders were being written.
While some brands we spoke to seemed relieved that they didn’t have to be at ASR this year, others mentioned missing the old days when Agenda was just a small show for the cool kids. Agenda has definitely kicked it up a level this year and nearly everyone seems happy about it. Even those who seem nostalgic for the past.
So this is what everyone was tweeting about last night. Long-time Rip Curl surfer and four time Womens ASP World Champion Stephanie Gilmore has reportedly signed a five-year contract with Quiksilver (not Roxy, to be clear), according to a post on the Mountain and Wave.
Under terms of the agreement Stephanie will ride for the Quiksilver team and has become a Quiksilver brand ambassador, joining a diverse and talented group which includes 13 other female artists, musicians, photographers, philanthropists and fashion designers representing Quiksilver’s lines for women. “I have had exceptional support throughout my career and I am excited to have this bright opportunity with the respected team at Quiksilver,” says Gilmore. “I am looking forward to pushing myself to new levels and feel this is a move which will help me stay inspired while competing at the highest level as a professional surfer on the ASP Women’s World Tour. It’s thrilling to be a part of an innovative and globally respected brand like Quiksilver. Its rich history and creative direction are well aligned with my personal ambitions.”
It really is the perfect match, especially if reports of Stephie being the $5 million woman are true.
One of the more amazing aspects of “the industry” is how many different doors there are to get in. Artist Drew Brophy is a classic example. As he tells Surf Expo’s Sean O’Brien, sometimes it’s just a matter of sticking around and doing your thing no matter what everyone else has to say about it.
I was trying to find someone who would let me use paint pens on surfboard for years. Kelly Richards from Perfection Surfboards let me do some, but he hated them. He was like: “Drew, these are the ugliest surfboards I’ve ever seen!” Then when I was in Hawaii I rode for Town & Country and I showed Craig Sugihara and the rest of the crew there my ideas and they weren’t into either. I got the same feedback from the guys at Local Motion and it seemed like everyone else on the North Shore. I was blown away, I was like “Wow, nobody’s going to let me do this.” . . . Matt [Biolos] was actually the last guy I wanted to talk to. He really had nothing going on at the time. They weren’t even on the map. But I needed an outlet to do the art and I wanted to meet him. That day I walked in there I was more or less looking to do something fun. I was making more money working at Stewart than I had in my whole life. Working with Matt was more of a release; it was just fun.
And to think, now Brophy is designing shirts for tradeshows. . . Click the link for the rest of the story.
Last night (January 2, 2010) at the Staple Center the Los Angeles Lakers organization helped Kelly Slater celebrate his 10 ASP World Titles with a private pre-game party that included 20 of Kelly’s closest friends, food, drinks, and a special surfing cake.
After catching up with his friends over some great food, drinks, and a little cake, Kelly was off to his courtside seat where he would wait for the Laker’s staff to come and get him to present the game ball at center court just prior to tip off. After the players were introduced, Kelly was escorted out to center court where Kelly presented the ball to the ref.
He and Kalani then watched the Lakers lose to the Memphis Grizzlies up close and personal. There’s just nothing like watching the Lakers lose at home.
Recently researchers developed a low-tech device shaped like a trash can and doused with a chemical mixture that smells like the decaying matter which draws pregnant mosquitos in. Inside, the mosquitos land on insecticidal fabric, which kills them and any eggs they’ve laid.
If they work these little stinky trash cans seems like a nice addition to the traveling surfer’s quiver.
Stephanie Gilmore, the four-time ASP Women’s World Surfing Champion and probably the sweetest pro surfer ever was attacked outside her home last night (December 27, 2010) and beaten with an iron bar, according to a story on ABC.net.au.
The 22-year-old has a broken wrist and cuts after the attack outside her home in Tweed Heads on the New South Wales far north coast. . . Police say Gilmore was approached and hit twice by the man who then fled on a pushbike. . . She was taken to hospital for treatment.
The man reportedly returned a second time to her home and friends and neighbors “held him” until police arrived. The man, who was denied bail is being charged with “numerous offenses.” Our thoughts are with Stephie and we wish her a speedy recovery. She is tough.
And now for the old news department: Yes, the rumor we’ve been sitting on for nearly a month is true: The La Jolla Group has handed the . . . Lost clothing license back to co-owners Matt Biolos and Joel Cooper, according to a story on ApparelNews.net.
