March 2009

Desperately Seeking A Surf Family

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Latest-4220.JpgReality TV casting site Reality Wanted posted a casting call notice today for the “ultimate California surfer family.”

Are you a “California Surf Family”? Can dad “hang 10” just as well as junior? Can mom rip it with the kids from high school? We are looking for you! If you live in the Southern California area and everyone in the family surfs, get in touch with us ASAP. Hit TV series is looking for you.

The Reality Wanted site looks pretty shady so be warned. We an see it now: Real wives of the OC meets North Shore Boarding House.

[Link: Reality Wanted]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Cole Barash: PDN’s Choice New Photographer

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

73074-20090302 Pdn30 04 Colebarash.JpgSnowboard photographer Cole Barash is only 21 years old and it seems like he’s been around for ever. Shooting first for the snowboard mags when he was fresh out of high school, then Forum Snowboards, and for the past two years he’s been on the Nike Snow program. This month Photo District News has chosen Barash as one of their top 30 new and emerging photographers in their story PDN’s 30 2009.

While shooting action is a big part of his business, Barash also shoots portraits and behind-the-scenes images. “Snowboarding culture is much more than just the action,” he relates. “I want to show what the trip is like getting there. I want to show the crazy story in the hotel room after.”

Wonder if Cole ever had to sit through a “you’re wasting all your talents” lecture with his high school principal. We’re guessing no.

[Link: PDN via Jared Sourney]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Dew Tour Slims Down

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Sbj200903020501-01.JpgDew Tour President Wade Martin says the tour may have lost two sponsors (Right Guard and Panasonic), and slimmed down two of the events, but it’s not because of the economy. No, he meant to do this, according to a story in Sports Business Journal.

[he] said the decision to contract the size of two tour stops had less to do with the economy than with a strategic plan to move into top U.S. markets and cater to fans of skateboarding and BMX, which attract different audiences, with events of their own. He said the tour will save 20 percent per event and 5 to 10 percent over the entire season by doing just a skateboard or BMX event, as opposed to an event with both sports. . . . “Yes, we’ll save some money,” Martin added, “but this is largely about getting into top 10 markets, showcasing the sports individually, and bringing them to a new fan base, which we see growing interest in the tour when we tap into new markets.”

If they turned all the summer events into skateboard only events it would be fine with us.

[Link: Sports Business Journal via SC Brand]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Wingnut Goes To Santa Cruz

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Wingnut.JpgWe think of Wingnut every time we put on sunscreen (yes, it’s our cross to bear). Something to do with putting it on so it doesn’t loosen the skin around the eyes and cause early aging. It hasn’t worked all that well for us, but it seems to be working fine for Robert “Wingnut” Weaver.

The only reason we bring this up is that Santa Cruz Surfboards has just announced that they’ve hired Wingnut as their manager of sales. Here’s what Jeff Kendall, VP of NHS had to say:

Wingnut has proven his credibility as a consultant over the course of the last year, demonstrating exceptional industry knowledge and a tireless work ethic. With Wingnut at the helm, NHS is in a better position than ever to service the surf channel and grow Santa Cruz’s surfboard, Cruzer, and apparel presence.”

Congrats, Wingnut. . . and remember: dab it, don’t rub it.
[click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

The Reporter Behind Shop-Eat-Surf.com

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

1668.JpgMalakye.com, the action sports job site that is difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to spell has an interview with Shop-Eat-Surf.com founder Tiffany Montgomery in their Industry Profile section. Here’s a little bit of the story behind the site:

The site started as an experiment. Given the cutbacks at newspapers and in journalism in general, I thought there was room for a news site. Originally, I planned to write about the business of retail, the business of restaurants and the business of the surf industry based in Orange County – basically, what I covered in my last reporting beat at the paper. That’s why the site has a strange name. . . . The surf and larger action sports industry was so responsive from the get go, I quickly dropped the other topics. And, I liked the stories in the surf industry the best. I still am amazed that this group of people with basically no business experience was able to build a globally influential industry by following their passion.

Ms. Montgomery is obviously an avid and skilled reporter who keeps very close tabs on what goes on behind Orange County’s Velcro Curtain. The site is updated hourly and is a much needed source for industry news. She does it all so politely and professionally, however, that we rarely find anything compelling to read.

[Link: Malakye.com]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

The Skateboard Mag: Tweet Tweet

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

SkatemagtwLooks like the makers of The Skateboard Mag, the finest quality skateboarding magazine in print, are getting saddled up for more regular rides through the social media frontier via Twitter.

Click here to follow them at SkateboardMag.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Bob Burnquist’s Balloon Blast

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Bob Burnquist’s new Aero candy bar ad created by the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson (and filmed by Ty Evans) is a nice new remix of the old Nike 6.0 spot, no? Nestlé is going to spend £7 million ($10 million) on the campaign, according to the Guardian UK.

[Link: BrandRepublic]

[Update (3.3.09): Now it looks like Media Bistro is coming to the party copy cat party, thanks Kevin]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

The Shark Shield: $700 Of Protection

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Shark-Shield-Longboard 2.JpgAfter three shark attacks in Sydney, Australia in the past few weeks sales of Paul Lunn’s Shark Shield have increased by 50 percent, according to as story in The Australian.

SeaChange Technology, the Adelaide company that produces the electronic “Shark Shield”, says inquiries have tripled over the past two months and sales have increased by 50 per cent. “We cannot keep up with production. Twice in the past two months we’ve increased our production line only to find immediately that we have to do it again,” SeaChange Technology co-founder Paul Lunn said. The device, which costs between $600 and $700 depending on the model, weighs 80 grams and can fit into the palm of a mans hand.

And what a perfect sales pitch: is your leg, arm, or life worth $700 AUS?

[Link: The Australian]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Bam’s Lastest Artwork: Minghags: The Movie

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

MinghagsApparently, the those who couldn’t wait for the sequel to Bam Margera’s Haggard: The Movie, only need to wait six more days as Minghags: The Movie is premieres March 8, 2009 at Philadelphia’s Backseat Film Festival, according to a blurb in the Philadelphia Daily News. Here’s what we can all look forward to:

Trailer trash rockers Lenny (BAM MARGERA) and Ponce (BRANDON DICAMILLO) have vowed revenge, on billionaire scum-bag Rut Ru (also BRANDON DICAMILLO) and his bloated sidekick Dominick (DAVE “LORD” BOTTARO) who have heisted Ponce’s cool invention, the Garbage Juicer! . . . and just when you thought the plot couldn’t be any more contrived, the triteness increases as Lenny and Rut Ru up the ante, culminating in cameos by JIMMY POP and EVIL JARED of the BLOODHOUND GANG, DON VITO, RAKE YOHN, “COMPTON ASS” TERRY KENNEDY, THE DUDESONS, PHIL AND APRIL MARGERA, BRANDON NOVAK, GINA LYNN, JESS MARGERA, CHAD GINSBURG, RYAN GEE, JOE FRANTZ, and a slew of B-listers from the CKY videos!

We’re just sorry we can’t be there to see it in person.

[Link: Minghags via Philly.com] [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Dew Tour Waves Bye-Bye To Baltimore

by The Editors on March 2, 2009

Looks like due to a conflict with an Orioles event, the 2009 Dew Tour will not be returning to Bucky Lasek’s hometown of Baltimore, according to a story in the Baltiore Business Journal.

The five-stop action sports series is replacing its Baltimore and Cleveland multisport events with a single-sport skateboard event and a single-sport BMX event. Those events will be held in Chicago and Boston, respectively, which replace Baltimore and Cleveland as tour stops. . . . Panasonic, the title sponsor of the Baltimore event, also did not renew its partnership for this year’s event.

Single sport events? What, is the whole mainstream multi-action sports fan thing not working out? Click here for the 2009 tour dates.

[Link: Baltimore Business Journal and Allisports]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }