by The Editors on May 2, 2015
Remember how everyone was getting out from under their underwater mortgages during the last recession by doing a “short sale” claiming they couldn’t afford to make the payments on a loan that was more than their house was worth? Well, that’s apparently what former pro surfer (and RVCA co-founder) Conan Hayes did. But according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office he wasn’t exactly straight up about his ability to make the mortgage. They are charging him with “one felony count of grand theft with a sentencing enhancement allegation for property loss over $200,000” according to a story in the Orange County Register. According to the story:
Hayes co-owned the surf clothing brand RVCA and sold his interest in the company in 2010 for more than $7.5 million, prosecutors say. . . They allege that Hayes got the bank to approve the short sale by falsely claiming that he lost his job and was unemployed. But, they say, he didn’t tell the bank he made millions of dollars in the sale of the company.
If found guilty Hayes could face a maximum sentence of five years in jail. He’s currently out on $586,245 bail. For a little more background check Beach Grit and this.
[Links: Orange County Register and Beach Grit]
by The Editors on May 2, 2015
Surfer Keala Kennelly is reportedly suing the producers of the Bethany Hamilton bio pic Soul Surfer (Brookwell McNamara Entertainment, Inc.) because they denied her a role in the film based on her being “a lesbian, but also because they believed she starred in gay porn,” according to a story on Courthouse News.
In January 2010, Kennelly learned that Brookwell McNamara had chosen not to give her any role for the biopic, according to the suit. . . . Kennelly claims that as producers mulled over casting, a female producer told director Sean McNamara she “had some dirt on” Kennelly. . . “‘For one thing, she is gay,'” Kennelly’s complaint quotes the producer as saying. “‘And she does gay porn. It’s on the Internet.'”
Okay, so according to Courthouse News “though openly gay” Kennelly denies ever making pornographic movies. Kennelly lost her Screen Actors Guild health coverage because she didn’t get the role in the film. Now she is “suing for religion discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual orientation discrimination. She seeks compensatory, special and punitive damages,” in Hawaii’s First Circuit Court. She filed the lawsuit on April 29, 2015.
[Link: Courthouse News]
by The Editors on April 30, 2015
The ISA World Surfing Games are headed to Playa Popoyo, Nicaragua May 31 to June 7, 2015 with over 25 countries represented.
“With its incredible surf and 24/7 offshore winds, Nicaragua will be the perfect venue for the world’s best surfers competing for Individual and Team Gold Medals,” says ISA President, Fernando Aguerre. “I’m very excited about the top-level athletes and look forward to being in Nicaragua, a true surfing paradise. As a surfer, there is no greater honor than representing your country as a member of your National Surfing Team.”
For the official word from the ISA, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 27, 2015
Christopher Blowes, 26-year-old surfer, was hit by a great white shark while surfing at Fishery Bay in South Australia’s Port Lincoln National Park on Saturday, April 25, 2015, according to a story on news.com.au.
Witnesses described how the shark swam off with one of the surfer’s legs still attached to the surfboard’s leg rope. . . Mr Blowes was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and a spokesman said Monday he remained in a critical condition in intensive care. . . In a statement released by the hospital, the surfer’s family said they were extremely grateful for the community support they had received.
We wish him a solid recovery. For the rest of the story, click the link.
[Link: News.com.au]
by The Editors on April 22, 2015
Nixon today (April 22, 2015) announced the launch of their smartest surf watch ever. It’s called the Ultratide and not only does it have have the tide, but it has all the surf metrics that are important to surfers thanks to a partnership with Surfline.
The Ultratide features Bluetooth® wireless technology to provide you with real time data, including wave height, swell direction, wind direction and speed, water and air temperatures, Surfline rating, and custom Surf Alerts. The Ultratide provides the user with 10 live data points of forecast details, which is 10x the amount of data typically found in surf/tide watches. Browse the entire Surfline network of spots – over 3300 and growing – and select your favorites. Set up custom alerts for each spot and the Ultratide will make sure you never miss an epic session again.
Yes, this is a Nixon watch that does more than look good telling the time. Pre-release colors are available right now at select retailers as well as Nixon.com and Surfline.com. The full range of Ultratide watches goes on sale May 15, 2015. The watch sells for $300. For the official word from Nixon, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 17, 2015
From April 28 – May 2, 2015 The Oakley Lowers Pro will post up at California’s Trestles and bring with them some of the best surfers in the world (even though it’s not a major content production event) thanks to six wildcard positions. One of them will be Kelly Slater.
“Lowers is a special wave and it’s been a pivotal place for me in my career,” said Kelly Slater, 11-time World Champion. “The wave is a great canvas for experimentation, in both equipment and approach, and I’m looking forward to surfing it with just a couple of guys out at the Oakley Lowers Pro. Hope we get some swell for it.”
It also means a little more star power for a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streaming content production. The other five wildcard surfers include Nate Yeomans, Kanoa Igarashi, Jack Robinson, Parker Coffin, and Evan Geiselman. Not a bad way to get to see all these guys surf. For the official word from The Enthusiasts Network, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 14, 2015
Smith surfers Mike Gleason, Caroline Marks, Ryland Rubens, Will Reid, and Cheyne Magnusson are down for Chemistry Surfboards Forever. Check it.
[Link: Smith & Chemistry]
by The Editors on April 13, 2015
Elio Canestri, a 13-year-old surfer from the French island of Reunion, was killed April 12, 2015 by a shark while surfing Les Aigrettes, according to a story from the Associated Press.
In a post on Instagram Jeremy Flores said:
ANOTHER shark attack in Reunion island this morning. 13 years old Elio was one of our best up and coming surfer. Words can’t describe how sad and angry i am. So young !!! Heart breaking News . RIP 🙁 Petit Elio, 13 and, a été attaqué par un requin ce matin au spot des “zaigrettes”. Il était un de nos meilleurs jeune espoir. Il avait toute la vie devant lui. J’ai la haine. Quelle tristesse… Repose en paix marmaille 🙁
According to reports Canestri was surfing in an “off-limits” area that had been closed after a non-fatal shark attack in February. Our thoughts are with Canestri’s parents, family, friends and the entire Reunion Island surfing community.
[Link: CBS News]
by The Editors on April 13, 2015
Frankly, this is about all we know: Australian Mick Fanning won his fourth apparel sponsored event at Bells, and Clarissa Moore won her third consecutive. If we had anything else to say that would be written right here. But it’s not. So, if you’d like to read a certain privately owned entertainment company’s event and online streaming production notes from this latest commercial shoot at Bells, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 3, 2015
Villa House Pictures goes behind the scenes at Rio de Janeiro’s Edgo Surfboards and talks to Edgard Gomes, the man who shapes the brand and lives the Rio surf life.
