In a story on a skateboard photography exhibit in Auckland, New Zealand Skateboarder magazine editor Mark Barber says something we think every time we try to explain what we do to people:
It’s probably gonna sound really negative but why would anybody buy a photo of a person they don’t know doing a trick they don’t understand doing a move they don’t know, but that’s probably just me being negative about it.”
Exactly. . .
[Link: 3 News NZ]
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When the news of Van Wastell’s death began circulating at the beginning of September very few details were included in the condolence stories. Now, New York Times writer Michael Brick delves into the young skateboarder’s untimely death even though it seems no one close to the 24-year-old skater is interested in talking. Here is what The Times uncovered about the tradgedy in Berlin:
On Sept. 5, Wastell was a guest at the NH Berlin-Alexanderplatz Hotel, close to the city center in the Friedrichshain quarter, according to the front-office manager, Gerd Fromm. . . . Shortly after midnight Sept. 6, a guest heard a noise outside, looked out his window and saw a man lying on the terrace, according to Klaus Schubert, a spokesman for the Berlin police. . . . “An emergency doctor came, but there was no chance to help,” Schubert said. “It must have been a window of the stairway area in the sixth floor from where he fell or jumped down.” . . . Schubert added: “The most important question, whether it was an accident or a suicide, I cannot answer at this moment.”
While nothing can be done for the sadness the entire skateboard industry feels, sometimes more details can help process the pain. Our thoughts are with the entire Wastell family.
[Link: New York Times]
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Props Snowboard and Skateboard Shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada went up in flames in the early hours of October 15, 2008, according to a story in the Winnipeg Sun.
I would say an early damage estimate would be in the region of $500,000,” said Det. Darryl Drewniak, of the arson strike force, who was among the first investigators on scene. “There is substantial damage to the property.”
It would appear that arson was suspected in the “mysterious fire.”
[Link: Winnipeg Sun]
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Ray’s Apparel and Split Clothing will be no longer in 60 days according to an Adam Sullivan story on Transworld Business.
“Rays Apparel has always been a very profitable company,” explains Ray’s Apparel president Jim Stark. “We got into mid-2008, probably about May, and started running into the same economic woes and problems that our competitors have been having. And for the past four or five months, we’ve been losing money. And it certainly looks that way for the balance of the year.”
While more than 60 employees will reportedly be out of a job, Stark says Split will “continue shipping product into 2009.” The Split brand, however, is up for sale. . . seems like it would be a perfect for one of the mall chain stores. PacSun? Buckle? Zumiez? Anyone?
[Link: Transworld Business]
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Tony Hawk has apparently purchased Birdhouse Skateboards from Blitz Distribution according to a press release posted on Transworld Business.
Tony Hawk and Per Welinder, business partners for the past 15 years, reached a definitive agreement whereby Tony Hawk has acquired all interest in the Birdhouse Skateboards brand from Blitz Distribution, Inc. . . . By purchasing the brand, Tony Hawk will initiate integrating Birdhouse into his overall activities and his business, Tony Hawk, Inc. Full ownership will also give Tony increased oversight and involvement to his biggest priority, the Birdhouse team riders.
Hard to believe this hadn’t happened sooner (especially considering the mainstream marketing power of Tony and Shaun White). No one does better with Tony’s brand than Tony. And maybe those new THPS controllers will be Birdhouse decks.
[Link: Transworld Business]
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The next version of Activision’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater could ship with a new kind of controller thanks to the success of Guitar Hero, according to a story on Ars Technica.
“We believe that the extra year of development time and the opportunity for consumers to shake off franchise fatigue could contribute to better unit sales than the franchise (Tony Hawk) has enjoyed in recent years,” analyst Doug Creutz said while speaking to investors. “We also view it as highly likely that the game will include some sort of skateboard peripheral with all SKUs when it ships, given the massive success (and higher price points and profitability) of Activision Blizzard’s Guitar Hero franchise.”
At a certain point, you might as well just go outside and skateboard, right?
[Link: Ars Technica]
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UK artist Oliver Bishop-Young has taken dumpsters (apparently called “skips” in Britain) and turned them into all kinds of cool things, including a pool, a lawn, and more importantly a mini-ramp.
Mr Bishop-Young designed his ‘skip art’ as playgrounds for youngsters. But he also hopes the works will help encourage people to share their useful rubbish – such as old furniture and clothes – with friends and neighbours. . . . ‘It’s something an individual can do to make their impact on the city,’ he said.
One man’s skip. . .
[Link: Metro.co.uk]
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Just a little reminder to check out the action live on the web.
[Link: Skateboard.com]
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One of the green tickers up in the right hand corner this afternoon was Volcom even though it took what the Orange County Business Journal called “a wild ride” today. They’re saying VeeCo closed this Friday up because of a report by an analyst who said:
Volcom is in a position of strength boasting a balance sheet with no debt, approximately $80 million in cash and clean inventory levels,” Gallacher wrote. “While orders are weak from a shrinking addressable market, Volcom is one brand that continues to gain market share.”
Then again, the only companies in the space to not finish up today were PacSun, Billabong, and Globe. So maybe it had more to do with the market than with what Caris & Co. analyst Claire Gallacher had to say about it.
[Link: Orange County Business Journal]
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WizzardX.tv is a new “site” created by podcast host Wizzard Media under the direction of a guy named Skip Fredricks. Here’s how they describe this new action sports video site in their press release:
WizzardX host, Emily Dickinson, will bring the tightest shots, gnarliest crashes and sweetest moves to life each week as the channel grows to include over 20 of the top podcast shows in the action sports genre. This week, Emily promotes four anchor shows, Dirt, Street, Snow and Water featuring some of the top professionals in their respective sport.
Okay, correct us if we are wrong, but there aren’t even 10 action sports podcasts worth watching and yet, WizzardX is going to include over 20?
Watching Wizzard X is like walking into some shady action sports past. All the footage is old, the events irrelevant, and the shows mostly unwatchable. The site seems to follow the idea that by throwing enough crap out on the web someone will eventually watch it.
Our big question: who do they think they’re going to fool with this? Certainly not the kids.
[Link: Wizzzardx.tv via Marketwatch]
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