Requiem For The Surf Industry

by The Editors on April 3, 2023

In one fell swoop, the entire surf industrial complex has disappeared from the world. Poof! All the stories, all the late-night parking lot parties and premieres, and all the dreams of kids from the dusty streets of middle America who longed to reach for the beach. Today, Jamie Salter’s oxymoronically named Authentic Brand Group has agreed to buy Boardriders (Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, RVCA, Element, VonZipper, Surf Dive & Ski, and Honolua) from Oaktree Capital for a reported $1.28 billion, according to stories in the Chain Store Age and the Australian Financial Review. Here’s how Mr. Salter spins it:

Along with the great brands and impressive global reach that will come with this acquisition, we see Boardriders’ potential as a thriving online marketplace under Authentic’s ownership,” said Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO of Authentic, whose brands include Reebok, Eddie Bauer, Nautica and many more. “With Boardriders’ proven retail playbook, we also see tremendous opportunities to accelerate the expansion of its shop-in-shops, branded retail stores, wholesale and e-commerce worldwide.”

By far the funniest quote is from Boardriders CEO Arne Arens:

We are proud of our deep connection to the global action sports community, industry-leading brands and world-class teams,” said Arne Arens, CEO of Boardriders. “Under Authentic’s ownership, Boardriders will be uniquely positioned to expand the reach of our iconic brands to millions of consumers, capture market share in our core categories and grow white spaces, including premium athleisure, training and lifestyle.”

We know Mr. Arens has to say this, but does anyone really believe it? We don’t. In the meantime, make sure you buy from. . . well, authentically authentic action sports brands that are privately owned and funded. If you know of any, please help us out and leave them in the comments.

[Link: Chain Store Age and Australian Financial Review]

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Circe Wallace On The Bomb Hole

by The Editors on March 31, 2023

Yes, you need to watch Circe Wallace for all the reasons. Maybe we’ll list some of them later, but you already know why. 

[Link: The Bomb Hole]

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A Curren Caples Reminder From Vans

by The Editors on March 29, 2023

It begins with Ween and only gets better from there. Just a little reminder of how good Curren Caples is (as if we’d forgotten: thanks Gary). That’s all. Back to work.

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SurfAid Celebrates World Water Day

by The Editors on March 22, 2023

Apparently, today is World Water Day. A chance to celebrate water and raise awareness of the global water crisis around the world. As part of the celebration SurfAid is requesting help in their mission to improve clean water access  in Indonesia, home to the worst drinking water in South East Asia. 

Only 30 per cent of city residents have access to clean water and that number drops to only 10 per cent in remote villages. SurfAid is changing these odds and we need your help. Access to water and sanitation is an integral part of all our programs. We work together with communities and local government to establish clean water facilities and sanitation practices using a mix of practical support, education and sanitation promotion.

If you’d like to help SurfAid in this mission please click the link for more info.

[Link: SurfAid]

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The McGill’s 35th Anniversary Party

by The Editors on March 20, 2023

After 35 years in downtown Encinitas Mike McGill has moved his legendary McGill’s Skate Shop a couple blocks inland and sandwiched it right between Lazy Acres supermarket and Jersey Mikes at the northwest corner of Encinitas Blvd and the 5 (as they say in SoCal). The perfect spot if you’re looking for an organic salad to compliment your corporate sub and Birdhouse Skateboard. It was also the perfect spot for a 35th anniversary party on March 18, 2023 with most of the Bones Brigade and whole host of skate heads.

Everyone was there and thanks to Malik Jones we can see it all: Lance Mountain, Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, Hosoi, Stevie Cab, Kevin Staab, Grant Brittain, Paul “The Professor” Schmitt, Don Brown, Steve Van Doren, Alphonzo Rawls, and apparently of dumpload of professional autograph hunters doing business. 

[Link: McGill’s Skate Shop]

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USPS Drops Art of the Skateboard Stamps

by The Editors on March 16, 2023

The US Postal Service is dropping in on Cowtown’s 21st Annual Phoenix Am Contest on Friday, March 24, 2023 to kick off the launch of their new Art of The Skateboard stamp series.

Fiercely independent and often rebellious, the skateboarding subculture crackles with raw creative energy. The bold artwork emblazoned on a skateboard deck is often as eye-catching and individualistic as a skater’s most breathtaking moves.

The stamps feature art by Crystal Worl, William James Taylor Jr, Federico “MasPaz” Frum, and Di’Orr Greenwood. For all the details (including special info for all you philatelists), please follow the jump.

[click to continue…]

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Shaun Palmer Inducted In MTB Hall Of Fame

by The Editors on March 13, 2023

Seems like this took a little longer than it should have but legendary snowboarder Shaun Palmer is now a member of the 2023 inductee class of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Old snowboarders know exactly how skilled Shaun was at pretty much everything, but the mountain bike world circa 1995 never knew what hit them as Shaun jumped in out of nowhere and dominated the downhill scene, changing pretty much everything about the sport all at once.

Palmer, a world-renowned Hall of Fame snowboarder, scored a breakout performance just one year after getting into the sport. Aboard one of the most-prolific downhill bicycle frames of all time, the Intense M-1, he scored the silver medal at the 1996 UCI Downhill World Championships, missing gold by just 0.15 seconds. His immediate world-topping results captured the immediate attention, and intrigue, of the entire mountain bike community.

Not sure what he’s been up to lately, but it’s great to see him getting a little more credit for all the things he’s done in his multi-sport career.

[Link: Mountain Bike Hall of Fame]

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Terry Kennedy To Serve At Least Five Years

by The Editors on March 5, 2023

Pro skateboarder Terry Kennedy will be spending the few years in prison after being found guilty of “aggravated battery” in the death of 23-year-old skateboarder Josiah Kassahun. Kennedy also plead guilty to one count of threatening a public official which comes with an additional five-year sentence as well bringing the sentence to 10 years total, according to a story in The Daily Herald.

Kennedy must serve at least 50% of each sentence before being eligible for parole. He received credit for the more than 1½ years he has spent in jail awaiting trial and sentencing.

Guess that means he only has three and half more to go before a possible parole. Would be cool if he could make that work.

[Link: The Daily Herald]

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Vail Shutters Retail In iKon Aspen

by The Editors on March 5, 2023

Looks like Vail Resorts is no longer interested in keeping their retail businesses running in ikon towns as they shutter retail operations in Aspen and Snowmass. They’re also closing their retail in Telluride (which is on their Epic Pass) bringing the total of closing shops to 19, according to a story in The Denver Post. Branded retail stores getting shut include Burton, Patagonia and The North Face.

“As our leases in the Aspen area came up for renewal at the end of the 2022/2023 winter season, we needed to make a long-term decision regarding the future strategy of our retail operations in the Aspen market. At that time, we decided to close down our retail operations in this market in order to focus company resources on (serving) our core retail markets,” said Glenn Stahlman, vice president and chief operating officer at Vail Resorts.

Looks a little like a tail-between-legs retreat and has nothing to do with Aspen Ski Co’s grabbing a new CEO from Vail’s Whistler Blackcomb. The only reason these mega-corps even get into retail in the first place is to put all the local/independent shops out of business–consolidate and conquer! So, hey, mission accomplished.

[Link: The Denver Post]

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Vail Resorts Shorts International Workers

by The Editors on February 25, 2023

In what should come as a surprise to no one, Vail Resorts is being accused of cutting the hours of many of its international workers because, why not? According to The Summit Daily News, one worker has seen his hours cut substantially since the end of the Christmas Holiday.

When he began working as a back-of-house employee at the Timber Ridge restaurant in December, Queiroz said he was scheduled for 40-hour weeks, but by the middle of the month his hours began to get cut to 32. Then, he hit 24 hours in January. . . Copies of Queiroz’s work schedules, which he provided to the Summit Daily, show that for every week since Jan. 28, Queiroz was scheduled for two days — or 16 hours — not including an unpaid break. He said it’s barely enough money to cover his living expenses.

As in all business, the easiest way to cut costs is to trim labor, and if you already have everyone’s money from the super-mega pass, why provide quality services? That’s right. No reason. Vail has responded with more corporate speak about being “fully staffed” etc. . . but everyone knows what’s going on–too many employees is always better than not enough.

Even thought Vail Resorts in an offer letter (which Queiroz was required to sign) suggested that workers would get 32 hours a week, the company says it doesn’t use employment contracts. After Queiroz factors in the cost of getting to Colorado and his flight home to Brazil, he’s basically paying to work for Vail. Ah, capitalism!

[Link: Summit Daily News]

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