by The Editors on September 19, 2014
Matix, makers of quality action clothing, is always doing their part to give back. This time they did it by taking the Compton Boys & Girls Clubs to El Porto Beach for the inaugural Compton Surf Club.
“We wanted to share the stoke of surfing with kids that live so close, but never get a chance to enjoy the beach and a chance to surf,” explained Matix Marketing Manager Gabe Clement. “Every kid stood up on a wave. That feeling of conquering something new and foreign is something these kids will take with them into the new school year and is something that can’t be measured.”
But Matix didn’t do it alone. They had help rom Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, team riders Turkey Stopnik, Chase Stopnik, and J.J. Wessel along with special industry guests Luke Egan and Bruce Beach. For the official word from Matix, follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 18, 2014
For a guy seemingly built and groomed for wins on Trestles perfect power ramps, it took South African (and current Carlsbad, California resident) Jordy Smith until today (September 18, 2104) to win his first Hurley Pro. But from the way he was smiling throughout the day, he was more stoked than anyone.
“I feel unbelievable,” Smith said. “To be able to surf against the best surfer in the world at the moment is incredible. I started the heat really well but right toward to the end I started to think about everyone that’s been supporting me and it helped me nail that last wave. I knew I had to do something good. I’m over the moon, it’s a dream of mine to win Trestles, especially after moving here.”
2 John Florence posted the highest two wave heat total and highest single scoring wave of the contest to get into the finals again Smith, but the ocean (and wind) was not cooperating in the final.
“I was hoping that Jordy’s wave wasn’t going to be enough but he got it,” said John John Florence. “It was really hard to surf out there and good job to Jordy, he’s been surfing good all week. I’m so bummed, I hate coming that close to winning, but it’s given me some confidence going in to the next event.”
On the women’s side Stephanie Gilmore beach out Sally Fitzgibbons to win the Swatch Pro. For the official word form the ASP and the complete results, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 18, 2014
Yesterday, after watching Kelly Slater catch another magical last second wave to claim his 21st heat win over Taj Burrow and ending what Johnny Gannon later described on Instagram as “a cunt of a day,” we were interested to see the Heritage Heat. The APS’s idea is to allow former surf greats to get some time in the water in front of the fans. In this case, former World Champion Martin Potter and nude surfing originator Brad Gerlach were to rekindle old rivalries and settle things once and for all. What happened was something different, and as usual, no one described it better than Chas Smith:
The art of aging gracefully, and to be sure, it is an art, involves transitioning from stage to stage with taste, decorum, all deliberate speed. It does not, and I repeat DOES NOT, involve surfing in “Heritage Heats.”. . . Athletics (real athletics, not bocce, golf, race car driving etc.) is a field that becomes fraught with pitfalls as life’s sun begins to set. Of course, people should stay fit and active at all ages and surfing is a wonderful pursuit at all ages. That saltwater soothes, that glide feels so fine. But the older surfer should practice his art quietly. He should not practice his art during a surf competition in front of judges on the same waves just surfed by Taj Burrow (forever a 12 year old).
For the rest of Smith’s insightful treatise on aging surfers, click the link. For Derek Rielly’s interview (How I Fucking Smashed Pottz) with heat winner Brad Gerlach, click here. Ah, Smith and Rielly, what a pair.
[Link: Beach Grit]
by The Editors on September 17, 2014
Everyone’s favorite macho, right-wing, action sporting hellion Brandon Lillard came in a little hot while BASE jumping in Utah on Friday, September 12, 2014 (click here for the story from The Herald Extra). And by “a little hot” we mean we’re all very lucky that Lillard is still alive. He reportedly had some trouble with his chute and bounced off a cliff wall a couple times before slamming into the earth.
The good news is that after being in the Utah Valley Regional Hospital in critical condition, he is now in stable condition and is improving (as anyone who knows him would expect). He had some “major head trauma and some broken bones that will heal.” The bad news is that he’s going to have mountains of bills relating to recovery. That’s where you can help. Jason Kimball set up a gofundme.com and you can help by clicking the link and donating something. It doesn’t need to be huge, and you can be anonymous, but anything would help. Click the link for more info.
[Link: Gofundme.com]
by The Editors on September 16, 2014
After four lay days the waves finally turned on for Round 2 of the 2014 Hurley Pro at Trestles on Tuesday, September 16 and few took better advantage of the perfect wind conditions than Brazil’s Filipe Toledo when he blasted one out in his heat against Adam Melling.
“I saw Melling doing some big turns and getting a huge score, so I knew I had to do something crazy,” Filipe Toledo said. “I know the wind is really good for airs so when the first left came I just went for it. When I landed I was surprised but I’m stoked to get through. I’m looking forward to more heats and more airs.”
For the official word from the World Surf League ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 12, 2014
ZoSea Media’s entertainment property currently operating under the moniker Association of Surfing Professionals will get a new name come January 2015 it was announced today (Friday, September 12, 2014). Next year the new name will be World Surf League.
In a letter to the surfing community, CEO Paul Speaker explains that the change is happening because the new name will help bring the sport of professional surfing to more fans, athletes and partners worldwide. The ASP will continue to operate under the existing name until the end of 2014 and in January 2015, will begin the season as the World Surf League.
Hey, they’re the marketing professionals. Plus, to most of the ball handling world “league” means sports. And it will go quite nicely with Street League and maybe Snow League. Right? We’re talking expansion here. But please, whatever you do don’t think bowling when you hear the new name. This is not a bowling league. It’s a surf league. To read the entire letter from Mr. Speaker, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 12, 2014
Volcom’s latest snowboarding marketing and promotional video is called Mr. Plant. It features:
Pat Moore, Curtis Ciszek, Scott Blum, Bryan Iguchi, Seth Huot, Jamie Lynn, Zach Normandin, Elena Hight, Hunter Wood, Mike Rav, Terje Haakonsen, Arthur Longo, Jake Welch, and friends.
It’s raw and fast and tasty as usual. For a complete premiere tour listing and more horticultural information regarding Mr. Plant, please click the link.
[Link: Volcom]
by The Editors on September 11, 2014
Powdr Corp. appears to have thrown in the towel in its long running legal battle with Talisker and Vail Resorts by finally deciding to sell Park City Mountain Resort to Vail for $183 million according to a story in Bloomberg Businessweek.
Vail will get the terrain owned by PCMR along with the base facilities—the parking, lift ticket offices, and other parts required for a functioning ski resort. The base also has zoning approval for almost 700,000 square feet of residential and commercial development.
Not only that, but Vail is planning to hook Park City up with Canyons to make the “largest single ski resort in the U.S., with 7,000 skiable acres.” But don’t worry for Powdr Corp just yet. They still own Copper, Killington, Mt. Bachelor, Boreal, Pico, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, Gorgoza Park, Soda Springs, and of course, Woodward Camps. It will likely be a little while longer before Vail gets there hands on all those.
Oh, and the good news for Vail Epic pass holders is that Park City is now included on your long list of resort options. For the official word from Vail, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 10, 2014
World Industries continues its zombie brand march through the industry with the announcement today (September 10, 2014) that all its assets and trademarks have been purchased from Seven Wells LLC by the Kent, Washington based Golden Viking Sports for an undisclosed amount.
For those not familiar with Golden Viking, the company currently markets and distributes footwear brands like Diadora and Hot Wheels, among others. They also own Capix helmets and zombie snowboard brand M3. Remember them?
Going forward, Golden Viking Sports will continue to aggressively build on the business that World Industries created, and will re-launch the World and Flameboy vs. Wet Willy brands in the core footwear category in Spring 2015. Other products will follow soon thereafter. U.S. distribution for the World Industries labels will include the family footwear channel as well as select sports specialty stores and online retailers.
For the official word from Golden Viking, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 8, 2014
Our friends at Yobeat.com (who apparently still follow the snowboarding resort business world) pointed out this morning that a judge in the Park City vs. Talisker legal battle has decided that Park City must post a bond of $17.5 million by September 12, 2014 if it expects to operate the lifts on Talisker’s land this winter. Will they pay? A $17.5 million bond is chump change compared to how far the real estate value on all those slope side condos will fall when there are no slopes (or lifts) to be on the side of.
[Link: Yobeat.com and Salt Lake City Tribune]
