by The Editors on March 4, 2013
You’d think that after winning 11 ASP World Surfing titles Kelly Slater would be able to say pretty much anything he wants to say about surfing, but when Slater was quoted in an interview with Goldcoast.com.au things quickly got complicated.
Slater’s original quote was:
He [Slater] said he did not believe surfing had a performance-enhancing drug problem because he did not “think there’s a drug you can take to make you surf better”. . . Asked if there was a recreational drug problem, he said: “There clearly is — absolutely. There’s no denying that, it’s rampant, it’s full-on.” . . Slater said the Association of Surfing Professionals had introduced drug-testing last year, but it appeared to have faltered. . . “They tested us at the first event and I never got tested again all year,” he said. “Why talk about it and not do it? . . “Either do it or don’t do it.”
Slater then later reportedly emailed a statement saying his “rampant” and “full-on” drug remarks were taken out of context, according to story on Ninemsn.com.au.
Slater said his comments weren’t referring solely to the ASP World Tour or surfing in general but actually to sport as a whole. . . “I definitely think there are issues for athletes across all sporting disciplines that need to be looked at and acknowledged and serviced,” Slater said. . . “I look forward to working with Kieren (Perrow, ASP interim commissioner) and Paul and ASP Management in further enhancing any process that contributes to the betterment of the sport and its athletes.”
The fact that Slater’s longtime agent Terry Hardy and Hardy’s business partner new ASP CEO Paul Speaker own the Association of Surfing Professionals only makes this entire issue even murkier. Speaker, however, says the ASP is standing firm on doping: “The ASP has a very clear stance on doping that is consistent with protocols from other international professional sports as well as with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA),” Speaker said. “The ASP remains fully committed to adherence and enforcement of our policy.”
Guess we’ll all have to wait and see, won’t we.
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au and NineMSN.com.au]
by The Editors on March 4, 2013
Scott Hultgren the design mind behind the Valhalla Design & Conquer agency has created an action March Logo Madness grid to find the best action sports /youth culture logo of all time, but he needs you to vote to make it happen. Here’s how he describes it:
That’s right, just like the basketball tournament but different. The voting will be open for a week, at the end of the week the votes will be tallied and the winner will go on to the next bracket. At the end, the designer of the winning logo will be able to claim he is the world champion of the logos and may receive a prize of some sort.
For the first round match ups click here. In the skateboarding category Independent and Thrasher go up head to head in round one. Man, that’s a hard decision to make. Check back each week as the winners go head to head in the next round.
[Link: We Design & Conquer] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on March 1, 2013
Oi, mate. No one got to enjoy the pro today as the The 2013 Quiksilver Pro got off to a rainy lay day on day one of the waiting period at Snapper Rocks. So the new ASP season has yet to officially start. Apparently, the waves just weren’t cooperating.
“Small surf in the one-to-three foot (0.5 metre) range and heavy rains have prompted us to call a lay day for competition today,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We have plenty of swell forecast for the window so we’ll wait until we have improved conditions before commencing the event. Next call tomorrow at 6:30am.”
For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 28, 2013
We all know Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore won their 2012 World Titles, but do you know who took the rest of the awards?
We didn’t either. Follow the jump and we’ll all find out together.. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 28, 2013
Look at all those happy, smiling faces. It’s Laura Enever, Joel Parkinson, Lakey Peterson, newly-appointed ASP CEO Paul Speaker, newly-appointed ASP Interim Commissioner Kieren Perrow and Brett Simpson. And what are they smiling about? The start of the new season? The demise of Quiksilver and Billabong? No, apparently they’re smiling because things are looking up at the ASP, and the fans are going to be number one. ZoSea Media says so.
“The surfers, the events and the current ASP staff have all been, and will continue to be, instrumental in elevating the sport during this transitional year,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “Our focus this season is protecting the interests of professional surfers, preserving the integrity of competition, refreshing the ASP brand and establishing a new commercial model for the sport. The ASP will be more fan-centric – the structure of tours, the production of broadcasts and everything in between will be geared towards enhancing the fans’ experience. Good luck to all our competitors and events in 2013 and we look forward to taking this next step with you.”
One thing is certain, the next year or two of professional surfing will not be boring. For the official word from Coolangatta, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 25, 2013
In the race for corporate “efficiencies” Quiksilver is making some pretty big changes.
In addition to COO and Global Brand President Craig Stevenson resigning (he’ll be paid through October 31, 2013), the company is apparently cutting the snowboarding team (but keeping Travis Rice) and cutting the skateboarding team (but keeping Tony Hawk). The Quiksilver surf team has also been reportedly trimmed by several surfers. There are also rumors that Quiksilver Women, the Waterman Collection, the VSTR brand and Dane Reynolds side project Summer Teeth were also set aside.
Over at DC Shoes they’ve cut their entire BMX team and their surf team. There is also mention of auto (and co-founder Ken Block himself) being cut as well. As one surf industry stalwart ironically put it, “Can’t wait until the same thing happens at Billabong.”
One thing to remember: Hollister doesn’t spend a dime on “core teams” and they don’t seem to be having any problem in the “So Cal inspired clothing for Dudes and Bettys” space. Still no official word from Quik, but then again, their information distribution department never has been very effective. We’ll let you know if and when anyone shares any information on what is obviously a very bad day for action sports athletes, media, and the industry in general.
[Editors Note: The details in this post have been in flux all day thanks to various sources adding and subtracting details. So far, no replies to emails sent to Quiksilver corporate PR and other contacts.]
by The Editors on February 25, 2013
We’ve been loving the Lost Enterprises clothing brand ever since it got back into proper hands. And this new Resinworks Collection looks good.
Graphic, print and color direction inspired by the …Lost Surfboard Factory, these one of a kind, hand-laminated resin designs transform into individual looks for spring 2013. Spanning all categories, including knits, board shorts, wovens and T-shirts, the collection retails for $22 – $49.50 and is available at a retailers near you.
Now you know.
[Link: Lost]
by The Editors on February 22, 2013
British surfer Steve King, 48, has apparently set a new world record for “riding a continuous wave for 12.8 miles,” according to a post on SWNS.com.
He set the new record on the remote Kampar River in Sumatra, Indonesia, where a natural tidal phenomenon known as the ‘Bono’ pushes a 10ft wave upstream. . . The renowned bore rider smashed his own previous record for the longest single wave surf of 7.6 miles, which he set in front of 6,000 spectators on the River Severn in 2006. . . And despite the deadly animals and tiring work, he still had the energy and composure to perform a headstand during the record-breaking performance.
It should be noted that the Kampar River is also what is described as a “crocodile-infested,” which may be what kept King on the wave for so long.
[Link: SWNS]
by The Editors on February 21, 2013
Makua Rothman got to drag Rihanna around on the back of his Kawasaki watercraft recently. Apparently, Rihanna likes “jet skis” according to the Daily Mail.
The Diamonds In The Sky star showed off her bikini body as she indulged in her favourite pastime, jet-skiing, with pro surfer Makua Rothman. . .The pop star was seen holding onto the back of a jet-ski as Rothman sped around the Hawaiian waters. . . Wearing a rash vest, orange and pink bikini bottoms, and a life vest, Rihanna beamed as she went on the wild ride.
Not bad work if you can get it. For the reverse angle, follow the jump.
[Link: Daily Mail] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 20, 2013
The contest window for The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau officially closes for the 2013 season on Thursday, February 28, 2013 and (barring a really big meteor hit in the Pacific) it would appear that there are no swells on the horizon and the contest will likely not happen. But that’s okay, according to Quiksilver. According to Contest Director George Downing:
“Even though waves may get bigger in other parts of the world, the fact that Waimea is such an incredible venue for both the surfer and the spectator make it an impossible place to replicate,” said Downing, who has witnessed every major day of surfing at Waimea. . . “It’s the natural home of big wave surfing. It’s the original big wave event that paved the way for all others. It’s the place that Eddie loved and where he worked and played. Even though big waves may be found elsewhere, they can never be Waimea. This is an event about integrity and honor.”
For the official word from Quiksilver, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
You’d think that after winning 11 ASP World Surfing titles Kelly Slater would be able to say pretty much anything he wants to say about surfing, but when Slater was quoted in an interview with Goldcoast.com.au things quickly got complicated. 
