by The Editors on March 3, 2008
Chamonix is a terrifying place, we know it. Apparently a 33-year-old man from Leeds was on the Vallee Blanche with a guide when he got separated from the group.
He dropped below the main path during a traverse across the slope. Realising his mistake, he stepped out of his bindings and tried to climb up to rejoin the main route.
However, the extra pressure from his boots is thought to have been too much for a snow bridge across a crevasse, which gave way.
Reminds us riding there with a friend who said: “If you see me ollie something, you better ollie because most likely it’s going to be a crevasse.
[Link: The Telegraph]
by The Editors on March 3, 2008
Volcom is up to six retail stores with the December opening of their Telegraph Ave. store in Berkeley, California “just a stone’s throw from the Cal Berkeley campus.” But they waited until last Friday night to have a grand opening party.
People filled the Volcom store on Telegraph Avenue Friday night to celebrate its grand opening with an all-ages party complete with free beer, free pizza and live music.
Although the boardsports-oriented clothing store officially opened its doors for business in December, they wanted the community to become more familiar with their products.
“We just want to introduce ourselves to the community and let everyone know we’re in town,” said Jeff Roberts, vice president of retail for Volcom.
And the Stone marches on.
[Link: The Daily Californian]
by The Editors on March 2, 2008
Stephen Koch, 39, is still snowboarding, but after riding the highest mountain on every content (the Seven Summits) and being the first to snowboard the Grand, Middle and South Tetons, he’s now focusing on family, Real Estate, and the lecture circuit according to a story in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune.
His closest brush with death came in 1998 when an avalanche swallowed him up on his first attempt at a solo summit and snowboard descent of Mount Owen, one of the most difficult peaks to climb in the Teton Range. He was hit with a wall of snow that sent him tumbling down the mountain. He could hear ligaments snapping in each knee as he was tossed violently down the slope. When the avalanche stopped he was lucky enough to be able to crawl out of the snow. Not knowing his back was broken, he painfully inched his way down the mountain, scooting part of the way on his backside. He battled hypothermia through the night until he was rescued.
Sounds like an interesting lecture. . . on what not to do.
[Link: Jackson Hole Star Tribune]
by The Editors on March 2, 2008
According to BusinessWire:
Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) today announced that the Company’s conference call to discuss fourth quarter fiscal 2007 financial results will be broadcast live over the Internet on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and may be accessed at http://ir.zumiez.com. To listen to the webcast, please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to register and download any necessary software.
[Link: BusinessWire]
by The Editors on March 1, 2008
The New York Times features an interview with filmmaker Gus Van Sant by Blake Nelson, the author of the book the Paranoid Park is based on. The story (if you haven’t heard already) is about a skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard and then goes on the deal with all the feelings that go along with that. Van Sant talks a bit about skateboarding:
I had been a skateboarder in the ’60s, which was a long time ago, but I didn’t think that it was so much different. I worked on a film, “Skateboard,” in 1978, so I met the skaters of that time. That type of culture almost gets like gang culture or surf culture, territorial. I didn’t think it connected with the characters in the “Paranoid” story. They go to a skate park where the hard-core skaters are, but the real lifer skate people were only an inspiration to your characters.
Click the link for the rest.
[Link: The New York Times]
by The Editors on February 29, 2008
We should have known that it would take a comic book for 3rd graders to grab the attention of the snowboard industry.
This time someone sent an email out to some “industry insiders” telling them about a heinous new book out titled Jake Burton Carpenter and the Snowboard that is accused of couching Jake Burton as the inventor of the snowboard. It’s already been linked up on Fuel.tv, the Burton Forums, Transworldsnowboarding.com, and Group Y marketing club’s blog. The error filled email includes the following:
Burton has teamed up with a kids’ book publisher to create their skewed version of snowboard history — for very young kids to “learn” from in early elementary school. Probably so that they’ll be inclined to buy Burton product as they get older. If you read this cartoon book, despite its after-the-fact footnotes, it is clear that Burton is trying to brainwash little kids these days that Jake invented snowboarding.
Strangely, it appears that no one has read the book, because if they had, they’d realize that it’s just a goofy, mainstream comic book for 3rd graders featuring the story of how Jake founded his snowboard company. Yes, a kookie little book for 3rd graders. . . and the snow industry thinks it’s a conspiracy.
by The Editors on February 28, 2008
The site has been stagnant for almost two weeks, however, today a new site showed up at TransWorld Business. After a quick cruise through the site we’d have to say it looks . . . well, just like a WordPress blog. Wonder what theme they’re using.
The old content looks to be gone-daddy-gone. Hopefully, they’ll hook it up later. It would be a shame if 16 years of action sports business content simply vanished from the web. Not to mention throwing an industry leading site down into a content race with anyone who wants to download WordPress and choose a theme.
Transworld Business appears to be a work in progress. Which is great. The site has needed some sprucing for years. We’ll keep you posted when we get a chance to check out the site in more detail (and after Transworld tech people get a chance to tune it up a little, because yeah, there are many problems with the site currently).
[Link: Transworld Business]
by The Editors on February 28, 2008
We’re tired of all the freeloaders riding the “green wave.” Now, SIA is jumping on the green press release band wagon with this.
Being “green” isn’t a new concept for SnowSports Industries America (SIA), as the association has been implementing environmental friendly programs since the mid 80s. However, at the SIA.08 SnowSports Trade Show recently held in Las Vegas, SIA ramped up its efforts in order to support the old adage “actions speak louder than words”.
Blah, blah blah, blah blah.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 27, 2008
At the end of November 2007 Kevin Carter, Devlin Williams, and Phillip Hollins, three snowboarders, took off for some backcountry snowboarding near Crystal Mountain. They were never seen again.
In Final Tracks, writer Courtney Nash looks into what might have happened and why so many people are drawn to riding away from the safety of resorts.
[Link: The Stranger]
by The Editors on February 27, 2008
According to a press release on The Earth Times:
Ault Glazer & Co., Inc. recently acquired the Hayes Brothers Snowboard Company. Financial terms were not disclosed. One of the founders, and current manager, Mr. Stephen Hayes, will remain at the helm as the firm seeks to embark on their second decade in the snowboard industry. Mr. Hayes said, “This is an incredibly exciting time for Hayes Brothers and we expect this to be the year Hayes Brothers takes it to the next level.” . . . Ault Glazer & Co., Inc. is a diversified holding company that maintains stakes in various companies through its minority interests and wholly owned subsidiaries, and is involved in merchant banking, corporate lending, shareholder activism, real estate, healthcare, energy, consumer products & services, insurance and media.
[Link: The Earth Times]
