by The Editors on November 2, 2008
Usually skateboarding at school ends in tickets or running from the cops. At New York City’s East Side Community High School it can result in one more A on the transcript thanks to their skateboarding physical education elective.
What started in February as an after-school program run by a volunteer has turned into what school officials believe is New York City’s only skateboarding class for credit.
It’s odd how simple doing the right thing can be.
[Link: New York Times]
by The Editors on November 2, 2008
The Houston Chronicle’s Lisa Gray recounts the sad and inspiring story of how Johnny Romano, the seven-year-old skateboarder with leukemia, turned pro and unselfishly donated his royalty checks to kids who were worse off than he.
Johnny donated his royalties to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and posed for photos with enormous cardboard checks for thousands of dollars. . . . He skated on Fuel TV. He donated Johnny Romano skateboards to charity and autographed them for fans. . . He liked being a Make-A-Wish benefactor, not a recipient. . . . But his luck didn’t hold. In May, with only 10 more chemo treatments on his schedule, he relapsed.
Johnny died on September 23, 2008, but he will not soon be forgotten. The annual Texas Skate Jam For Make-A-Wish scheduled for November 8, 2008 at the Southside Skatepark in Houston has been renamed The Johnny Romano Skate Jam For Make-A-Wish and Johnny’s parents are starting a foundation to support research on childhood leukemia.
[Link: Chron.com]
by The Editors on October 31, 2008
by The Editors on October 31, 2008
In its original sales announcement in August 2008, Quiksilver was reportedly unloading Rossignol to Chartreuse & Mont Blanc for EU75 million in cash and EUR25 million sellers note (or a total of EUR100 million). But that was in the days before the crash. Now the deal, which is supposed to close “in early November,” looks quite different.
. . . the parties agreed to recast the terms of the sale due to the recent challenges in the global credit markets. The revised transaction reduces the cash payment to Quiksilver upon closing from 75 million to 30 million and reduces the seller’s note from 25 million to 10 million.
So, the price former Rossignol CEO Bruno Cercley is now paying for the company is only EUR40 million. That’s a 60 percent discount after only two months. How’s that for a company for which Quiksilver originally paid $320 million?
[Link: MarketWatch]
by The Editors on October 31, 2008
Jen Stewart, the owner of Jen’s Deli in Wilmington, Ohio has just purchased the world largest skateboard from the creators of the board in Bay de Noc Community College.
The huge skateboard, a product of an engineering class project, is recognized as the world’s largest skateboard in the 2009 edition of the “Guinness Book of World Records.” In order to qualify to be in the book, a “Big Wheel” skateboard has to be operational just like a normal skateboard. . . . “There’s no motors, no brakes, and it moves side to side. It has a 50-foot turning radius. Takes 12 people to ride,” an elated Stewart said Thursday after her first time on board.
She said she’s going to use it for parades and special events, and maybe breaking a few more records with it.
[Link: Wnews]
by The Editors on October 31, 2008
Apparently this is news in China (and consequently Boardistan as well):
A burglar tried to flee the scene of his crime on a skateboard but slammed into a wall after a short distance on Oct 22, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. . . . Around 4.30 am, the thief stole a bag of auto parts from a warehouse and climbed down the wall. . . . As soon as the 30-year-old hit the ground, a security guard in the warehouse tried to capture him. . . . To the sentry’s surprise, the thief jumped on a skateboard and fled. . . .But he was not so adroit on wheels and crashed into a wall and fell, making him an easy catch for the guard.
Haa, haa, haa. Skateboard so funny.
[Link: China Daily]
by The Editors on October 31, 2008
Volcom released it’s third quarter financial results yesterday and despite an economy in turmoil, the company has increased total consolidated revenues by 23 percent. Wooly is pretty happy about it.
Our solid third-quarter performance is testament to the strength of the Volcom brand and our team amid a challenging retail environment,” said Richard Woolcott, Volcom’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Managing our business with discipline, commitment and focus is essential during these times of economic uncertainty, and we strongly believe that our current position as an industry leader and our healthy balance sheet will empower Volcom over the long term.”
We missed the conference call, but if you still want to listen to a replay just call (800) 642-1687 (domestic) or (706) 645-9291 (international) and enter reservation number 69147961. Or, click here for a full transcript of the call.
[Link: Trading Markets]
by The Editors on October 30, 2008
Back in August we mentioned that Tony Hawk and Swinger’s director John Favreau would be on a The Sundance Channel show called Iconoclast together. Well, tonight at 10:00 PM EST, is the night.
If you have the channel watch it, it will be good.
[Link: Iconoclasts via Mountain and Wave]
by The Editors on October 28, 2008
Hey, girls! Want to make it in action sports? No matter how tough you are, you better pretty up if you want to get paid. EXPN shows exactly what we’re talking about in their photo essay Gender Bias featuring Mimi Knoop (pictured), Maya Gabeira, Lauren Perkins, Torah Bright and others.
It may not be easy to ollie the corner of the combi, but it sure is pretty.
[Link: EXPN]
by The Editors on October 28, 2008
Mike Vallely has apparently partnered with the Anaheim Ducks on a “co-branded apparel line” to be sold at the Anaheim Ducks Team Store, according to a press release on EXPN.com.
In my mind hockey is the original action sport,” said Mike V, a Ducks season ticket holder “Before the fame of action sports, hockey players were generally regarded as the toughest and craziest athletes on the planet. I think they still are. Of all the traditional and action sports, hockey and skateboarding are the only ones that are truly compatible.
Hey, whatever helps him rationalize this one is fine by us (not to say we’re not laughing), but we always thought he kinda disliked jocks.
[Link: EXPN]
