by The Editors on April 14, 2009
Much has been written about Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, but when he was in Australia for the opening of a Patagonia store in Torquay (opened in partnership with surf legend Wayne Lynch) The Age’s Saturday Editor Michael Gordon got to check in with the businessman that Gordon calls a contrarian.
The contrarian streak is evident soon after our conversation begins, overlooking the surf at Torquay. “I don’t like authority and I always wanted to do it my way,” he says. “I wanted to have a company where I could do things differently and not end up like a grease-ball businessman.”
We’ve always thought Patagonia was a little too cool to be cool, but this profile on the man behind the brand made us like their whole groove a little more than we did before reading it. And that surprised us a little.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on April 14, 2009
Just got this very sad note from SIMA:
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is deeply saddened by this morning’s passing of its longtime president, leader and guiding light, Dick Baker, after his two-year battle with cancer. The SIMA Board of Directors, Advisory Boards and staff are devastated by the loss.
Baker became involved with SIMA in 2000 after coming to work for the iconic surf brand Ocean Pacific (Op), and served as president of SIMA for nine years. His presidency was instrumental in creating the vibrant trade association of Orange County based surf lifestyle brands, and he provided unfailing leadership and guidance throughout a time that has marked the association’s largest growth and expansion.
“Words cannot express our grief or how greatly Dick will be missed,” said Sean Smith, SIMA executive director. “Dick’s leadership in SIMA was absolutely unparalleled. I speak on behalf of the SIMA family and entire surf industry in saying he was so much more than our leader – he was our mentor, our best friend, a role model, a confidant. As a person he was generous, positive and a devoted family man. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Information regarding memorial services will be shared when available. Please contact the SIMA office with questions or inquiries.
Follow the jump for more comments about Dick Baker and stories from his life of business leadership and caring contributions to the surf industry. . .
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by The Editors on April 14, 2009
As surprised as we were to discover that there is a World Championships of Kneeboarding, the story of 49-year-old photojournalist Michael Fernandez was even better. According to a story in the Taranaki Daily News, Fernandez was the 1981 American Kneeboard Champion until school, a trip through the armed forces, and a career as a photojournalist ended that for a while.
Now, 25 years later Michael is in New Zealand competing for the American team at the World Championships and hoping to travel to Afghanistan for his next assignment.
He got back into the waves four years ago and is now part of the nearly 20-strong team of Americans competing at the World Kneeboard Surfing Champs in Opunake this week. . . .A resident of the landlocked state of Pennsylvania, achieving happiness is as simple as surfing twice a month, though that is easier said than done. . . .”It takes me three hours to get to the coast. Depending on the weather I surf at New York, New Jersey or Maryland.”
Apparently, the depth of talent in kneeboarding is such that someone can take 25 years off and still be competitive. Either than or Fernandez is one savage kneeler.
[Link: Taranaki Daily News]
by The Editors on April 14, 2009
On April 22, 2009 iPath employees along with surf and skate teams will be joining up with the DBC Ride Shop, Sambazon, Soleo Sunscreen and the Boys & Girls Club of San Clemente on a day-long event in celebration of Earth Day.
Beginning at approximately 10 AM, the Turf & Surf crew will meet at San Clemente’s Ralph’s Skate Court to pick-up trash in and around the park. Following the cleanup, the crew on hand from IPATH will hang around for a quick skate session with anyone in attendance. . . After cleaning up the skatepark, the Turf & Surf participants will make their way over to San Clemente’s North Beach for a beach cleanup. If the waves are good, some of IPATH’s surf team may make their way out into the water too. . . “Earth Day gives us a reminder that we should all be doing our part in helping to maintain and preserve what’s around us,” said IPATH’s Dave Smith. “Even though skateboarding typically takes place in an urban setting, skaters are still affected by the environment around them. From trash laying around a park to garbage on the beach, if we all participated a little, we’d have a big change in the end.”
Nice event for a good cause, and seriously has Ohio Dave ever sounded more eloquent?
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by The Editors on April 14, 2009
The surf statue in Cardiff, California has been the site for one joke after another since it was first put up. This Easter, it looked a little like this according to a photo in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
Rip Curl Pro wild card Owen Wright showed the world today that his round one victory over Dane Reynolds was not a fluke. With consistently smooth, powerful backhand surfing Wright simply put Kelly Slater away in an extremely close heat.
Early on Kelly had some trouble with the lip, nothing compared to his rail tripping during the Quiksilver Pro, but glitches just the same. He pulled into a couple little coverups, got a nice floater, but lacked the explosive perfection that the world (and the judges) have come to expect.
Owen Wright just stuck to it and ended up with a 14.67 to Slater’s 13.83. “There was a lot of pressure,” Wright said in his post heat interview. “Then I thought to myself. ‘I can surf. I’m not that bad of a surfer.’ I know he’s the 9 time world champion, but I just figured if I do what I do it might be enough at the end of the day. . . I’m really happy to get one on Kelly Slater. There won’t be many chances like that that come around. I’m so stoked right now.”
Now the big question: will Kelly stay with it or throw in the hopes of number 10? We’re hoping he hangs in for a couple more.
[Link: Rip Curl Pro]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
Yes, there is an action sports hierarchy. And here is YoBeat’s Nick Lipton version (with a little help from Robbie Sell).
Obviously we cannot consider snowskaters, kite boarders, skibladers, or any of those other silly make-believe sports into our equation. Including such activities could lead us into the troubled waters of soap shoes, heelies, and other gimmicks that should have never been invented.
For the rest of Nick’s entertainingly navel gazed explanation of where we all line up follow the link. . . if you have a little time that needs killing.
[Link: YoBeat.com]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
A 56-year-old father of two from Dublin, Ireland died surfing Saturday on the island of Inis Oirr from hitting his head on a rock after falling “awkwardly from his board,” according to a story on Herald.ie.
Shocked family members watched in horror as the tragedy unfolded off Ceann na Faochán on the southwest of Inis Oirr. . . He was unable to swim back to shore and was pulled from the water by his son who attempted resuscitation while another family member ran for help. . . The medical student gave his father the kiss of life but his efforts failed.
Our thoughts are with is family and friends.
[Link: Herald.ie]
by The Editors on April 9, 2009
The Surfing Heritage Foundation and Nike 6.0 are presenting a three part event on the fourth Friday of April, May, and June where the photo editors of the big three surf magazines (Surf, Surfing, and Surfer) will present a slide show and discuss the ins-and-outs of dealing with surf photographers and explain how they choose photos in a way that keeps all their advertisers happy all the time.
The line-up looks something like this:
Fri., April 22: Aaron Checkwood/ Transworld Surf
Fri., May 22: Pete Taras/ Surfing Magazine
Fri., June 26: Grant Ellis/ Surfer Magazine
Tickets cost $15 and there is limited seating so sign up soon. Just talking about it kind of makes us miss light tables, and seeing those guys hunched over in a dark room illuminated from below. . . we’ll leave it at that.
[Link: Surfing Heritage Foundation via Global Surf News]
by The Editors on April 8, 2009
In the hunt to find a reason to pay for Surline’s “premium subscription” the wave forecasting site is rolling out a new “HD surf-cam experience” for those who just aren’t getting enough wave detail on the free cams.
Surfline’s founder Sean Collins says, “In March 2009, Surfline introduced the very first live HD Surf Cam from Surfline headquarters in Huntington Beach. Using a 16:9 format and high-resolution detail, the video streaming quality is excellent, and viewing the online camera is as if you are actually on location and watching the waves from our office.”
Sure, eventually all surf cams (and cameras in general) will be high definition, but are we really going to pay to see Newps in HD? Nope. But if we were already paying it would be a nice upgrade.
[Link: Surfline]
Much has been written about Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, but when he was in Australia for the opening of a Patagonia store in Torquay (opened in partnership with surf legend Wayne Lynch) The Age’s Saturday Editor Michael Gordon got to check in with the businessman that Gordon calls a contrarian.
