by The Editors on December 28, 2008
To us Alex Knost has always been “that RVCA guy with a cool haircut” who is in that band that we’ve seen dozens of photos of, but never heard.”
We’ve seen him surf in Thomas Campbell’s film Sprout, but obviously we haven’t followed along properly. Now, after reading Joel Patterson’s profile (which we’re guessing is/was from an old (or never published) issue of Water Magazine on Surfline.com) we’re a little bummed that we haven’t paid Mr. Knost more attention. But that’s what good writing does. Right?
Alex looks like a beat poet. At 23, he is taller than average, and he sports a hipster haircut and a tan so true one suspects foul play. He smiles easily and contagiously, though his default facial expression seems to be that of someone listening with purpose to a conversation he’s eavesdropping on: head slightly cocked, eyes narrowed, focus shifting.
With lines like that, how can you not read the rest.
[Link: Surfline]
by The Editors on December 28, 2008
The San Diego Union-Tribune has again jumped in on the SUP vs. surfers story with a piece on what’s going on in the water in Cardiff, California.
But the temptation to grab the wave is almost irresistible when one has such an overwhelming advantage, said Scott Bass, a former professional surfer, author and filmmaker who helped popularize stand-up paddle surfing at Cardiff Reef. “The animosity out there is pretty thick and it’s understandable,” said Bass, editor of Surfer magazine’s Web site. “And it’s because, no matter how hard we try to share, we’re almost always catching another wave.”
There’s much back and forth between the stand-ups and the shortboarders, but we keep coming back to the same question: aren’t the janitors supposed to clean up after the party is over?
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on December 27, 2008
We’re glad to see our favorite old supermodel still trying new things (with Rusty Miller no less). Elle Macpherson is 44. Can you believe that? But she still looks good in the water.
Click the link for the entire photo gallery.
[Link: The Daily Telegraph]
by The Editors on December 27, 2008
Bruce Strunk, 56, owner of Spunky’s Surf Shop in Fort Pierce, Florida who went missing Friday December 26, 2008 at about 9 AM after reportedly running by the bank to make a deposit was found alive 12 hours later. Friends and family has originally found his his truck “abandoned at John Brooks Park on South Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County” but couldn’t locate him.
“Mr. Strunk was found in some heavy weeds and brush east of the dune line about 9:20 this evening,” said Sheriff Mascara from South A1A where deputies located Strunk. “Our helicopter equipped with an infrared sensing device called a FLIR (‘forward looking infrared‘) located Mr. Strunk, and deputies were sent to the scene.“
He was taken to a hospital for an evaluation. We’re not even going to hazard any guesses on this one.
[Link: WPTV.com]
by The Editors on December 24, 2008
According to a new study released by Oregon State University surfers “unintentionally ingest 10 times more water than swimmers or divers, putting them at higher risk of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses when surfing in contaminated waters.” Having experience “shit-mouth” while surfing dirty third-world river mouths we believe it.
The results of this Sea Grant study could be useful to public health and environmental officials responsible for beach sampling and advisory thresholds. . . . “On beaches popular with surfers, for example, officials might want to consider lowering the advisory threshold because surfers ingest higher doses of water than swimmers,” said Anna Harding, a professor in the OSU Department of Public Health who collaborated with Stone on the study.
That would be a start. How about lowering the amount of pollution that gets into the ocean in the first place? Until then we’re following the advice of our old social drinking coach: swallow less, spit more.
[Link: KVAL.com]
by The Editors on December 24, 2008
Da Hui and Quiksilver got together December 23, 2008 to bring a little holiday joy to the kids at the Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children, according to a story in the Honolulu Advertiser.
Top contemporary competitors such as Makua Rothman, Kala Alexander and Myles Padaca (pictured above with Julian Rimm) plus past competitors like Tom Pohaku Stone, Mel Pu’u and Bryan Amona were among the dozen surf industry people from Da Hui and Quiksilver to spread cheer and good wishes . . . Quiksilver and Da Hui brought surf poster, caps, T-shirts and goody bags filled with candy, stickers, key chains and gifts for each child. The surfers autographed posters, took photographs with the children and gave them words of encouragement.
It’s great that Da Hui could time a little time out from regulating duties to spread some holiday happiness.
[Link: Honolulu Advertiser]
by The Editors on December 22, 2008
Bob McKnight, Joe Scirocco, Bruce Thomas, and Marty Samuels covered a lot of ground in last week’s conference call, but there was one topic that they didn’t go over: the rumor that Quiksilver is actively negotiating the sale of DC Shoes.
This rumor has gained momentum lately most likely because the deal seems to make sense. On the conference call DC was repeatedly spoken of as a bright spot in Quiksilver’s brand portfolio. If Quik could unload DC Shoes for somewhere in the $700 million range, that would go a long way toward covering the company’s $1 billion debt. It would also allow Quiksilver to get back to basics with its core business after spending a couple years running the whole expansion thing into the ground. Not to mention it being a relief to many DC employees who believe all their hard work is being blown by bad business decision at the mothership. It probably wouldn’t hurt the company’s stock price, either.
So far no “official word” on the sale.
by The Editors on December 22, 2008
The LA Times continues their surf coverage blitz with this Jerry Crow story on how Surfing Still Shapes The Life of Landlocked Gerry Lopez.
A master at the notorious Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, one of the world’s most dangerous breaks, Lopez says he continues to surf “pretty much any time it looks good,” even though doing so requires making the four-hour drive between his home in Bend and the distant waves off Pacific City.
Seems a great surf icon is always good for a story, and for business.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on December 22, 2008
Mavericks contest organizers finally got their sponsors are all lined up and the waiting period starts on January 1, 2009, according to a Bruce Jenkins column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Sources indicated that details are forthcoming, but the primary sponsors are said to be Jim Beam bourbon and benefactors Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision Equity Partners. . . . We’re all stoked that the sponsors stepped up and we’re back for another year,” said contest director Jeff Clark, the Half Moon Bay surfer who pioneered Maverick’s in the mid-1970s. “When Maverick’s is on, it’s the most challenging venue in surfing.”
Nice to see the economy isn’t killing everything.
[Link: San Francisco Chronicle]
by The Editors on December 21, 2008
Australia’s Herald Sun is reporting that the Bra Boys are having some trouble as two “bikie clans” have begun moving in on the surfers’ territory in Maroubra Beach. Most recently was a 20 person brawl at the Maroubra Bay Hotel last weekend.
Police are investigating several violent clashes between members of the Bra Boys and the Bandidos in recent weeks at the renowned Maroubra Bay Hotel. . . . Police said they have observed the Bandidos and another bikie clan, the Comancheros, establishing an unwelcome presence in the Bra Boys’ stronghold.
Bra Boys co-founder Sunny Abberton (right) says there is no war going on with “the bikies.”
Mr Abberton also denied any Bra Boys involvement in Saturday night’s brawl. . . . “I didn’t hear or see anything,” he said. “I was in the Maroubra Bay Hotel earlier and it all seemed pretty quiet.”
[Link: Herald Sun]
To us Alex Knost has always been “that RVCA guy with a cool haircut” who is in that band that we’ve seen dozens of photos of, but never heard.”
