by The Editors on December 17, 2008
We’ll probably hear more about this in the conference call tomorrow, but ASR is reporting that Quiksilver (and all its brands but DC Shoes) will “miss the January event for the first time since ASR was held in Long Beach,” according to a Shop-eat-surf.com.
Today Quiksilver told organizers that the brand will miss the January event for the first time since ASR was held in Long Beach,” the statement said. . . . “ASR continues to look for ways to work with Quiksilver and the industry as a whole through these hard times.”
Anyone want to buy a great surfwear brand?
[Link: Shop-eat-surf]
by The Editors on December 16, 2008
This should be entertaining. This Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 1:30 PST Quiksilver will host a “conference call to review its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter and year-end financial results
The broadcast will be hosted at www.quiksilverinc.com and at www.viavid.net. To listen to the broadcast, your computer must have Windows Media Player installed. If you do not have Windows Media Player, go to the latter site prior to the call, where you can download the software for free.
Get your rig ready and listen up.
[Link: Welt.de]
by The Editors on December 15, 2008
One of the biggest reasons we rarely watch Fuel TV is because it was never on our cable system. We always wondered why they couldn’t simply put their shows on their website so we could check them out any time we wanted. Finally, our wonders have been partially answered with Fuel TV’s the new HD web player from Move Networks.
“FUEL TV is the only television network dedicated to action sports,” says Gene Pao, FUEL TV Vice President of New Media and International Development. “Now FUEL TV will be the first place consumers can watch full-length HD action sports shows online. The quality of the viewing experience is really unmatched anywhere online in the action sports world.”
Soon we’ll be able to watch The Standard Snowboard Show, Firsthand, and FUEL TV presents Camp Woodward, but the bummer is that full-length episodes “will only be available on the web site for a limited time.” Huh? Well, at least it’s one step in the right direction. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 14, 2008
James Strong, 64, the chariman of the board at Rip Curl resigned from the board on November 20, 2008 but the company only just told the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on Friday, according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He will remain on the boards of Woolworths and Insurance Australia Group – he is chairman of both – and Qantas. He also plans to keep his small stake in Rip Curl. . . .His decision to step down from the Victorian company comes amid turbulent times for surfwear retailers. Billabong is suffering from a slowdown in global sales, and some US analysts say Quiksilver may have to put itself up for sale because of its hefty debt load.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on December 13, 2008
At San Diego Connect’s 21st Annual Most Innovative Products Awards ceremony in La Jolla, on Friday December 12, 2008, the awards didn’t all go to the electronic or biotech firms. No, Firewire Surfboards ran away with the Action and Sports Technology Best Product award.
The design features carbon composite rods inserted near the surfboard’s rail, or edges, to enhance deep, carving turns. Connect introduced the action sports category last year to recognize the rapidly expanding cluster of recreational sports companies in the region.
It’s nice to see the words “technology” and “surfboards” in the same sentence.
[Link: Xconomy]
by The Editors on December 13, 2008
In something of a logic reach (nice, if it got him a paid trip to Hawaii) The New York Times writer Matt Higgins delves into the fading economy, Quiksilver’s stock price, and professional surfing and discovers that for the most part surfers don’t really care.
Randy Rarick, the executive director of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, taking place on the North Shore of Oahu this week, said: “I have a little saying, ‘The stock market is down; surf is up.’ No matter what, you don’t have a paycheck coming in, you’re not doing anything, you can still go out and catch a wave.”
And then there is Quik team manager Strider Wasilewski:
“A lot of these guys live in their own reality, which they have created — which is a good one,” he said. “Most of these guys don’t even know there’s a recession.”
Apparently, it’s the fashion industry that is having problems, not surfing. And that is a good thing to remember.
[Link: The New York Times]
by The Editors on December 12, 2008
It was a battle in the rain as Kelly Slater and Chris Ward sat and surfed in some large and funky Pipeline. But Kelly Slater, riding his 5’11” Al Merrick, did what he always seems to do: he surfed with knowledge, skill, and fluidity and will go home with that Gerry Lopez trophy board and his 6th Pipeline Masters title.
“There was no doubt in my mind, this guy is unbelievable. Wardo is one of the best barrel riders in the world,” Kelly said. “He got me out here last year. If he would have let me win last year, maybe he could have gotten this one today.”
Wardo came close, but because of Slater’s win Joel Parkinson takes his first Triple Crown Title. No offense to Wardo, but Parkinson was over ended up runner. “Andy has taken it away from me twice and today I was thinking this just can’t happen again,” Parkinson said.
[Link: Billabong Pipeline Masters]
by The Editors on December 12, 2008
by The Editors on December 11, 2008
Yesterday, during his third-round Billabong Pipeline Masters heat against 2008 Triple Crown points leader Dusty Payne, Joel Parkinson scored two perfect 10 wave scores and joins Kelly Slater as the only surfers ever to surf a perfect heat. And we missed it!
I never thought I would get two perfect 10s, it’s not something you hear about every day,” the world No.4 said. “I have to start thinking more about the Triple Crown now. I have to forget about those 10s.”
So when is the ASP going to have to take make the points scale go to 11?
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on December 11, 2008
Jared Smith, a 19-year-old surfer from Australia thought it might be nice to have a quiver without having a quiver. So he designed a surfboard which snap-out switchable tails.
Using a 20-cent coin, the surfer can unscrew the joint at about a third of the board’s length and connect a different tail to suit the break. . . . Mr Smith’s board earned the Best Potential for Commercialisation award at an exhibition of HSC Design and Technology projects for 2007.
While the Chinese company Headside Surf Gears has “expressed interest” in making the boards for Smith, he would much rather license the technology to a company like Billabong or Rip Curl and “get paid royalties.” Sadly, we’re going to bet that never happens.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
We’ll probably hear more about this in the conference call tomorrow, but ASR is reporting that Quiksilver (and all its brands but DC Shoes) will “miss the January event for the first time since ASR was held in Long Beach,” according to a Shop-eat-surf.com.
