New York Times writer Michael Brick gets looks into boardsports triathlon Ultimate Boarder and finds the intersection of marketing, action sports, novelty and a founder who just wants make money doing what he loves.
The Ultimate Boarder organizer, Tim D. Hoover, a 38-year-old amateur surfer and onetime film industry worker, described the contest as his ticket to raising his family in this easygoing beach setting 60 miles north of Los Angeles. . . .“I really wanted to make this a grassroots, bootstrap, organic thing,” he said. “I wanted to do something to inspire and create a format for the next generation of kids that grow up in this lifestyle.”
Wonder how that’s working for him? How many people, aside from the competitors, really care about a competition that is won each year by aging skateboard team managers from surf clothing companies?
[Link: New York Times]
Hey Editors at Boardistan,
I’m not sure if you were able to attend our event or simply read the newspaper article, but I’d encourage you to dig a little bit before passing too many judgements.
We are not X-Games, we are not Quik Cup…we are Ultimate Boarder. If you were sitting a few feet away from these athletes as they were competing at extremely high levels to win $30k, your story would probably read a little different.
If you saw the dozens of kids learning how to ollie from Andy Macdonald…your article would read a little different.
Anyhow, you get my point. Come on out next time and we’ll give you a couple free tickets to enjoy.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us directly.
Best,
David
Ultimate Boarder
dave@ultimateboarder.com
ouch… i had fun even though i had to compete with a broken clavicle that i thought was just a torn ligament..one arm joe came through and finished..
it was great to drop the barriers put up by each sport…all love on the board..any board…for real though this was a cool event…not many people in the world can do all three at a high level…only 50 signed up from the whole world
.would be cool to do it at Pipe, Burnside and alaska though..wonder how many people would show up for that one
and chad rips, with mad style and a grin…way to go shetler
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