by The Editors on September 6, 2010
The surfing the river (Eisbach) in Munich Germany’s English Garden is finally legal, according to a story on Deutsche Welle.
Up until this summer, surfing in the English Garden was forbidden – at least officially. . . “There were times when we really had problems with the police,” said 42-year-old veteran surfer Carsten Kurmis. “We lost the joy of surfing because we’d have to keep one eye on the wave and one eye on the street in case an officer came.” . . Calls to better enforce the surfing ban increased in 2007 after an Australian student drowned while surfing in the river. But Munich’s mayor Christian Ude personally intervened to make sure qualified people could still ride the waves. . . Now around 200 experienced river riders have registered for access to the city’s so-called Eisbach, or “icy brook.”
Sounds like Munich has a pretty cool mayor.
[Link: Deutsche Welle]
by The Editors on September 6, 2010
Giovanni Reda has a new book out with Oh Wow Press titled Demigods & Cosmic Children featuring portraits of his friends and acquaintances including people like Spike Jones (above), Mark Gonzalez, and other famous and not so famous peoples.
[Reda] captures each subject sincerely, candidly portrayed and free to be vulnerable. As Reda relates to each individual, he also removes himself as a director. Without staging, he implies connectivity–his personal relationships are exposed, but ultimately the message underlines our connection to one another.
It’s all a network, right? The book is 8.75 x 12.25, 200 pages long, and costs $45.00. Buy one before they are gone.
[Link: Oh Wow via Club Mumble]
by The Editors on September 6, 2010
Billabong is apparently refinancing to the tune of US$780 million, according to a story on ifrasia.com.
Billabong International, an ASX-listed surf and skate lifestyle retailer, has signed a US$790m refinancing split equally between a three- and four-year loan. The four Aussie majors – ANZ, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Westpac – were the bookrunners on the deal, which saw three others joining.
Looks like everyone is taking advantage of new lower interest rates.
[Link: ifrasia.com]
by The Editors on September 6, 2010
First Billabong reported that things in the branded boardsports fashion market weren’t going well and now Quiksilver adds in that things are going to get even worse, according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We expect fourth quarter . . . revenues to be down 15 per cent after accounting for a weaker translation rate on the euro and the marked decline in consumer demand in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Scirocco said. . . Quiksilver posted a 12 per cent fall in third-quarter revenue to $US441 million ($481 million). Revenue in the Americas – dominated by a recession and high unemployment – was down 9 per cent but there was a 10 per cent drop in the Asia-Pacific region primarily due to market weakness in Australia. . .
Looks like Q1 2011 is going to be pretty bad. Get ready.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on September 6, 2010
Oakley, a company that has historically tried to out maneauver Olympic sponsorship rules, has apparently nutted up and become the official eyewear sponsor the Team USA, according to a Tripp Mickel (behind the paywall) story on Sports Business Journal.
Terms of the multiyear agreement were not available, but sources said it offers the USOC both cash and value-in-kind. . .
Maybe someday Street & Smith will give us access to the whole story.
[Link: Sports Business Journal]
by The Editors on September 6, 2010
Quiksilver announced a double-plus good deal on the $150 million credit line they’ve been running, according to a story in Businessweek. The company got a new, lower interest rate and extended the credit line out for four years.
The new rate is 1.5 percentage points below its previous credit line arranged by Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch and General Electric Co.’s GE Capital. The credit line is now set to expire in August 2014.
That’s good news for the company that is currently carrying $700 million in debt.
[Link: BusinessWeek]
by The Editors on September 5, 2010
Rudd Davis, founder of action sports advertising network BNQT and former JDK worker, has apparently been tapped to head up USA Today’s business development and digital development and this has caused Poytner Online media columnist Rick Edmonds to wonder what it all means in his Biz Blog:
How does it happen that two young execs from USA Today’s BNQT action sports site are now in charge of all business development and digital development? Does success in covering dirt-biking and skateboarding translate to building a broad digital domain?
Well, Rick. Could it be that after trying (and failing) to run a media business with the usual subjects they’ve finally realized that those wacky kids building that action sports business may actually understand how media works in a digital space? This move may be one of the first good decisions Gannett has made in years. Congrats, Rudd.
[Link: Poynter.org]
by The Editors on September 4, 2010
A 14-year-old snowboarder on the Russian National Team died while training in Southern Switzerland, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Valais state police say the 14-year-old died Friday after losing her balance during a jump on a boardercross course in Saas Fee. . . Police say the unidentified athlete was flown to hospital in Visp where she died of head injuries.
According to the report she was wearing both a helmet and spine protection. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
[Link: Sports Illustrated]
by The Editors on September 3, 2010
There may never a more important, life-changing win for any pro surfer as Andy Irons’ today (September 3, 2010) at the Billabong Pro Teahupoo against CJ Hobgood. We all know how important contest surfing is to Andy and his psyche and it’s honestly a relief to see his energy channeled in the winning direction because it could have easily gone the other way.
Wave after wave Andy grabbed his rail and laid back into the arms of Teahupoo and he was rewarded. He edged Kelly Slater in the semi’s and then outscored CJ Hobgood 14.67 to 8.33 in head-high surf.
“This is all dedicated 100 percent to my wife. I want to thank the whole world right now. I really, really, really like competing because I love to win,” an rightfully amped AI said following the heat. Regarding the finals he was a little more mellow. “I just kind of played it safe. CJ was going so deep I knew he was either going to get 10s or 2s and luckily he got 2s.”
CJ was visibly shaken with his second place finish. “I’ve been in four finals here and I never remember the second place finishes,” he said. “I have no one to blame but myself. I had good waves that I could have gotten a score on. . . I wanted to pack them harder than I should have. I didn’t have any breakout heats on my way here. My feeling was my that this was my heat and I’m going to pack the 9s. I was trying to get deeper on my waves and I got too deep. . . if I would have come out of one of those it would have been a different story.
Andy is back. “I’m back. I never went anywhere. It feels so good to be back,” he said. “Without that year off I’d never be here right now. I think I have 19 CT wins this makes 20. Anytime you get your name on the trophy it feels amazing.”
We just hope Andy can let this win keep him pointed in the right direction because Trestles in coming.
Follow the jump for the complete results and official word from the ASP.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 3, 2010
The surfing the river (Eisbach) in Munich Germany’s English Garden is finally legal, according to a story on Deutsche Welle.
