Snowboarder Kjersti Buaas has some new gear up and protecting her eyeballs. Yep, she’s reportedly now on the Zeal Optic program.
Growing up in Norway, Kjersti was on skis before most of us began walking. Starting at age one, Kjersti was born to be on the snow. At age 12, she tried snowboarding for the first time, and was instantly hooked. “My passion for snowboarding started at age 12, when I tried it for the first time and absolutely fell in love. Since then, I have had this never ending motivation to learn and express myself as much on my board as I possible can, whether it’s a trick in the park or if it’s just a lofty air into powder” says Kjersti.
After watching Luan Oliveira over-kill the 2015 Tampa Pro we’re seriously wondering if there will ever be a better display of technical contest skateboarding, ever. Not only did Oliveira hit every single thing he tried in his final runs, he kept going long after his time was up with five or six more makes before a miss. In fact, in his winning run he went 20 tricks deep before a falter. It was mind-blowing.
Sure, Nyjah Huston, who finished in second, gave it a solid go with his practiced precision, but Oliveira’s threw everything he had at it and he didn’t miss. Watch the video and you’ll see. For the complete results, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Last night, at Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Los Altos Skate Park, seven people were shot and one has died, another is in critical condition, according to a story in the Albuquerque Journal.
One person is dead and six others injured following a Sunday night shooting at a skate park in Northeast Albuquerque and police don’t know who the shooter or shooters are, a spokesman said. . . Officers were called to Los Altos skate park just before 10 p.m. Sunday night. They arrived to find a large crowd, with one person dead on the sidewalk and others injured, Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Tanner Tixier said. Three people were immediately rushed to a local hospital.
According to a story on KRQE.com it all started with a fight:
Police are not saying what led up to the shooting, but witnesses said it started as a fight, then one man went to his car, grabbed a gun and started shooting. . . At this time one subject is deceased and another is in critical condition. The other five victims appear to have sustained non-life threatening injuries. . . Witnesses said the fight Sunday possibly started over a stolen skateboard. Then they said someone started shooting. . . “I don’t know, I can’t even explain it because I’m just hoping my sister’s alright because I don’t know really what happened,” said witness Mariah Cruz. “They just started shooting and stuff and my godmother and stuff were just holding their kids.”
The Los Altos Skatepark reportedly has a long history of violence. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and we hope justice is eventually served.
Beachgrit.com’sChas Smith has started a petition on Change.org suggesting that there should be “No Hate-Mongering in Surf Media by The Inertia.” We don’t read the inert site ourselves, but apparently a writer there started a petition to get Gabriel Medina suspended from the Pro Show because he went off script during that apparel sponsored event at Snapper Rocks. And Chas didn’t like that one bit:
Trey Highton, whose title is Poet/Surf Scholar/Ocean Activist (and whose name might actually be Henry), posted a 15,000 word piece today titled Gabriel Medina, Samsung and the Axis of Evil. In it he argues that Gabby should be fined $101,000 for using swears and criticizing commissioner Kieren Perrow (hereafter “Pierrow”) and suspended from Bells.
We couldn’t believe Highton’s story (or petition) was anything more than a joke and/or link bait. (Even though that event production company has apparently fined the current world champ). But again, we don’t really understand where most of the site’s writers are coming from. If you’d like to jump in on the high jinks please, click the link.
Okay, so it’s taken Active Ride Shop a while to truly embrace the digital future, but since they made the effort we might as well welcome them with open arms. Yes, On March 19, 2015 Active launched its first “digital catalog.”
Viewers that click on an Active team rider or brand spotlight within the catalog are brought to the online store where they can see the entire collection and easily make a purchase. Known for providing the best product and service in the skate mail order business, this new digital catalog will compliment Active’s multi-medium mail order business that will still include its classic printed catalog. . . The world has become a very digital and social place in the time since print catalogs and magazines were king. The new Active Ride Shop Spring 15 digital catalog connects with people’s lifestyles through their phones, iPads or computers with social media buttons built into it so readers can easily share the newest signature product, Active Team Rider skate shots and brand features with their friends.
Again, it sounds a lot like what we were telling people in 1996, but then we were a little too far ahead of the curve on that one. Maybe now is the perfect time to jump in. Gotta admit, it’s a pretty smooth way to look at all the gear that’s out for sale right now. Much easier than burrowing through all the brands’ websites. For the official word from Active, please follow the jump.
powerHouse Books will be releasing a new book of photos and text featuring Vancouver’s mythical Barrier Kult skateboarding gang titled BA. KU. The words will be provided by Deer Man of Dark Woods with photography by Anthony Tafuro.
They’re an assembly of incognito professional skateboarders that ritualize their skill on concrete barriers. The team was created ten years ago by Deer Man of Dark Woods and Depth Leviathan Dweller, who decided to adorn a mask of anonymity after growing tired of the repetition of the professional skate world. One would argue that the Barrier Kult’s entire way of skating is repetitive, but the team takes this as a challenge to land big tricks… on stone cold concrete.
There were rumors. There were rumors that it “only took Trevor Colden one session to destroy the Diamond Park and hook up the locals up with some free trucks for the newest Thunder Trucks Parks & Wreck.”
Okay, it wasn’t a rumor. It was a press release. But that’s okay, isn’t it?
For over 30 years, riders from around the country have descended on Northern California to celebrate the history of snowboarding with retro boards from brands like Barfoot, Sims, Burton, K2, Gnu, and Santa Cruz, hand-dug halfpipes, grand slalom courses and great friends.
If you’re up for the party event of the somewhat sad Tahoe shred season, then pony up. Click the link. Register and compete. Do it now.
Stoked, the organization founded by entrepreneur Steve Larosiliere and action sports announcer Sal Masekela turned 10 this year and they’re taking this as a the perfect time to update everyone on all the great things theme been doing for low-income high school students in New York City and Los Angeles. How’s this:
The Brooklyn-based organization, which has a satellite office in Los Angeles, proudly boasts a 100% high school graduation rate among program participants; roughly 30% higher than the national average for disadvantaged students in New York and California. Through their involvement with STOKED, students receive 41% more education and career development experience than traditional classroom learning provides.
That’s a pretty amazing statistic, right? For the official word from Stoked, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Damn, this winter (or lack thereof) just keeps getting worse and worse. First Mt. Baker announced they were shutting down the lifts until they got some snow, and now Sierra-at-Tahoe says that shut it all down for the season on Monday, March 16, 2015. Shut and done. Sadly, that means no Vans Hi-Standard Tahoe event.
“It is with a heavy heart we must announce Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort will be suspending winter operations beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 16,” said general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe John Rice. “Conditions around the mountain have deteriorated to the point where we can no longer deliver a product that meets our standards.”
The next Vans Hi-Standard is scheduled for the Vans Penke Park in Maxyrhofen, Austria on March 21, 2015. So if you’re in the area, drop on by for Vans “homage to more than 20 years of Vans heritage in snowboarding, bringing modern day competition back to the basics by rewarding riders for individual style, creativity and self-expression.”
Otherwise, may we suggest skateboarding? Or surfing during spring break?
