by The Editors on July 21, 2009
We’ve laughed, wept, and vomited to @whoisJOB posts ever since Charlie Smith began writing them. Now, we get what is reportedly Jamie O’Brien’s view on why he had Chaz doing the tweeting for him. Here are a few bits from his post on LikeBitchim.com:
The fucking surf industry has strangled the surf media so tight for so long that the brains of all surf writers have turned to mush. The media and most of the surfers believe their own con. That surfers must be nice, polite, petite friends to political correctness and each other. Even if they are not, they must pretend. I am not this and I don’t care to be or pretend to be. I have enough friends, I have my own interests and I don’t need them told by drones. . . Fuck the magazines, fuck the fake interviews, fuck the false humility, fuck the deception and cover-ups. Write something else you little minded clones. Surfing is best left to me, writing to Charlie. Admire us and our freedoms until it inspires you enough to seek your own.
But, ah, this kind of sounds like Chaz writing again. . . either way, it’s good and we don’t want to mess with it.
[Link: Like Bitchin via @shantisos]
by The Editors on July 21, 2009
Tired of getting brand new boards completely ruined by baggage monkeys who know they can do whatever they want to surfboards in transit thanks to the waivers we all have to sign after paying the airline hundreds of dollars? SOMA AirBag Designs may have the answer.
SOMA has designed the air compartments into narrow linear columns. This keeps the protective air pressure isolated and firm in order to deflect damaging contact with your board and disperse the energy. This includes an individual column that wraps around the circumference of the rails that is also fused with 7mm closed cell foam for double rail protection as well as extra reinforcement around the tail and nose.
Sounds like the perfect solution for modern air travel: protection for the boards and a bed to sleep on when you get there.
[Link: SOMAdesigns via @MAContent]
by The Editors on July 20, 2009
When photographer Chris Bickford, 42, wanted to capture what it was like to surf and live in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina he went with black and white and no experience shooting surfing, according to a story on the New York Times Lens blog.
“I struggled, but that basically worked to my advantage,” Mr. Bickford said. “If I had shot the tack-sharp images you see in surf magazines, there wouldn’t have been anything interesting about it.”
Blurry photos were so artful. Click the link to view the entire slideshow.
[Link: Lens.Blog]
by The Editors on July 20, 2009
The Hawaiian Island Vintage Surf Auction brought in more than $767,000 from 379 bidders on Saturday and Sunday July 17-18, 2009, according to a story in the Associated Press.
The most expensive item was an 11-foot Bob Simmons foam sandwich board built around 1950 that sold for $40,000 to an Australian bidder. . . The same bidder also walked away with the second-highest item, a 1955 Matt Kivlin 10-foot balsa board for $39,000.
Looks like Fernando Aguerre has a little competition down under.
[Link: Associated Press and The Hawaiian Island Vintage Surf Auction]
by The Editors on July 20, 2009
Each summer just when it appears that the crowds in Huntington Beach, California can’t get any larger or the sand burn much hotter in roll 400,000 people for the US Open of Surfing–the largest surfing event in the world. Running all this week (July 18-26, 2009), the event will feature what the LA Times is calling “the richest prize in competitive surfing history.” The first place pay is only $20,000, but Hurley is throwing in an extra $80,000 bringing the total men’s first prize to $100,000.
After having watched street skater Chris Cole pull down $100,000 and vert skater PLG pull in $75,000 at last week’s Maloof Money Cup, it’s kind of sad that $100,000 is still such a big deal in professional surfing. But whoever wins the mens certainly won’t be complaining about anything.
In the women’s event it may be a different story. Featuring Stephanie Gilmore, Sofia Mulanovich, and eight of the top 10 from the ASP World Tour, the women’s event will pay out a $4,500 first place prize. Anyone want to kick in any extra cash for the girls? We thought not.
Click here for for the complete 2009 Hurley US Open schedule of the events.
[Link: Hurley US Open of Surfing and LA Times]
by The Editors on July 17, 2009
In anyone else’s hands the Drive Thru Series from Poor Specimen would likely have broken down on the side of the surf film highway years ago. But with Greg Browning at the wheel and Donovan Frankenreiter and Benji Weatherly’s as co-pilots it seems that they just keep getting better and better. This is especially true with Drive Thru Australia, which had its world premiere last night (July 16, 2009) at the world famous La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas, California.
The crowds began showing up at six o’clock and by the time the doors opened for the second of two sold out shows their was a mob out front. And this wasn’t a free surf film showing. It was full pop $8 night at the movies price. While Wired Magazine Editor Chris Anderson may think that digital content is headed for free, the Drive Thru series proves that surfers are not only willing to pay for quality content, but are quite happy doing it. “These are the best surfers in the world,” said one man standing in line for the 9 PM showing. “Of course I’m going to pay to see them.”
The other thing that didn’t seem to bother anyone was that this was Donovan Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherly and Greg Browning’s (pictured right with Pat O’Connell) second drive through Australia. Five years ago (an eternity to groms in the audience) they made a similar trip with Rob Machado, Kalani Robb, and Dean Morrison. This time Pat O’Connell, Shane Dorian, Mark Occhilupo, and Andy Irons joined in.
Follow the jump for more. . .
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 17, 2009
We’ve always been fans of the wahine. And there’s no better place than Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina for the 2009 East Coast Wahine Championships.
Surfer girls of all ages and all abilities are invited to compete in this fun for everyone surf contest. Longboard, Shortboard, Bodyboard, and Novice divisions.
Sign up soon before the spots are gone.
[Link: East Coast Wahines]
by The Editors on July 16, 2009
The Surfrider Foundation has teamed up with Legoland California in Carlsbad, California for the Celebrity Mosaic Project. A group of celebrities including musician Tom DeLonge, Tony Hawk, Al Pacino, Brooke Shields, Heidi Klum, Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Facinielli, and Thomas Gibson have built their own ocean-themed Lego mosaics that will be on display in the theme park and available for auction on Charitybuzz.com. All the proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation.
“We are excited to be celebrating SEA LIFE Aquarium’s first birthday and partnering with them for the Celebrity Mosaic Project,” says Matt McClain, Surfrider Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “Their idea to use unique celebrity mosaics as a creative way to educate the public about our fragile ocean and marine environments is fantastic and aligns perfectly with our mission.”
We always figured Matt McClain for a closet Lego blockhead but we are impressed that he rolled it into his work so seamlessly. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 16, 2009
Those who still have cable hooked up to their televisions can catch Shaun White and Brazilian big wave charger Maya Gabeira (she’s the one on the right) pick up their awards for Best Male and Female Action Sports Athletes at the 17th annual awards ceremony which were held last night (July 15, 2009) at the Nokia Theater L.A..
The show, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, will be televised on ESPN and ESPN HD on Sunday, starting at 9 p.m. ET.
Congrats to Shaun and Maya.
[Link: ESPN.com]
by The Editors on July 15, 2009
Rumors have been running since last month that new Black Box Distribution CEO/Partner Frank Messman would find a way to “grow the business” at Jamie Thomas’ warehouse but some are finding it a mystery that they have fallen off the street and become slaves to surf fashion with zero hesitation. That appears to be the case according to a Tiffany Montgomery story on Shop-eat-surf.com.
Carlsbad-based Black Box will be responsible for the sales and distribution of Insight in the U.S. – essentially backend operations. The Insight USA team will remain in charge of marketing and product and keep their offices in Los Angeles. The Insight sales management team will also work in Los Angeles. . . Black Box owner and President Jamie Thomas said he has admired Insight for awhile and described it as “the coolest apparel brand out there.” . . . “I appreciated the originality and rawness of the brand,” Jamie said. “I personally found it inspiring.”
Fear not men of North County, your women are safe for the time being. Insight USA President Jesse Faen will reportedly be staying in Los Angeles.
[Link: Shop-eat-surf.com]
We’ve laughed, wept, and vomited to @whoisJOB posts ever since Charlie Smith began writing them. Now, we get what is reportedly Jamie O’Brien’s view on why he had Chaz doing the tweeting for him. Here are a few bits from his post on LikeBitchim.com:
