by The Editors on December 17, 2010
Yesterday kept hearing about Bill Weiss and the relaunch of Digital Skateboarding. Yes, the very same Digital Skateboarding from way, way back in 1999. Here’s what Weiss and the crew are saying:
Ten years after we produced our first video, we are thrilled to release digitalskateboarding.com, a new website bringing you video parts and interviews with the best pro and am skaters from around the world. . . Our early efforts were often wild and hardly perfect, but our videos quickly became synonymous with great skateboarding, partying and sense of humor.
Seems like they’re jumping right back in where they left off. And it looks good. Check it.
[Link: Digital Skateboarding]
by The Editors on December 17, 2010
We’ve seen several seemingly conflicting headlines regarding the Q4 numbers that Quiksilver reported yesterday (December 16, 2010). Bloomberg pretty much called it out like this:
The company, based in Huntington Beach, Calif., said it reduced its debt significantly during the fourth quarter, in part by swapping some of its debt for equity, and that should help it seize growth opportunities in coming years. . . It foresees a 5 percent drop in its first-quarter revenue. . . Quicksilver posted a loss of $22.1 million, or 14 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Oct. 31. That’s compared with a loss of $1.8 million, or a penny per share, a year earlier. . . Its fourth-quarter revenue fell 8 percent to $495.1 million from $538.7 million. . . For the year, Quiksilver reported a net loss of $9.7 million, down from $192 million in fiscal 2009. Its revenue was $1.84 billion, compared with $1.98 billion in fiscal 2009.
Aside from the net loss improvement it doesn’t sound like the greatest news, however, CEO Bob McKnight seemed pretty upbeat about the performance.
I’m very pleased to report exceptional fourth quarter and full fiscal year results,” he said in his opening remarks. “This performance resulted from many factors, but most important is our innovation, execution, developing and delivering great products. Our creative and impactful marketing efforts; we’re taking good care of our customers; and from the efforts of our teams of employees and reps, these talented people who have worked really hard this year; and from a focused business discipline that we’ve made standard practice throughout the year.
The market seems to agree with McKnight’s rather rosy view. This morning Quiksilver was trading up nearly 5 percent to $5.25.
For the entire transcript of the call, click here.
[Link: Bloomberg and The Street]
by The Editors on December 17, 2010
St. Louis, Missouri has it’s own DIY skateboard park at the corner of Kingshighway and Bischoff. St. Louis Today gets all the details.
The skatepark started out guerrilla-style in 2009 when a friend of DelCortivo’s, Kyle Crandall, was scouting urban skate locations. Crandall found the bridge and started pouring concrete under the south end of the bridge, attempting to build a bowl. . . Word leaked fast in the tight-knit skate community, and soon enough dozens of skateboarders were helping convert the seamy underside of a bridge into something practical. Jones said the scene under the bridge before work got started was borderline post-apocalyptic. . . Burning mattresses, drug users, squatters and extensive trash and graffiti were all part of the environment. . . Most of that left with the arrival of the skatepark, although keeping the area graffiti-free requires constant vigilance.
Urban renewal thanks to skateboarding.
[Link: St. Louis Today]
by The Editors on December 17, 2010
After a successful US Snowboarding Grand Prix two weekends ago, Copper Mountain has signed up for four more years of Grand Prix hosting taking them right on through the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. But yes, it appears that skiiing will be included for the duration, sadly.
“Freeskiing and snowboarding are the most popular activities in our sport today with tens of millions of participants,” said USSA’s Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Andrew Judelson. “This event is a perfect fit for the culture at Copper Mountain and will continue to help our partners market to an exciting demographic each year.”
But what about snow-biking? There’s got to be some way to get some winter BMX in there, too. Might as well. Follow the jump for the rest.
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by The Editors on December 16, 2010
It was not the prettiest final in Pipeline history. Australian Kieren Perrow and France’s Jeremy Flores spent the first 12 minutes waiting for a wave at the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons. But none came through. Then finally Kieren Perrow put one down and then another and had Flores down until the last 2 minutes.
With a little under two minutes to go Perrow took what he thought was a good wave. He pulled in and got crushed. He didn’t know it at the time but he left a bomber backdoor barrel wide open for Jeremy Flores. The fourth year tour surfer took full advantage of that gift wave and surfed it out for a 9.37 to seal the deal.
Flores was one of the most stoked Pipeline winners ever. While waiting to take the stage he patted his heart to let people know how it was racing. “It is such a dream. I’ve been coming to Hawaii for so long,” Flores said on the podium. “This is my favorite place in the world. Thanks so much to all the Hawaiian people to accept me and let me get a few barrels. And thanks to my little island Reunion Island. It’s so small it’s not even on most maps.”
Flores, the first European to ever win at Pipeline, said that the reason he won was by staying at it all the way to the end. “Never give up,” he said. “I’m not going to give up. It’s the Pipeline Masters and this is it. . . AI forever. He’s the man. He was my idol all growing up. I dedicate this victory to him, of course.
Tour veteran Perrow knew he was close, but that the heat was not over. “You never think you’ve won until the hooters gone,” he said. “I wanted to be patient and wait for the one good one that came. And I took one that I thought was good, but then I saw Jeremy coming through the barrel and knew it was good. It’s been an unreal week. My family is all here. It’s been fantastic. The support from the crowd has been amazing.”
Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP including full results.
[Special thanks to Billabong for letting us use their free WI-Fi and Ms. Simpson for not being too annoyed.]
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by The Editors on December 15, 2010
Round 3 of the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons finally got underway today and it was almost as if no one took a break. Kelly Slater made it past John Florence in round 3 then cruised through a perfect Backdoor barrel for a 10.0. Parko lost to Owen Wright in round 3. Dusty Payne eliminated Mick Fanning and grabbed a spot on the 2011 tour, and Jordy Smith slipped by a wildcard and into the quarterfinals.
“There are really good waves when they come,” Slater said. “There’s only one or two in a set, but they’re really good when they come. That 10 was a long one. It had that good north corner on it and the right was just growing. That one hit the reef really well.” . . . “At this point, I’ve had a great year and I’m happy,” Slater said. “I’m happy to make it through heats, but if I don’t, this is a fun event for me now and hopefully we’ll get some good waves.”
Stephanie Gilmore surfed Backdoor super solidly to win the Duel for the Jewel and the women’s Triple Crown Title.
It appears that tomorrow we will see the finals. For the official word from the ASP including quarterfinal match-ups and full results follow the jump.
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by The Editors on December 15, 2010
The Skateboard Mag and Super Brand are presenting Maturday Nights on December 18, 2010 to raise money for Grind For Life. The night of music, art and fun features the work of J. Grant Brittain, Dave Swift, Andy Jenkins, Mike Blabac, Don Pendleton, Tony Larson, Mark Penxa, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Isacc McKay Randozzi, Randy Laybourne, Steph Walker, Michael Coleman, Dan Boulton and Jess Andrews with music by DJ Lardog and MC Rich The Stich.
A silent auction featuring top artists and photographers plus a raffle featuring the best skateboarding brands will raise money for “Grind for Life”, a unique organization that helps people with cancer and their families through skateboarding-related events. . . “When Mat passed I knew I wanted to do something to keep his spirit and love for music and skateboarding alive,” said Tony Larson, SUPERbrand Creative Director. “I’m blown away by the generosity of Matt Hensley and all of the brands and artists who are committing to this. Mat would be stoked.”
It all goes down at 8 PM Hensley’s Pub at 850 Tamarack Ave. Carlsbad, California. Follow the jump for more info.
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by The Editors on December 15, 2010
The driver of the car which towed skateboarder Willy Tracy, 17, to his death in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada on June 12, 2010, went on trial this morning and is charged with “criminal negligence,” according to a story The News.
“On June 12, 2010, a person – Willy Tracy – was on a skateboard and he grabbed onto a motor vehicle, a Rav Four, on Willow Street, New Glasgow,” Pink said, adding that the car was being driven by his client. . . “Mr. Tracy fell while he had a hold of the Rav Four, and suffered multiple injuries which resulted in his death.”
Skateboard towing sucks for everyone involved.
[Link: The News]
by The Editors on December 15, 2010
Billabong has announced that profits in the quarter ending December 31, 2010 will be 8 – 13 percent down over last year according to a story on SmartCompany.com.au.
The company now expects net profit for the full financial year will be flat, after earlier predicting profit would increase 2-8%. . . Billabong shares have fallen 9% in initial trade to $8.09, as investors reacted angrily to the shock downgrade. . . Finally, the company said it has had problems getting Billabong brands into the host of retail outlets it has purchased in the last few months, including the Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski and Jetty Surf chains, the Rush Surf chain in Queensland and the West 49 chain in Canada. . . It appears Billabong is having troubling selling out the stock in these stores, which it needs to do before it can start fitting out these stores with goods from the Billabong family of brands.
Seems like retail is always the weak link in the surf fashion business. (Click here for the entire call transcript)
[Link: SmartCompany.com.au and The Australian]
by The Editors on December 15, 2010
We’ve always loved small-town newspaper coverage of action sports athletes, but the Newburyport News’ story on Scotty Lago’s third place finish at last weekend’s US Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper Mountain is all time. Sports editor Dan Guttenplan begins by calling the US Grand Prix “the Winter Dew Tour,” and it only gets better from there.
He’ll likely compete in the three-stop Winter Dew Series, the Winter X Games and the United State Open. He also plans to film a Brain Farm Cinema snowboarding video in Jackson Hole, Wy., and along the Nissan X-Trail in Tokyo. . . [Lago] was well known in snowboarding circles for his ability to execute the most difficult jumping tricks with smooth precision.”
We’re looking forward to seeing Lago shred down Tokyo’s Nissan X-Trail and watching him “execute the most difficult jumping tricks with smooth precision” at the “United State Open,” aren’t you?
[Link: Newburyport News]
Yesterday kept hearing about Bill Weiss and the relaunch of Digital Skateboarding. Yes, the very same Digital Skateboarding from way, way back in 1999. Here’s what Weiss and the crew are saying:
