by The Editors on January 28, 2014
The Boardroom’s spring 2014 consumer surfboard show being scheduled for May 17 & 18, 2014 at the Del Mar, California fairgrounds will feature a surfboard shaping contest open to absolutely everyone. Well, at least two spots in the contest will be.
For the first time ever two of the six shaping spots in the competition will be chosen via a random draw, opening up the competition to shapers from around the world. Three of the remaining spots go to shapers of Ben Aipa’s choice (tbd). One spot is reserved for the defending champion (Matt Calvani of BING Surfboards). . . “We’re excited about the new format. There are a lot of great shapers out there. It just makes sense to open it up to all of them,” said Scott Bass, THE BOARDROOM event director. “The response (to the new format) has been tremendous. Heck, it’s free to enter, any shaper can enter and there’s a thousand dollars on the line. More importantly, it’s a chance to honor and to pay tribute to one of the all-time greats — Mr. Ben Aipa.”
Guess that means if you’re a foam mower and would like to put your skills right up in front of the surfing world, this is your chance. For the official information, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 28, 2014
Johnnie Balfour, the former Olympic boardercross course builder who kicked down one of the few honest overviews of the situation in Sochi last week, pulled all his original posts down and has apparently decided to leave Russia on his “own accord,” according to new post titled Squashing Some Rumors. Here’s a slice of it:
EVERYTHING I WRITE IS MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT DOES NOT REFLECT OPINIONS OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, PRESENT OR THE FUTURE. THIS IS JUST ME, THAT’S ALL, NOBODY ELSE. . . 1. I am safe and fine. Yes, I am heading home, no, I was not forced to leave. I left by my own accord. . . 2. Me leaving Sochi will have zero effect on the Olympic Games. I am simply just one of a group of guys who do what I do. The head builder is still there as well as the other shapers. There is plenty of snow on the mountain and the course will be ready and will be amazing. There is a group of very talented people working there and it will be fine. . . 3. I removed the post myself.
Balfour says he was “completely overwhelmed by the response” his post got. Having worked with the IOC in the past we were not surprised to see this coming, but we’re happy Balfour made it out and that “there is plenty of snow on the mountain and the course. . . will be amazing.”
Balfour is promising more on his trip to Sochi in the near future, so we’ll keep you posted. We do think the photo (above right) that he recently posted to his blog says much more about the trip than words will ever say!
[Link: Johnnie Balfour]
by The Editors on January 28, 2014
After 34 people were killed last month near Sochi, Australian Olympian Scotty James (shown right in a classic no-grab air-shot wire photo) has reportedly told his parents to stay home while he’s in Sochi, according to a radio interview with his father Phil on 3AW.
“Scott didn’t really understand … what was happening in Russia and we explained it’s been going on for a long time and potentially there could be some problems,” he said. . . “He went and slept on it, and the next day he came to us and said … ‘I’d be happier if you don’t go because I know you’ll all be safe in Australia’. . . “(He said) ’it’ll also give me the opportunity to focus on my event and not have to worry about where you’re going to be’.
With more attacks reportedly promised, we’re hoping the athletes are on lockdown.
[Link: 3AW]
by The Editors on January 27, 2014
Danny Davis did a wicked job of holding it down in the finals of the Winter X Pipe last night (Sunday, January 25, 2014) and slipped away with a well deserved gold medal. His first. Yes, Iouri Podladtchikov continually got underscored for not landing the YOLO flip, and it would have been more fun to see Shaun White in the mix, but aside from that it was a good show.
For a complete, compact, and easy to view compilation of snowboarding results from the X Games, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
As if split boards weren’t in enough pieces already, Salomon Snowboards announced today (January 23, 2014) the newest addition to their split board offerings–the 4-piece The Premiere.
Designed with Josh Dirksen, The Premiere’s revolutionary technology achieves close to ski touring efficiency while maintaining torsional stiffness and reducing the vertical movement experienced with a two-part split. An internal straight edge, external edge under foot, and a shorter and wider shape allow for stiffer skis, easier kick-turns, and more control while maneuvering steep terrain. . . “Salomon came up with the idea to do something different, and that has always been the Salomon mentality- to challenge the status quo with new technology that makes snowboarding easier and more fun,” Dirksen says. “The Premiere does that with its lightweight and unique design, it’s very exciting!”
With lift prices the way they’re headed the “backcountry” is looking more and more inviting every day. . . especially if it ever snows on the West Coast. The Premiere comes with “custom pucks, the Voilé universal kit (hooks, clips, touring bracket, heel risers and sliders), custom fit skins and crampons” all for $1,299.00. For the official word from Salomon and more photos of The Premiere and accessories, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
Patagonia announced today (January 23, 2014) that they have named executive Rose Marcario as President & CEO of Patagonia replacing Casey Sheahan who will be “stepping down” on February 7, 2014. Marcario had previously been CEO of Patagonia Works, the parent company of Patagonia.
“Over the past five years,” said Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, “Rose and Casey have launched great new products and improved our systems while breaking new ground in our commitment to use our business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. We’re well positioned for major new initiatives like $20 Million & Change, a fund that invests in likeminded companies, and Patagonia Provisions, our new sustainable food company.” Chouinard expressed his gratitude to Casey Sheahan for his service over the past decade. “He lives and breathes our company’s mission and core values and he’s leaving a tight ship. With Rose Marcario taking over the helm, Patagonia’s future could not be brighter.”
For the official word from Patagonia, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
Louie Vito may not have made the 2013 US Olympic halfpipe team, but you think he’s going to crawl into his cave and cry about it? Not for a minute. Mr. Vito is out there making things happen with a freshly inked three-year co-hosting deal with both the summer and winter X Games.
“I have always been a huge supporter of X Games since I was a kid, so I was stoked at the opportunity to join the ESPN/X Games family,” said Louie Vito. “Being a competitor in the event, I look forward to bringing insight to the fans watching worldwide.” . . Performing in-air and on-air for the duration of X Games 18, Vito will commentate on multiple disciplines in addition to competing in Men’s Superpipe today (Thursday, January 23, 2014). A must-have during competition, Louie Vito will don his signature SPY Marshall snow goggles during the Men’s Superpipe event.
Not sure this is going to make us actually watch the X Games this time around, but at least there will be someone solid on the mic when we do. For the official word on Mr. Vito and to check out his Spy signature goggles, follow the jumpus, rumpus. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 23, 2014
When we spoke to Graham Stapelberg at the Agenda Show two weeks ago and asked him how things were going at Billabong, he smirked and said, “I’ve been wearing a lot of hats lately.” Now the comment makes a little more sense. Today (January 23, 2014), the Association of Surfing Professionals announced that the former Billabong Global Vice President of Marketing (and former ASP Tour Judge) is taking the roll of chief strategy officer for the organization.
Stapelberg will support ASP CEO Paul Speaker and the executive team across multiple divisions of the organization as professional surfing enters into a new era of its existence as a global sports league. . . “Graham has exhibited excellence in virtually every sector of the sport throughout his celebrated 20 years of involvement,” Speaker said. “His extensive experience across events, sponsorships, athletes, judging, operations, finances, marketing, media and activations both inside and outside the industry will prove invaluable as we grow professional surfing in exciting new ways. We’re very fortunate to have Graham with us and we look forward to accomplishing great things together.”
Guess it’s now okay for any remaining surfers in the Billabong building to pack up and head out. For the ASP, however, this is another great move in a positive direction. Especially if they hope to replace all those surf fashion sponsorships with money from the real world. For the official word from the ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 22, 2014
Johnnie Balfour (right) is a snowboard cross course builder from Australia by way of Canada. He helps build FIS World Cup snowboard cross courses and is now in Sochi, Russia to help build the courses for the 2014 Winter Olympics (which begin in two weeks).
In all the discussions regarding how ready Russia is for the Winter Games all we seem to hear about is terrorists and suicide bombing “Chechen widows” and how the Russian military has everything under control. What we haven’t read is much on the ground reporting from the snowboard venues. Luckily, for us Johnnie Balfour has a tumblr. And on it he is kicking down the straight scoop from Sochi. According to Balfour, things aren’t going so well.
Here’s a slice:
Nothing is finished here and there is piles of garbage everywhere. Muddy water is pouring off the mountain and flowing through the streets and the cobblestone pavers are all lifting up or disappearing into sink holes. This entire place was built in the last few years, it looks nice at first glance but look a little closer and you can see that it was just thrown together. Most of the buildings are not finished and with only two weeks to go before the games start, they never will be finished. It is pouring rain and close to 10 degrees above zero [50 Fahrenheit]. The little snow they have is rapidly disappearing.
Click the link for the rest of his first, and hopefully not last report from Sochi. We’re pretty certain it’s going to get either more entertaining or banned completely from the Internet.
[Link: Johnnie Balfour]
by The Editors on January 22, 2014
On Friday, January 24, 2014 the biggest names in big wave surfing will be making their way to famed Northern California big wave spot Mavericks for this year’s running of the Body Glove Mavericks Invitational Presented by GoPro, and yeah, the swell report looks huge.
Mavericks Invitational Contest Director Jeff Clark stated, “This is going to be a powerful and memorable swell, and we are looking at waves upwards of 40 feet.” The first heat takes place at 8 a.m.
The entire event will be streamed live on mavericksinvitational.com and the finals will be air on “national television” on Universal Sports Network. You didn’t want to get any work done on Friday, anyway, did you? Follow the jump for all the official details. [click to continue…]
The Boardroom’s spring 2014 consumer surfboard show being scheduled for May 17 & 18, 2014 at the Del Mar, California fairgrounds will feature a surfboard shaping contest open to absolutely everyone. Well, at least two spots in the contest will be.
