The Quiksilver women’s USA and Canada license was just picked up by Velocity Brand Group where it will join fellow Authentic zombie brand Lucky Brand Jeans in the company’s garment production machine, according to a story on Just-Style.
Velocity Global Brands, Inc. is a major apparel manufacturer with over 25 factories across Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Lesotho, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Burma. This global presence enhances production capacity and offers a diverse range of expertise; contributing to our ability to consistently deliver high quality products.
Not that anyone really cares about the brand any longer, but it is crazy how this game is played, isn’t it?
You know, ’cause we all could use a little more chaos and violence (and Nicolas Cage) in our lives. . . and yeah, getting some Peter WeirThe Cars That Ate Paris Ozploitation vibes for sure.
We are getting really tired of surfers dying stories. But, here’s another great loss to our world. Randy Miod’s was found in the burned ashes of his home “The crab shack” on PCH.
Tempe, Arizona’s Big Surf wave pool made famous in the movie North Shore is reportedly being turned into a business park according to as story on KJZZ.com (k-jizz?)
Big Surf, the park on McClintock Road just north of the Red Mountain Loop 202, first opened in 1969, but closed its doors when the pandemic began and never re-opened. Following the closure multiple items from the site were auctioned off. . . In 2022, Overton Moore Properties bought the waterpark site for more than $49 million.
Wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be the endgame for most wave pools being built today. For more on this history, check this.
Mike Hynson (picutred right) star of Bruce Brown’s The Endless Summer died Friday, January 10, 2025 after a recent illness, according to a story in the San Diego Union Tribune. He was 82.
He was handsome and brash and cemented a reputation for navigating the San Diego County surf long before he was captured on film and propelled to worldwide celebrity. . . .Michael Hynson, co-star of the definitive surf movie “The Endless Summer” and an adopted son of Encinitas, parlayed his passion for waves into a lifetime of sand and sport on beaches across the globe.
True indeed. The family is reportedly planning a paddle out at Windansea in June 2025. So watch for more details to come.
We’re always interesting in what Thomas Campbell is doing. In this instance, he’s adding flavor to Josh Hall’sSkip Frye inspired “Le Sliviar” glider model surfboards.
Yes, occasionally it takes an outside view to show us how really great some of our own people are. Take Scott Hulet for example. We all know he is an amazing editor, writer, and all around proper surf journalist. Duh? And sure, he has a book out that collects some of his best writing about South of the border. But seeing it reviewed in an online literary journal makes it so much more meaningful. Doesn’t it?
Take for instance Florida man Dan Reiter’s review of Hulet’s Flow Violento on the literary site The Millions. Reiter says:
Over the past 25 years, the brightest and most consistent star in its constellation has been Scott Hulet. Equal parts T.S. Eliot, Hunter S. Thompson, and Jon Krakauer, Hulet stirs in wit, jazz-improvisational style, and a gift for aphorism (“Shoals are generally discovered by their victims”; “There’s something comforting about seeing a pirate at rest”) that has become manna to the waterman faithful. As both contributor and editor of the Journal, he has done perhaps more than anyone on the planet to elevate the corpus of surf writing.
Boom. How’s that? Pretty good company. Make you want to read it now? How about if Reiter calls Hulet the “patron saint of surf lit”? How about now? If you do, click here and space villain Jeff Bezos will send one directly to your door. And even if you don’t, at least click the link to read the rest of the review because boy, oh boy, does Dan Reiter love him some Hulet writing.
Ah, after all that we should probably point out that Reiter writes for The Surfer’s Journal (and Surfer and ESM at least once) so maybe. . . so maybe someone will write a glowing review of his book On A Rising Swell when it comes out in April 2025. Who knows?
Ground has been broken on the Coachella Valley’s next wave pool, according to a story on Blooloop.
Wavegarden, a leading manufacturer of artificial wave-generating systems, is celebrating the start of construction for DSRT Surf at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. . . The DSRT Surf resort will be anchored by a Wavegarden Cove surf park spanning 5.5 acres and is expected to open to visitors in early summer 2026. This will be the second and largest Wavegarden Cove in the US.
Ok. Cool. Might have to try this one. . . if we’re not too old when it’s finally finished.
Kelly Slater has a rental property that he would like you to consider buying. Not really a surf-out-front house, but on the water and not too shabby. The only problem? He wants $20 million for it, according to My San Antonio.
Built in 2001, the retreatlike residence is on just over a half-acre. There are ocean views throughout, with soaring ceilings and equally high glass doors. . . There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread across a main home and two guesthouses. Organic influences are also apparent: Wood factors prominently throughout the design in several living and sitting areas. . .An infinity pool and a hot tub are surrounded by mature tropical landscaping, and the beach is just behind the house. . . The listing calls the pad “an exclusive showcase of nature’s splendor, and every moment spent in the gardens feels like an escape to a personal retreat.”
Slater apparently purchased the home in 2017 for $7.8 million. $12 million profit for seven years of not doing much doesn’t sound so bad. Way to let your money work for you, Kelly! Click the link for all the details.
We wondered what plans Jamie Slater aka Athentic Brands Group had for Quiksilver, Billabong, et. al. when he purchased the Boardrider Group back on September 1, 2023, so we’re not surprised to see him begin selling it off in little pieces to whomever is interested. The first piece of Boardriders is reportedly going to French group Beaunamoir, according to a story on Fashion Network. The company, which owns a load of fashion brands you’ve likely never heard of, has reportedly “entered into exclusive negotiations . . . to buy the Western European activities of the Boardriders Group made up of Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, Element and RVCA.”
Roland Beaumanoir, the group’s CEO, believes that this takeover “would develop the Beaumanoir Group’s expertise in the lifestyle segment, which is doing well. The Boardriders brands are emblematic and offer a lifestyle that is both relaxed and driven by a passion for outdoor sports. We would therefore be delighted to take on the challenge of promoting these brands on the European market.” Details of the countries covered by the agreement have not yet been released.
Brands are brands and apparently they have value long after they’ve died. If Jamie knows anything, it’s Zombie brands. So we’re going to just trust him to do the right thing for his wallet.
We wondered what plans 
