We’ve never been the biggest fans of some of the stuff Christian Fletcher has gotten himself into, but oddly we’ve always appreciated the guy’s commitment to sticking to his own groove. He can not be accused of taking the easy way out of much in life (aside from maybe, high school). The rest has been hard charging and raw. For real. Now, he’s created an 8-piece signature collection for RVCA.
“I grew up surfing in Southern California in the 70’s and 80’s with parents that were hippies. Eating psychedelics and listening to Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones seemed normal to me and the blotter paper always had cool designs on it,” said Christian, “This capsule is kind of a tribute to the stuff that opened my mind and helped me push my surfing to the next level, despite all the haters. My dad always told me, ‘don’t listen to them, they don’t know shit, just keep doing what your doing,” And that’s what I did. So I hope you enjoy this capsule as much as I enjoyed my childhood.”
That seems like a pretty big ask, but follow the jump and check out a few pieces and maybe you’ll get your mind together. [click to continue…]
The line of furniture, bedding, lighting, wall art, and “decorative accessories” will be reportedly made with sustainable materials and recycles fabrics like Forest Stewardship Council certified wood and rugs made with recycled fabrics and bedding using 100% organic cotton.
“I’m really excited to be working with PBteen on this project,” said Slater. “While they’re not part of the endemic surf market, I’m honored that PBteen has seen me as someone who can help a broader audience understand the need to use recycled, repurposed and organic materials. . . “Global conservation is a focal point of the capsule collection and it falls right in line with the change and direction I’m working towards, on a professional and personal basis. In collaborating with PBteen, we are creating a subtle and natural feel with this collection — something that has an authentic appeal for teens and their parents alike.”
As we’ve said before if your mom’s going kit out your room to impress her friends it might as well be cool stuff. And if the Kelly Slater product is as nice as the Burton stuff is it’s going to be nice for your room. Now go clean up and make space for Kelly’s stuff.
We don’t know surf filmmaker Kai Neville. In fact, we’ve never sat through one of his movies from beginning to end (that we know of). Yes, that’s probably a shame, but we’re likely not alone. That doesn’t keep us from laughing a little when we see how much of a hoopla Mr. Neville can create with his collections of surf clothing marketing material.
Here are a few of the reviews from the January 28, 2015 premiere of his latest film Cluster at The Ace Hotel Los Angeles:
The problem with Cluster is actually more of a problem with expectations. Kai Neville’s movies are known for perpetually raising the bar, and that’s what we’ve come to expect, but this time the bar stayed firmly in its place. . . In a world where we can pull up free web clips on our phones featuring surfing and editing on par with anything in Cluster, you have to wonder: if it isn’t the very best, then what’s the point?
In my post-film bro-brah-beer mingling, I spoke with a few people who questioned what Cluster did that a five-minute edit couldn’t. You end up with the same dopamine rush. The same value of entertainment. The same excitement for surfing when it’s over. One just takes longer. But do people still appreciate the idea of full-length, in all of its unconventional glory, the same way they appreciate a good old fashioned tree-and-chemical-ink magazine? Possibly.
Surfers, skaters, musicians, artists, models, writers, drinkers, singers, actors, movers and shakers all came out and had a really damn fine time together. And to think we all gathered to watch surfing — of all the silly things! And God dammit it was beautiful. From the night’s MC (and your photo gallery captioner) Austyn Gillette and his constant reminders that we’re still allowed to be fun and make fun of ourselves and say fuck off and not have to say sorry because this isn’t a country club, to all the surfers involved for dedicating so much time to tearing all over the globe it was a rad night to remember that we can still bring everyone into a ridiculously nice theatre and yell at the the screen together. My dad even said, “That shit was like the ’70s!”
It must be nice for Mr. Neville to see that anything and everything he creates is referred to as the death of one thing or the birth of another. So kudos to Kai and all his corporate sponsors. And as soon as Cluster goes up online (for free) we’ll try and get through it, not that it matters.
On February 12, 2015 the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association will honor a group of 20 legendary surf shops with the 2015 SIMA Surf Shop Gold Wave Award presented by Shaun Tomson at the annual SIMA Image Awards at the City National Grove in Anaheim, California. These shops have all been around for 50 years or more, which says a lot these days.
“To honor surfing’s rich heritage in this way is exciting and important to the industry,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and Vans’ VP/GM North America. “These surf shops are instrumental in building the beach culture we love so much, the foundation of surf lifestyle since the 1950s and 60s. A surf shop is very influential to its local surf community – the hub of the local surf community in most cases – and these shops are legendary.”
For the complete list of shops and more info on how you can attend the surf industry party of the winter season, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Ricardo dos Santos surfing at home. Photo: @williamzimmermann
Brazilian surfer Ricardo dos Santos, who received the 2012 AI Forever Award at Teahupoo, has died from gunshot wounds he received outside him home on January 19, 2015, according to a post on StabMag.com. He was 24 years old.
Dos Santos was allegedly shot three times by off-duty soldier, Luiz Paulo Mota Brentano, 25, outside his home. There details are grey, with two theories of what happened. One version of events details that Ricardo confronted Brentano and two others over their blatant use of drugs on the streets of Embaú Guard (translated). The second, based on what family members believe, is Brentano and his brother, 17, had parked their car over building materials outside Dos Santos’ home which was under construction, and he asked them to move on. The response was gunfire, and according to Hardcore’s International Editor Steve Allain, Ricardo was shot once in the back, turned, and was shot twice more in the abdomen.
It was obviously way too soon. For more on the story, click here for Stab Mag’s coverage. Our thoughts are with Ricardo’s family, friends, and the entire surfing community.
Earlier this month the East Coast action crowd gathered in Orlando, Florida (January 8-10, 2015) for the 39th annual Surf Expo trade show. People went, bikinis were modeled, autographs were signed, and electric skateboards were ridden.
“We were excited to partner with the State of Hawaii to introduce key new manufacturers with coastal-themed products made in Hawaii. With the addition of the Hawaiian Pavilion, Surf Expo saw more than 250 new exhibitors. The show featured more than 2,500 booths and really delivered on our buyers’ demand for new product and more choices under one roof, accentuating that Surf Expo has evolved beyond a regional show and become the international destination for the board sports and coastal lifestyle business” said Surf Expo Show Director, Roy Turner.
If even the show director says it was a great show, it must have been a great show, right? We have no idea. We’ve never been. But, we’re glad to see people are still enjoying Surf Expo. For the official word please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
It’s a wax comb for your hair, from Byrd and Future Fins. How cool is that? For the official word on this $10 grooming product, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Joe McGovern, a long-time photographer for Eastern Surf Magazine died almost a week after being pulled unconscious from the ocean at Paradise Beach Park on Sunday, January 4, 2015 according to a story in Florida Today. McGovern was 64.
He died Wednesday [January 7, 2014] at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne surrounded by family and friends. The Providence, Rhode Island native is survived by his wife, three daughters, mother, brother and other family members. . . “It’s a total shock,” said Dick “Mez” Meseroll, the co-owner of the magazine who worked with McGovern to cover surfing and some of the sport’s top events. McGovern was enjoying his annual trip to Brevard to enjoy the warm surf when the accident happened, Meseroll said. . . “He was extremely fit and was once a lifeguard. It sounds like he took a bad fall in the waves. I saw him a few hours before. He came to my house, dropped his bags and the next thing I know I got a call about the accident. I can tell you that a lot of people are shedding tears,” he said.
