by The Editors on September 10, 2008
It was Kelly Slater/Sunny Garcia showdown day at the Boost Mobile Pro. And while most everyone knew what the outcome would be, it was still exciting to watch; especially at the halfway point in the heat when Sunny Gracia was in the lead. There was a moment when we were wondering, “What if that was the last set of the heat?” But Sunny wasn’t that lucky and Slater marched on for the win.
Our favorite surfer of the day was Mick Fanning (below). He was surfing flawlessly and if he can keep his head together (which seems nearly impossible when he surfs against Slater) then he could take the event
More photos after the jump. . . (click to see them fullsize)
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by The Editors on September 9, 2008
When we look back at our time at the fall ASR Show we think of all the great things we missed: the people we didn’t talk to (like Hurley’s Bar Rafaeli, the skateboarding we didn’t see, and the amazing product that we missed. But then we realize that at least we have these photos to remember the show a by.
Follow the link for more photos and captions.
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by The Editors on September 9, 2008
It’s funny to go from hearing stories from Hawaii about how great Jack Johnson’s music is, to standing in line with him at Foodland at 10:30 at night, to seeing him \playing a couple songs for Steve Jobs at the September 9, 2008 Apple Let’s Rock event.
It’s even more impressive to find that Jack Johnson is the number one selling male artist of all time in the iTunes store (which now sells more music than any retailer in the world).
As always, Jack’s timing is perfection.
[Link: Gizmodo]
by The Editors on September 8, 2008
by The Editors on September 8, 2008
John Morgan, 51, the manager of surf shop Maddog Byron Bay was towed “like a jet ski” yesterday at Clarkes Beach when an 8 to 10-foot shark got caught up in his leash.
I had just come off a wave when I saw a large swirl of water,” he said. “I was then suddenly hauled backwards. . . . “It felt like I was riding behind a powerful jet ski. . . .The water was dirty so I couldn’t make out what type of shark it was but I knew from the splashing white water that it was roughly eight to ten foot (3m),” Mr Morgan said. . . . All I could think about was holding on and hoping the shark would untangle itself,” he said.
Eventually that is what happened and Morgan paddle directly back into shore.
[Link: The Sunshine Coast Daily]
by The Editors on September 8, 2008
It may have been held September 4-6, 2008, but this ASR show felt a lot like a typical January show in terms of size and scale. Still the must-attend trade show of the season, this year buyers, retailers, and exhibitors were gritting their teeth and smiling through a show that comes in the midst of a sliding U.S. economy.
At the surface, things seemed status quo—models in skimpy swimsuits handing out flyers, a full beer garden, after-show parties, and free-flowing drinks come 5 o’clock. But spend more than five minutes talking to nearly anyone on the floor, and the word recession rose quickly to the surface.
“I’m one of the few people here old enough to remember the last real recession,” says Jeff Harbaugh, market analyst and industry consultant. “It’s bad, and it’s going to be a while before we see the end of this one.”
Even those booths and brands who seemed unaffected were keeping their guard up. “As quickly as it comes, it can go,” says SkullCandy’s Luke Edgar in reference to his brand’s current meteoric popularity. “It’s especially important in hard-economic times to keep our heads down, be humble and treat our retailers with respect, and keep charging ahead.”
Click continue for the rest of the story. . .
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by The Editors on September 8, 2008
We hate to say it, but anyone who thought the 80s revival was over is thankfully wrong. Who would think that anyway?
From the look of some of the products on the floor at the September 2008 ASR show, the neon wave is just beginning to peak. Which is great for those who lived through it the first time. And even more fun for kids who’ve never seen color before.
Funny thing is: we like it all. Bright colors are rad. Video games are rad. And, the Dragon Domos (pictured above) are totally rad.
Follow the link for a few more rad things we saw at the show
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by The Editors on September 8, 2008
Surfers who grab a couple waves at Florida’s Ponce Inlet without getting bitten by a shark are beginning to sound more and more in the minority as the sharks nipped a 15 year old and 43 year old this weekend.
Minutes after a lifeguard began treating one surfer for a reported shark bite last weekend, another surfer informed the beach official he too had been attacked, WFTV of Orlando, Fla., reported Monday.
This brings the Ponce Inlet total to 21 so far this year.
[Link: UPI]
by The Editors on September 7, 2008
SIMA, the undisputed champion of trade show scheduling seems immovable. The wiley IASC is tired of living in its older surf bro’s shadow and wants to move the dates. Some hardgoods skate manufacturers (looking for anyone to blame for lagging sales) even say they want skateboarding to have its own trade show.
Retailers claim they’re going to enough shows already. Stuck right in the middle is ASR’s Andy Tompkins.
The talk of the show: who will win when titans clash at Brutal Schedule 09? One thing is sure: if ASR breaks up, retailers will be the losers. And they’re having a tough enough time already. Then again, we’re not sure many of the major labels care all that much about them anyway.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
by The Editors on September 7, 2008
We saw people walking around with these at the ASR show, but we couldn’t really figure out what they were. Now we understand, but it still makes no sense. Stand up skateboarding paddles that cost $149?
Some of the highlights of the Kahuna Big Stick™ Classic is a solid-wood barrel shaped grip with gentle, tapered oval shaft shape to give a great feel in a paddle weighing only 16 ounces. Fabric prints are sealed under the fiberglass for a sweet look. The tip is designed with dual high-performance rubber contacts to allow for high grip and durability and feel as you paddle on the pavement.
Buttons is a pretty heavy endorsement, so they must be serious. But seriously. . . ?
[Link: Kahunaboards.com]
