by The Editors on April 16, 2009
We’re not sure if it was just our fascination with Kelly Slater and the sadly absent Andy Irons or if the new ASP format just sucks. Either way, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells was one of the most dreadfully boring surf contests we’ve seen in a while. It seemed like the waiting period went on forever, and the guys were never, ever surfing. If it hadn’t been for Twitter we would have missed the entire contest.
We don’t mean to take anything away from winner Joel Parkinson, or from wildcard giant slayers Adam Robertson and Owen Wright. They were all killing it in some great waves. It’s just hard to stay interested in anything for two whole weeks. And we don’t think we’re alone.
Follow the jump for the ASP press release that is already posted on every surf site in the world.
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by The Editors on April 16, 2009
Ah, not so sure about his recent surfboard shapes, but when it comes to body lotion we trust Kelly Slater, especially his new Limited Edition Superbly Restorative Body Lotion created in collaboration with Kiehl’s. Here are just some of the details:
100% of proceeds up to $100,000 will support Waterkeeper Alliance, Helps improve skin’s resilience and texture, Helps enrich skin’s moisture barrier and most importantly it leaves skin soft with a healthy-looking sheen, and Formulated with a naturally-derived preservative system.
The label on the bottle features Kelly doing a big ol’ bottom turn. Wonder if Kalani has been giving Kelly some post heat-loss rub-downs with this stuff? The lotion costs $55 for 16 ounces and is all for a good cause.
[Link: Kiehl’s via LA Times]
by The Editors on April 16, 2009
Russel Crowe says that work on the Bra Boys film that may be his feature directorial debut is progressing nicely, according to Sky News.
“We are on our third different take on the story, probably on our second draft of our third take,” he said.
“We approached it in one way and it worked and encapsulated it nicely but it left too many things on the table so we’ve tried it a second way and had the same result. . . . We’re now in a place where we’re trying it a third way and it’s a little more satisfying in terms of the punch of the overall film.”
The film is not based on the documentary, but on the best-selling book My Brothers Keeper, by investigative reporters Charles Miranda and Angelea Kamper and follows the story of “standover man” Anthony Hines, his meeting with infamous Sydney surfing gang ‘the Bra Boys’, and his killing. According to Russel, the film will not start Mark Wahlberg and instead will feature Australian actors.
“This is a great Australian story and it belongs to the Australian film industry and it’s all well and good to finance it from overseas because film is an international medium but we’ve got great actors in our country.”
[Link: Sky News]
by The Editors on April 15, 2009
According to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald Billabong is a nightmare brand for ad agencies and television networks because they are playing by their own rules all the way around.
It does not make TV commercials, it does not book space on television. And its magazine ads are produced by its own team. Billabong is not just a surf brand, it is a media company, says the person in charge of producing the hours of surf-related content. . . “This just ups the ante,” says Scott Wallace of the deal announced last week with Sony. “We are turning into a media company as well as a clothing company.”
Wallace, formerly with IMG, and now VP New Media and Strategic Partnerships, appears to be putting Billabong on the right track. As we’ve said several times: if you want to control your message, be the messenger. And it looks like Wallace is doing just that.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on April 15, 2009
Stephan Hierhofer, 37, was reportedly surfing on his honeymoon in Capo Noli, Italy when he was knocked off his new surfboard and swept out to sea, according to a story in the Austrian Times.
Hierhofer ended up more than 50 miles from the beach where he’d waved to his wife as he tried out his new board in Capo Noli, northern Italy. . . Coastguards scrambled a rescue helicopter when his frantic family dialed emergency services after seeing a massive wave knock the 37-year-old teacher from Cologne, Germany, off his board. . . .But he was only saved when a yachtsman spotted him miles adrift further down the coast the next day.
Yet another reminder that taking surfboards on honeymoons is a bad, bad, omen.
[Link: Austrian Times]
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]
