by The Editors on March 31, 2009
The organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest have rolled down the event window until April 8, 2009 according to a story in the Mercury News.
“Everyone’s getting excited about another computer model that’s going to happen next Monday, if it happens at all,” said contest founder Jeff Clark, who calls the 24 big-wave contestants to Half Moon Bay on just 24 hours’ notice if he decides the waves are right. “I’ve got to keep an eye on it. If it happens it would be cool to hold the contest. If not, it would not be a big surprise.”
Official meteorologist Mark Sponsler isn’t making any calls, but says he’ll know more on Friday. It would be a shame to leave all the sponsorship money on the table, would it?
[Link: Mercury News]
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
[April Fools Day Story 2009] Surfermag.com is reporting that Rusty Long and Grant “Twiggy” Baker have busted through the “100-foot barrier” on a wave off the coast of Chile’s Isla Alejandra Selkirk. And photographer Todd Glaser apparently got the shot (click here to see it bigger).
SURFER received the breaking news via satellite phone from Staff Photographer Todd Glaser, who accompanied the big-wave duo deep into the Pacific in hopes of scoring waves on what Glaser called “Chile’s Cortes Bank.”
They say video is on the way. So the big question: Is this real? Funny, that it would show up on April Fools Eve, no?
[Link: Surfermag.com]
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
Tony Hawk launched a all-out scavenger war this morning by announcing to his 200,000+ followers via Twitter than he had a couple complete skateboard decks to hand out.
“Whatup Twit-talkers! I have a couple of complete skateboards to give away today. Stay tuned . . . First one is for 760 locals: Palomar Oaks Way just south of Palomar Airport Rd. Look behind the fire hydrant just across the bridge. Go now
Within 50 minutes a girl named KT Alach of Carlsbad, California had hunted it down and Twittered a photo back up with the new deck in her hands.
T.Hawk is killing it with the instant Twitter marketing. Funny, that this is the first time we’ve seen Twitter used this way, and we have to admit, it’s really pretty genius use of the technology.
[Link: Tony Hawk]
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
This chart was obviously designed to show how Kelly Clark won the 08/09 TTR World Snowboard Tour, but honestly, after looking at it we’re even more confused. Guess no points in the last two events really messed it up for Jamie Anderson’s sweep.
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
TEC, the Ketchum, Idaho based producer of the ScotteVest has sued 32 jacket manufacturers including: Bonfire, Burton, Helly Hansen, Nike, Nikita, Quiksilver, and V.F. Corporation over a patent (US Patent Number RE 40,613) that among other things allegedly protects a pocket design which includes a slot that allows a headphone wire to pass through, according to a story on Sports One Source.
According to the complaint, “each and every defendant named herein makes, uses, sells and/or imports at least one jacket and/or model of jacket that is designed to provide the wearer with wire management capabilities for portable electronic devices, including, for example, cellular telephones, mp3 players, iPods, and the like, that facilitates the management of wires running from the electronic device to the user.”
According to his myspace page TEC owner Scott Jordan, 44, is “a corporate lawyer with no design experience.” This entire lawsuit will probably get more interesting before it goes away. We’ll keep you posted.
[Link: Sports One Source]
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
Surf Reporter John Charlton admits he is the guy responsible for leaving a “15-cm long” gash that nearly “scalped” 12-year-old Matt Nicol after running him over while surfing at Noosa’s First Point on Sunday but he says he didn’t do it on purpose, according to a story in Australia’s The Daily.
In the Daily yesterday, Peter Nicol, who did not see the incident and was acting on reports from beachogers, alleged the adult surfer who had hit Matt appeared to deliberately change direction and run over the boy. . . Mr Charlton said nothing could be further from the truth.. . “It was purely an accident,” he said. . . .“I was going in on my last wave and was trying to hold my line to avoid him and he ducked right under me. . . “There was backwash and it pinned my rail down. If I had tried to bail out, I could have hit 10 people.
According to Mr. Nicol witnesses told him that Charlton had been involved in “several run ins before hitting Matt.”
[Link: The Daily]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
You know stand-up paddling has reached its nadir when Sevylor Samoa infatable SUP boards are being sold at Target for $599.99. Here’s a list of what you get.
- Stand-up paddle boarding is one of the newest ways to experience the water
- This board is easy to use and allows users of any skill level, including beginners, to be comfortable and enjoy a stable ride
- Can be inflated over 10 PSI for extreme rigidity; features a high-pressure spring valve for easy inflation and deflation
- Includes 3 removable fins for consistent tracking
- Constructed of high-tech drop-stitch material
- Water Fun Board
Now, even the SUPers have someone to laugh at.
[Link: Target]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
There are times we see stories that we really wished we had done first, but never did. Slap Skateboard Magazine’s Ron Cameron Portfolio by Mark Whiteley is one of those pieces.
Ron Cameron could be one of the most underrated skateboarding artist/designers ever to work in the business. From the Nothing Is Cool design for Blockhead Skateboards to the RVCA logo (yeah, he’s responsible for the V and the Artist Network Program), Ron has been working behind the scenes creating some of the most original designs in action sports. It is Ron’s take on the commercial side of skateboarding, however, that spoke most to his deep history in skateboarding. Here’s part of what he says:
It really is difficult to earn a living in the skateboarding industry. I always just egotistically thought my talents. . . like I would produce great work and the money would come and that’s not true. A lot of times if you don’t go in with money you don’t go out with money. And that’s the hard lesson I learned. And you need to take care of business no matter how ugly it feels to you. And if you think you’re going to become a businessman asshole. You’re not. You’re just taking care of that part so you can continue to do art.
Wise words. Follow the link for all the images and an audio interview with Ron.
[Link: Slap Skateboard Magazine via Skatedaily.net and Ron Cameron]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
Australian surf writers Tim Baker, Nick Carroll, and Sean Doherty will be speaking on a panel at the Sydney Writer’s Festival being held May 18-24, 2009. The event titled High Surf takes place May 23, 2009. Here’s what their website says about the discussion:
From Puberty Blues to Tim Winton’s Breath, surfing and surf culture continues to hold a valuable place in the Australian cultural landscape. Indeed, as the surfing community has become a broad church, surfing seems to have become the image, metaphor and recreational choice for our times. Surfing writers Tim Baker, Nick Carroll and Sean Doherty paddle you deep into the turbulent waters of the world of surfing and surf writing, with John Meredith.
We’re kind of bummed we’re not going to be there.
[Link: Sydney Writers Festival via Surfline]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
Davie, Florida police officer David Rodriguez, 25, has received a two-day suspension and been ordered to attend anger amanagement classes after he reportedly slammed a 10-year-old skateboarder up against his car while the child was skateboarding in front of his own house, according to a story in the Sun Sentinel.
“He threw him like he was a rag doll,” said the boy’s father, Joseph Smith, who witnessed the April 6, 2008 incident and filed a complaint the next day. . . Smith says his son was left with a cut on his knee, a bruise on his chest and a fear of police. . . Rodriguez was facing a battery charge, but Broward prosecutors closed the case on Nov. 17 after both parties agreed to mediation and the boy’s father decided not to press charges.
Reminding us once again that people who want to be police officers should automatically be disqualified from service.
[Link: Sun Sentinel via Skatedaily.net]
