by The Editors on August 22, 2014
Today, the Surfrider Foundation turns 30 years old and to celebrate they have launched a website that chronicles the last three decades of the organization’s history. Here’s a little piece of it
Thirty years ago a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot. . . .Since its inception in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations with a volunteer-activist network dedicated to its mission to protect and enjoy the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. . . . Today, the Surfrider Foundation is measurably stronger, with more force and movement than ever before. It has 84 chapters, including 30 high school and college clubs, 50,000-plus members and more than 250,000 supporters and volunteers, fighting 90 active campaigns around the country. Armed with a model to defend the coast the organization has a record of 271 victories (and counting) since 2006.
Happy Birthday, Surfrider. You are living proof that good people can do great things when they work together. For the rest of the timeline, click the link.
[Link: 30 Surfrider]
by The Editors on August 21, 2014
In a apparent race to free itself of anything that holds any real value, slogging surf clothing giant Billabong has reportedly sold its 51 percent stake in SurfStitch, and sold Swell.com to a “consortium of investors” including SurfStitch founders Justin Cameron and Lex Pederson for US$35 million, according to a story on Just-style.com.
“The transactions aligns with the seven point turnaround strategy announced at our AGM last December,” said Billabong CEO Neil Fiske. “In recent months we have begun the process of taking over the branded websites previously outsourced to SurfStitch. With these agreements we can accelerate our investment in the online presence and digital marketing of brands such as Billabong, RVCA, and Element, which will engage our ore consumers and in turn benefit the wider business.”
If we’re hearing this right Fiske believes he’s strengthening Billabong’s online presence by selling off their online properties. Interesting strategy, indeed.
[Link: Just-Style]
by The Editors on August 21, 2014
Those who’ve actually used the GoPro camera that their mom’s got them last Christmas know what a nightmare it can be keeping all the pieces together. There’s the cords, the cases, the mounts. Never having the right piece was enough to make us mothball our camera for weeks at a time. But incase has a solution with their new Mono Kit.
The Mono Kit, an innovative silicone travel case that serves as a protective container for one GoPro® camera as well as batteries and accessories; the Dual Kit, which holds two GoPro® cameras and the Accessory Cartridge, the ideal travel bag for camera cords, batteries, mounts, housings and back doors.
Hear that mom? If you bought the camera, looks like you’re going to need to buy the case as well. They go on sale at Best Buy and Goincase.com on August 31, 2014. For the official word from incase, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on August 21, 2014
Want to go on a skate tour of LA? Terry Kennedy know exactly where to take you to live and ride in LA.
From where it all started in Venice Beach to Downtown LA hotspots and into the streets of Long Beach, Terry teams up with pro skaters hitting up LA’s best skateparks, along with musicians, artists, and street wear moguls with ties to skating. . . This first installment of the series, which includes three episodes, showcases Terry Kennedy, Kevin Romar, Tristan Funkhouser, Kid Ink, Crooked I, Stevie Williams, Cyril Jackson, Felix Arguelles, Chad Tim Tim, Gary Rogers, Venice Skatepark, Stoner Park, Fairfax Avenue, Belmont Plaza, and much more.
Terry even a gets a word from Dogtown legend Nathan Pratt. Yes, it’s that deep.
by The Editors on August 20, 2014
Dave Bergthold, the legendary creative mind behind Blockhead Skateboards and the TV show Built To Shred, is kickstarting a whole new skateboarding groove with the launch of Skate Crate. These retro skateboard designs are taking skateboarding back 100 years to the days of a two-by-four and a fruit crates, but doing it in an all new way.
Utilizing high quality Baltic Birch and Canadian Maple for both the crate and modern skateboard deck, Skate Crate replaces the bone shaking metal wheels of old with smooth riding urethane cruiser wheels. The crates feature eyelet hooks to easily tie down a 12-pack, groceries, or a backpack inside the box. Vintage fruit crate labels, classic motorcycle racing, and car club designs were the influence for the fully-assembled Flying Tiger, Raceway, and Sidewalk Screamer models. The DIY kits come unassembled with racing-inspired decals available to encourage hands-on fun.
Click here to visit the Skate Crate Kickstarter page and help get these retro skateboards rolling, or follow the jump for all the official details from Skate Crate by Blockhead.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on August 10, 2014
What has skateboarding fine artist Don Pendleton been up to lately? It appears that he’s lending his art flair to electronics company Ultimate Ears and their UE Boom wireless speaker, according to a post on Technology Tell.
Continuing the company’s aim to blend people’s passions for music, design and art, the limited-run Jettison Edition is designed with Pendleton’s distinct organic cubist graphic style.
We haven’t heard the speakers so we have no idea how they sound, or if they are worth the $199.99 price tag, but we do know that everything looks better with a Pendleton paint job. Look for them arriving in the USA later this month.
[Link: Technology Tell]
by Sponsored Post on August 5, 2014
This post sponsored by Driftingthru.com
Innovations in surfing equipment are coming thick and fast, but not all of them catch on. The industry is buzzing with new sustainable ways for manufacturing surf products, asymmetrical surfboards seem to be making a comeback, and the foam Beater boards from Californian company Catch Surf are attracting a lot of interest. They have been around for a few years now and are becoming a staple board in many-a-surfer’s quiver, but what makes them so good?
Let’s start from the beginning. The name “Beater” is a pun really, because one of the original ideas behind the board was creating it so that it could be surfed during busy summer periods when lifeguards raise the dreaded black ball flag. While conventional hard surfboards are deemed unsafe to be in the water when the yellow and black flags appear, a soft foam board could be acceptable. And so the blackball ‘Beater’ was born, a fun surfboard perfect for small summer surf days. Plenty of buoyancy for a board with such a short length, and soft enough not to cause any significant damage to swimmers in the water if a collision occurs. The first ones did not even have fins, and no doubt were disregarded by many in the surf industry as just another surf toy that wouldn’t take off. A few years on and the Beater has progressed somewhat.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story. . .
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 27, 2014
We were saddened to learn on Friday July 25, 2014 that after 24 years, Seattle’s longtime core action sports retailer SnoCon is closing its doors. It is a northwest snowboard institution whose influence on the sport and core retailing will be missed greatly industry wide. Founder John Logic, notified staff on Friday that their final work day would be the following day, Saturday July 26.
Tough retail conditions are largely to blame according an email from Logic, “[SnoCon] tried to get right for five years, after 17 golden ones, but they couldn’t right the ship,” he said. “Even an upside down boat will float. It’s just not much of a party cruise, ya know?”
For the rest of the story, please follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 24, 2014
Legendary shaper, surfer, and all-around waterman Rusty Preisendorfer is being named to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame on Friday, August 1, 2014 and it’s about time.
Nicknamed the “Stradivarious” of shapers due to his reputation for quality and innovation, Rusty was born in Los Angeles to a research mathematician (his father worked at Scripps) and an occupational therapist. He became a Windansea local at a fresh six weeks of age and eventually entered shaping during a groundbreaking era with influences that included Dick Brewer, Mike Hynson and Skip Frye. While attending the University of California at San Diego, he spent his initial stint shaping for Gordon and Smith. Exploring Australia in 1974, he garnered his first serious exposure when Rabbit Bartholomew purchased one of his 8-foot guns.
For more about Rusty, and the 2014 Surfers’ Hall of Fame event, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 24, 2014
Hey, if the Nike Corporation’s CONS skate crew is going to spend the money to travel around and offer up free seminars on how to build skate structures and/or how to film skate videos it might not be a bad idea to take them up the free infos. Especially if you live near NYC, LA, Boston, or Toronto.
“Converse has always been an advocate for unleashing creativity and we’re thrilled to promote CONS Project as a platform that is truly useful to them and encourages the creative expressions of our consumers ,” said Ian Stewart, Converse Vice President of North America Marketing. “Ultimately, our intent is to provide the next generation of designers, producers, musicians, builders, and more the opportunity to work alongside acclaimed influential experts within skateboarding, art, and music, and encourage them to explore their creative ambitions and aspirations.”
Anytime you can help Nike spend their money instead of taking your’s it’s probably a good thing. And learning something along the way makes it even better. For all the official details, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Today, the Surfrider Foundation turns 30 years old and to celebrate they have launched a website that chronicles the last three decades of the organization’s history. Here’s a little piece of it 
