Surfing

While normally getting coverage for his monster waveriding skills, or for his perfect fitness, USA Today’s story on Laird Hamilton (the Jake Burton of stand-up paddling) focuses on the business side of his life.

Hamilton this year joined the board of directors of San Diego-based H2O Audio, which makes products that waterproof digital audio players, such as iPod . . . . He’s done motivational speeches for companies and is releasing a fitness manual, Force of Nature: Laird Hamilton’s Handbook for Peak Living, in November. He also buys, develops and sells real estate in Hawaii and is developing property on Maui and Kauai. . . . And it appears he could already be headed for a business wipeout. In spring, Laird launched a clothing line called Wonderwall sold at retailer Steve & Barry’s, where most clothes sell for about $10. The retailer, though, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, and its future is murky.

Click the link for the rest of the surfer-as-businessman story.

[Link: USA Today]

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On July 26-27, 2008 the best skimboarders in the world will slide down to Laguna Beach, California’s Aliso Beach Park for the Victoria Skimboard World Championships.

“With professional and amateur athletes from all over the globe (Chile, Japan, Australia, etc.) battling for the coveted title of ‘World’s Best,’ the two-day action over the weekend will be intense,” said Trigg Garner, general manager of Victoria Skimboards.

We just thought you’d like to know. Check the waves right here.

[Link: Victoria Skimboards]

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It’s not easy staying up until 3 AM PST to watch surf contests on the other side of the world, but that’s just what we did last night as the Billabong Pro wrapped up at South Africa’s J-Bay.

First off, we have never seen a more amazingly produced Internet broadcast. The replays, multiple camera angles, beach interviews, graphics, commercials, and especially the commentary were all mind-blowingly tight. Billabong showed the rest of the world what online sports event coverage is supposed to look like.

At the same time, during last night’s action, Kelly Slater showed that his chess-game style competitive attack is unbeatable. In each of his quarters, semis, and final heats the 36 year old went out and surfed J-Bay perfectly. Going out early to get solid scores on the board, and then choosing waves like a master tactician he dominated current World Champ Mick Fanning, in the final to win his fourth event on this years WCT tour.

Slater beat Fanning 16.73 to 9.40 in the Billabong Pro Final. While conditions early this morning were clean and six foot (two metre), onshore winds made the semifinal and final tricky. . . . “I didn’t realize I was going to be overwhelmed by it, but I haven’t been in this position before, at this point of the year, with this many wins,” Slater said. “There are great things going on in my life so I’m just trying to soak it up and be appreciative.”

Oh yeah, about that number nine, number nine, number nine”

“I’d like to think I have it the bag but I have to be realistic, it’s early on – we’re not quite half way yet,” Slater said. “We have 11 events this year and this is number five. Last year at this point I was looking at Mick [Fanning] that way. He had a first, a couple seconds and a third so I’d imagine being on the same side of that coin and looking at someone with four firsts and a throwaway is probably tough to look at.”

Congrats to Kelly. To watch the complete finals (and the rest of last night’s action) click the link below and select VIDEO.

[Link: Billabong Pro]

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Darrell Martin, 55, the Oregon “doryman” who drove his boat directly through a pack of surfers near Pacific City, Oregon on July 6, 2008, severing 14-year-old snowboarder Cole Ortega’s arm will not be charged according to Tillamook County District Attorney Bill Porter.

Calling it an unfortunate accident, Tillamook County District Attorney Bill Porter says there was no crime committed when Cole Ortega’s left arm was severed near the beach in Pacific City. Porter says there are no signs that Doryman Darrell Martin was criminally negligent or reckless. He says he stopped outside the surf line, carefully trying to find the best path to shore while using his horn and having his son look out for surfers.

Apparently, the Tillamook County DA’s message to doryman is, “Hey, if you run over a couple surfers every now and again, don’t worry about. Just blow your horn and drive right through.”

[Link: 620kpoj.com Photo via OregonLive]

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