by The Editors on April 14, 2009
As surprised as we were to discover that there is a World Championships of Kneeboarding, the story of 49-year-old photojournalist Michael Fernandez was even better. According to a story in the Taranaki Daily News, Fernandez was the 1981 American Kneeboard Champion until school, a trip through the armed forces, and a career as a photojournalist ended that for a while.
Now, 25 years later Michael is in New Zealand competing for the American team at the World Championships and hoping to travel to Afghanistan for his next assignment.
He got back into the waves four years ago and is now part of the nearly 20-strong team of Americans competing at the World Kneeboard Surfing Champs in Opunake this week. . . .A resident of the landlocked state of Pennsylvania, achieving happiness is as simple as surfing twice a month, though that is easier said than done. . . .”It takes me three hours to get to the coast. Depending on the weather I surf at New York, New Jersey or Maryland.”
Apparently, the depth of talent in kneeboarding is such that someone can take 25 years off and still be competitive. Either than or Fernandez is one savage kneeler.
[Link: Taranaki Daily News]
by The Editors on April 14, 2009
For over-the-hill, longing to relive the glory days of snowboarding crew the Longboard Classic is the biggest stop on the tour. Organized by Paul Gruber, the event celebrates retro equipment, fun, and the snowboarding heros of yesterday. The event starts on April 16, 2009 and the riders’ list is a virtual who’s who of world snowboarding.
Here is our shoddy translation of their website:
Ten successful years Longboard Classic and some thousands of new friends. If that is not a reason for celebrating! If I think however of our guests of this year, then I get soft knees (like at that time, as I exactly 30 seasons ago my first Burton Backhill in the hand held): Chuck Barfoot, the owner Snow surfing of the same name and Skatefirma and one of the 4 establishment fathers of the Snowboardens. Terry Kidwell, which Godfather OF Freestyle, quadruple Freestyle World champion and legendary windshield frame section team driver and Shawn farmer, Freeride legend, which into the late 80s showed us, what it is called to be Alaska local one. Terry and Shawn will heat us also in music: with their volumes „Hunk OF Metal “.
How could anyone miss this. . .
[Link: Longboard Classic via Snowbroader]
by The Editors on April 14, 2009
On April 22, 2009 iPath employees along with surf and skate teams will be joining up with the DBC Ride Shop, Sambazon, Soleo Sunscreen and the Boys & Girls Club of San Clemente on a day-long event in celebration of Earth Day.
Beginning at approximately 10 AM, the Turf & Surf crew will meet at San Clemente’s Ralph’s Skate Court to pick-up trash in and around the park. Following the cleanup, the crew on hand from IPATH will hang around for a quick skate session with anyone in attendance. . . After cleaning up the skatepark, the Turf & Surf participants will make their way over to San Clemente’s North Beach for a beach cleanup. If the waves are good, some of IPATH’s surf team may make their way out into the water too. . . “Earth Day gives us a reminder that we should all be doing our part in helping to maintain and preserve what’s around us,” said IPATH’s Dave Smith. “Even though skateboarding typically takes place in an urban setting, skaters are still affected by the environment around them. From trash laying around a park to garbage on the beach, if we all participated a little, we’d have a big change in the end.”
Nice event for a good cause, and seriously has Ohio Dave ever sounded more eloquent?
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 14, 2009
The surf statue in Cardiff, California has been the site for one joke after another since it was first put up. This Easter, it looked a little like this according to a photo in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
Rip Curl Pro wild card Owen Wright showed the world today that his round one victory over Dane Reynolds was not a fluke. With consistently smooth, powerful backhand surfing Wright simply put Kelly Slater away in an extremely close heat.
Early on Kelly had some trouble with the lip, nothing compared to his rail tripping during the Quiksilver Pro, but glitches just the same. He pulled into a couple little coverups, got a nice floater, but lacked the explosive perfection that the world (and the judges) have come to expect.
Owen Wright just stuck to it and ended up with a 14.67 to Slater’s 13.83. “There was a lot of pressure,” Wright said in his post heat interview. “Then I thought to myself. ‘I can surf. I’m not that bad of a surfer.’ I know he’s the 9 time world champion, but I just figured if I do what I do it might be enough at the end of the day. . . I’m really happy to get one on Kelly Slater. There won’t be many chances like that that come around. I’m so stoked right now.”
Now the big question: will Kelly stay with it or throw in the hopes of number 10? We’re hoping he hangs in for a couple more.
[Link: Rip Curl Pro]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
Yes, there is an action sports hierarchy. And here is YoBeat’s Nick Lipton version (with a little help from Robbie Sell).
Obviously we cannot consider snowskaters, kite boarders, skibladers, or any of those other silly make-believe sports into our equation. Including such activities could lead us into the troubled waters of soap shoes, heelies, and other gimmicks that should have never been invented.
For the rest of Nick’s entertainingly navel gazed explanation of where we all line up follow the link. . . if you have a little time that needs killing.
[Link: YoBeat.com]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
Vail Resorts has announced that starting with the 2009-10 winter season all employees snowboarding or skiing on on the clock at any of its five resorts will be required to wear helmets, according to a story on Forbes.com.
Vail also will require helmets for all children age 12 and under who take group lessons through its schools, and helmets will be part of the resort’s children’s rental packages unless parents or guardians sign a waiver.
We expect to see more of this in the future. And it sounds like a good idea.
[Link: Forbes.com]
by The Editors on April 13, 2009
A 56-year-old father of two from Dublin, Ireland died surfing Saturday on the island of Inis Oirr from hitting his head on a rock after falling “awkwardly from his board,” according to a story on Herald.ie.
Shocked family members watched in horror as the tragedy unfolded off Ceann na Faochán on the southwest of Inis Oirr. . . He was unable to swim back to shore and was pulled from the water by his son who attempted resuscitation while another family member ran for help. . . The medical student gave his father the kiss of life but his efforts failed.
Our thoughts are with is family and friends.
[Link: Herald.ie]
by The Editors on April 10, 2009
Michael Jason Martinez, 39, one of a pair of Colorado bank robbers named the Snowboard Bandits for a string of robberies in the fall of 2007 was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on April 1, 2009 by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn.
Martinez along with Edgar Perez robbed TCF Banks in Westminster, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, and Avada, Colorado before being caught.
The defendant removed money from teller drawers, placing the cash into a soft sided black briefcase. He then fled on foot. A few minutes after the robbery, an Arvada Police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle matching the description of a car seen leaving the scene of the bank robbery. Upon approaching the car the officer observed red dye consistent with dye stains from a bank dye pack. Martinez, who was in the passenger seat of the car, was arrested.
They were apparently named the snowboard bandits because they robbed the banks wearing snowboard clothing, just one of the strategies that didn’t really work for them apparently.
[Link: Lawfuel]
by The Editors on April 10, 2009
Looks like our annual trips to the California Wine Country are going to get a lot more fun really soon as Grindline seems to be speeding along on the new St. Helena Skatepark. Nothing better than a little Erna Schein and a frontside grind to make the trip much more palatable.
[Link: St. Helena Skatepark]
As surprised as we were to discover that there is a World Championships of Kneeboarding, the story of 49-year-old photojournalist Michael Fernandez was even better. According to a story in the Taranaki Daily News, Fernandez was the 1981 American Kneeboard Champion until school, a trip through the armed forces, and a career as a photojournalist ended that for a while.
