When the USA sends surfing athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 they will be there under the coaching leadership of 1984 Pipeline Master and founder of the Professional Surfing Association of America Pastor Joey Buran.
“One thing all successful Olympic gold-medal coaches prioritize is their coaching staff. To achieve success, you must surround yourself with the best, and these coaches are a formidable force for Team USA surfing as it prepares to win medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” Buran said.
Good on him. For the official word on Mr. Buran and the rest of his coaching team from the “National Governing Body for surfing in the United States” please follow the jump.
Thinking of surfing Portugal this summer? The Truck Surf Hotel might just be the perfect place to stay. A Portuguese surf couple took a Mercedes Actros truck and modded it (with the help of an RV building) into an transformer-like two-story, five bedroom hotel that sleeps 10 in beautiful modern style. That may be a few too many people for one bathroom, but you’re in the water all day anyway so whatever. They spend their winters in Morocco and summers in Portugal. For all the details click the link. or here if their website is still crushed.
More evidence that some brands never say die comes from a new collab between Maui & Sons and mall denim company American Eagle according to a story in Apparel News.
On June 1, the denim-focused American Eagle will debut a collaboration line, called American Eagle x Maui and Sons, with the heritage surf brand, said Blake Harrington, executive vice president of licensing and business development at Maui and Sons, headquartered in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood. . . The collaboration line will be available exclusively at all American Eagle doors, which number more than 1,000 stores in North America, China and Hong Kong.
Seems like a really cheap way for American Eagle to get some quality retro, surf T-shirt graphics. Good on ya, zombies.
Join all the surfers, shapers, designers, artists, and lurkers as they descend on the Del Mar Fairgrounds next weekend (May 5-6, 2018) for The Boardroom International Surfboard Show presented by US Blanks.
The show features hundreds of incredible surfboards by top shapers, the Icons of Foam shaping contest honoring Marc Andreini, live glassing demos by Douglas Surf Products, the California Gold Surf Auction preview, live music by Hold Fast, Tower 7, and Lay Low, as well as ukulele and guitar builds and demos, and much, much, more like great deals on boards, wetsuits, art and gear.
Tickets are $15 a day at the door ($20 for both days) or save $5 and order online. For all the details, please click the link. The Del Mar Fairgrounds are located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014, where the surf meets the turf.
The defections continue. It seems all the Americans want a guaranteed spot on an Olympic team (any Olympic team) when surfing makes it debute in Tokyo. First it was Kanoa Igarashi facing east and choosing Japan. Now current women’s number four ripper Tatiana Weston-Webb has announced her allegiance to team Brazil.
Due to possessing dual citizenship between the USA and Brazil, Weston-Webb is eligible to change nations, subject to the ISA’s approval through a formal review process in accordance with the ISA Rules. As the world governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the ISA is required to validate any requested change of nationality, also in compliance with the Olympic Charter.
Você está de parabens, Tati! For the official word from the ISA, please follow the jump.
Kanoa Igarashi is now officially surfing for Nippon. The International Surfing Association (ISA) officially approved Igarashi’s request to represent the nation of Japan at future ISA World Championships and potentially the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Effective immediately, Igarashi will be eligible to represent Japan and will be able to surf on Team Japan through the qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.. . . Igarashi previously represented USA in ISA World Championships and the WSL Championship Tour, but due to his possession of dual citizenship with USA and Japan, he is eligible to change nations.
Guess this means he’s pretty serious about going to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. For all the details, click the link.
Tuesday April 24, 2018 is the day that Boardriders, Inc. (Oaktree Capital’s action fashion brand holding company) officially takes the reigns at Billabong. The company has wasted no time waving bye-bye to Billabong’s board of directors and others including Neil Fiske, Peter Myers, Tracey Wood, Jim Howell, Mara Pagotto, and Paul Burdekin. But that list is sure to get much longer of the next few weeks. And presented their list of new “appointments.”
“Today marks the beginning of what will be a turning point for our industry,” said Dave Tanner, Chief Executive Officer of Boardriders Inc. “With the combination of Boardriders and Billabong, we bring together the best of both companies, creating a dynamic enterprise under the Boardriders umbrella.”
At least we can agree with Dave on the whole “turning point for our industry” thing. Which way its turning will be up for discussion for years. We are happy to say that we still know two people at the new mega corp. If you’d like to check the list for your friends, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
We’re all looking forward to checking this one out — especially those of us who were fans of Andy Irons in spite of full knowledge that he was on the downward spiral. We hope Kissed By God can be both a celebration AI’s life and a cautionary tale for an industry that has all too often ignored serious personal issues in pursuit of quality marketing. You know what we mean.
Kissed By God premiere’s in Los Angeles, CA on May 2, 2018 at the Regency Village Theater. In Honolulu, May 6, 2018 at the Hawaii Theatre Center, and in NYC on May 10, 2018 at NYU Skirball. For all the details click the link.
We all love a good zombie story, so how’s this? Men’s fashion label Perry Ellis has just signed a deal with Kennek FZE in North Africa to “source and distribute a full range of products from surf boards and wetsuits to casual wear and footwear under the Gotcha brand.”
“We at Kennek are very proud and excited to join the Gotcha family and showcase the Gotcha brand’s action sports legacy. We look forward to expanding the Gotcha brand with franchises throughout Africa and seeing the success of the Gotcha brand in North Africa in the years ahead,” said Mamoun Tadili, CEO of Kennek FZE.
It’s not dead yet, in fact, they’re still using all the old photos because, you know, it’s retro now.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help those most affected Kauai’s Hanalei-Haena Flood. Over $200,000 has already been raised, but the goal is $1 million. Here’s what organizers Koral McCarthy, Gabby Reece, and Hannah Skvarla have to say about it.
Your donations will help us move past this devastation, and we will remain transparent about how they are being managed. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work out logistics while also doing our part with impacted friends and neighbors. Thank you so much!
Tomorrow is Earth Day, maybe you can do you part be helping some people in this specific part of the world. For all the details, please click the link.
When the USA sends surfing athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 they will be there under the coaching leadership of 1984 Pipeline Master and founder of the Professional Surfing Association of America Pastor Joey Buran.
More evidence that some brands never say die comes from a new collab between Maui & Sons and mall denim company American Eagle according to a story in 
Tuesday April 24, 2018 is the day that Boardriders, Inc. (
We all love a good zombie story, so how’s this? Men’s fashion label Perry Ellis has just signed a deal with Kennek FZE in North Africa to “source and distribute a full range of products from surf boards and wetsuits to casual wear and footwear under the 
