by The Editors on January 21, 2009
Amidst the Industry sponsored docu-mercials that usually pack the X Dance Film Festival (which ended yesterday) is Whitewash, a documentary about the history of back surfers produced by Ted Woods, a white guy from the Midwest, according to a story in the Park Record.
“Whitewash” engages experts in discussions on swimming, surfing and sport history, recounting stories of discrimination and the struggle to get the black population back to the water. An interview on the basketball courts of New York City shows African American youth laughing at the notion of them swimming, unaware that history, not biology, was guiding the stereotype.
The film is narrated by Ben Harper and featured music by The Roots, Erykah Badu and others. We’re looking forward to checking it out.
[Link: Park Record and Trespassproductions]
by The Editors on January 21, 2009
Check out the new women’s snowboard product at the following locations:
Liberty Mountain, Carroll Valley, PA
Friday, February 6th – Sunday, February. 8th, 2009
Canada Olympic Park, Alberta, Canada
Friday, February 27th – Sunday, March 1st, 2009
Kirkwood Mountain, Kirkwood, CA
Friday, March 6th – Sunday, March 8th, 2009
[Link: Burton.com]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
How long have we all waited for something like this? Way, way, too long.
[Link: Skate And Annoy]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Roy Poblete (left) and Derek Smith (right) saved the life of surfer George Romero last Sunday while all three were surfing SoCal’s Seal Beach according to a column in the OC Register. Now the three have been reunited.
By Smith’s guess, Romero had been under water anywhere between 45 seconds and a minute before he was able to reach Romero’s lifeless body. He pulled his head up from the water to see Romero’s eyes rolled back, foam coming out of his mouth. His body was going into convulsions, and he wasn’t breathing. . . . Smith – even at a hefty 6-foot 4-inches and 235 pounds – had trouble keeping Romero above water. He called out for help, and tried to get Romero on his board. Poblete quickly paddled over to see what was happening. . . Then the sets came in, three in a row. They dived Romero under the first wave, then Smith cut his leash to get his board out of the way, so he could hang on tight to George. Smith would submerge underwater, to push up on Romero’s body to keep his head from going under so he wouldn’t take in more water. . . “I knew if I let you go, you would have gone,” he tells Romero. “I was just thinking ‘hold onto this guy, hold onto this guy’.”
Thankfully, Smith held on.
[Link: OC Register]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
In an effort to cut costs, Quiksilver released info today that it was reducing the salaries of top executives by five percent, according to a story on Reuters.
The current reductions, effective Feb. 1, are in addition to earlier pay cuts implemented in February last year, the company said in a regulatory filing dated Jan. 20. . . .Annual base salaries for the chief financial officer and the chief administrative officer have gone down by 8 percent and 10 percent respectively.
Damn shame. CEO Bob McKnight’s salary is now down 16 percent meaning he’s only going to make $903,000 this year. Hopefully, he can make it through.
[Link: Reuters]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Iconic skateboarder/film director Stacy Peralta has been on the commercial rampage lately. First with a documentary ad for fast food chain Burger King that stirred up a commotion for introducing third world citizens to crap American food.
Now, he’s shilling caffeinated sugar water for Amp Energy Drink with commercials featuring NASCAR drvier Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
PepsiCo and BBDO wanted the commercial to have a documentary feel to it, so once the groundwork was set, they reached out to director Stacy Peralta. . . . Peralta’s documentaries had the kind of lifestyle feel that Amp wanted for this commercial.
Apparently, authenticity is important when energy drink sales are on the line.
[Link: Sporting News]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
No one has done more for snowboarding than Jake Burton Carpenterso it’s nice to see him getting his own Powder & Rails on VBS.tv (especially Burton sponsors the whole thing). Follow the jump for Part 2.
[Link: VBS.tv] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Dave Gatto is leaving VF Corporation as part of a reorganization according to a story in the News Record.
VF said its Outdoor Americas unit will include the North Face, JanSport and Eagle Creek brands. It will be overseen by Steve Rendle, 49, currently president of The North Face. . . . The second unit, action sports Americas, will include Vans and Reef brands. It will be led by current Vans president Stephen Murray, 48.
Wonder if this is in preparation for any footwear acquisitions.
[Link: News Record]
by The Editors on January 20, 2009
Amidst the Industry sponsored docu-mercials that usually pack the X Dance Film Festival (which ended yesterday) is Whitewash, a documentary about the history of back surfers produced by Ted Woods, a white guy from the Midwest, according to a story in the Park Record.
