by The Editors on November 4, 2013
In its continuing battle to throw off ballast, Billabong has finally sold Canadian action mall retailer West 49 to Candian mall fashion retailer YM, Inc. for approximately $10 million, according to a story on Reuters. These are the same stores that Billabong paid $93 million for in August of 2010.
Both companies have also entered into a two-year supply agreement while Billabong will retain its six eponymous stores and two Element stores in Canada. . . “The sale of West 49 is part of our broader strategy of simplifying our business and focusing on the core of what we do best, which is building strong global brands,” Neil Fiske, CEO of Billabong said in a statement.
Yeah, that and turning $93 million into $10 million in three years. Billabong had been trying to off load West since May 2013.
[Link: Reuters]
by The Editors on November 4, 2013
The HD World Junior Championships in Florianopolis, Brazil last were were a nice reminder at just how young Gabriel Medina is. After watching him dominate some of the most experienced surfers on the ASP World Tour for the past two seasons it was good to see him out in the water with kids his own age. Now, the 19-year-old can add a world title to his resume (probably not his last).
Medina would go on to dominate the final day of competition, posting the highest scores of each round, eventually peaking in the Final. The Brazilian goofy-footer would own the Final from start to finish, amassing the event’s highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.97 out of 10 for a massive backside air followed with a flurry of turns. Medina’s efforts would be combined with another excellent ride, securing a 18.26 out of 20 heat total and the coveted ASP World Junior Title. . . “This feels really good,” Medina said. “I’m so happy to win this event and I’ve never had a World Title in the juniors. That was a great Final against Ramzi (Boukhiam). He’s a good friend of mine and he was surfing good all week. I just tried to do my thing in the Final, airs, turns, and I got two good scores. I’m going to prepare for Hawaii now and hopefully I can finish the year strong.”
On the women’s side New Zealand’s Ella Williams, 18, took the title over Kauai’s Tatiana Weston-Webb.
Ella Williams, who entered the event as a last-minute alternate, quietly navigated her way to the Final, besting recent ASP Women’s WCT Qualifier Johanne Defay (FRA), 19, before topping Weston-Webb for the win. The Kiwi battled hard in the Final and would lock in to two left-handers in the back half of the match-up to secure the victory. . . “This is like a dream,” Williams said. “I’ve worked really hard to get here and for it to pay off was amazing. I was pretty lucky to get in to the competition and anything was just a bonus for me. This is really just amazing! Getting in to the top round of the QS events is such a fantastic help for myself and I hope to do well and progress next year.”
For the official word from the ASP follow the jump.
Ella Williams (NZL), 18, your 2013 Women’s ASP World Junior Champion. Credit: ASP/SMORIGO [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 3, 2013
As Steve Grover says, “The park still goes off all the time but Halloween is reserved for serious ripping.” Yep.
[Link: Skate & Annoy]
by The Editors on November 3, 2013
Surfing lost one of its most its most influential surfers on Saturday, November 2, 2013 when Hawaiian legend Buttons Kaluhiokalani died in California after a long battle with lung cancer, according to the blog on the Buttons Surf School. He was 55.
Buttons Kaluhiokalani was a former Hawaiian Pro Surfer and is well known for his radical and stylish surfing. In 1973, at the age of 13, Buttons traveled to the US Championships in Malibu, California, as an amateur, where he placed second. Seven years later, Buttons won the Sunkist Open at Malibu. . . During the 70′s Buttons really perfected the progressive style of surfing he is so well known for. Uncle Eddie Rothman calls him “the Innovator of Modern Day Surfing.” Buttons was the first to perform a carving 360 on film. A true Style Master, Buttons is renowned for his pocket surfing, switch foot and skateboard inspired maneuvers.
Our thoughts are with the Kaluhlokalani family.
[Link: Buttons Surf School & Surfer Magazine] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 2, 2013
by The Editors on November 1, 2013
Kevin Meehan, the former general manager at Burton’s clothing and footwear companies Analog and Gravis has been named to the brand new position of President North American Region at Volcom, according to a story on Apparelnews.net.
In a comment from Volcom Chief Executive Officer Jason Steris, Meehan is a “cross-functional operations professional,” with 19 years experience in action sports, where he has worked in strategic planning, organizational development, marketing and sales strategy and business development.” Adding Kevin to the team provides even more firepower to drive the brand, Steris said in a company statement.
It’s nice to see that Volcom is still making good decisions even when they’re under pressure from their French overlords at Kering.
[Link: ApparelNews]
by The Editors on November 1, 2013
While it won’t surprise anyone who knows Agenda Show founder Aaron Levant, it is good to see that the show is continuing on the up and up with all kinds of expansion plans for New York City and Las Vegas in 2014.
This January 2014, Agenda:NYC men’s street wear and lifestyle show will be hosted at the 82 Mercer building in Soho, for the last time. Moving locations for Summer 2014 edition, Agenda:NYC expands to the Jacob K. Javits center, housed in the Javits North building. The newly constructed space provides more than double the square footage to the current New York footprint.
In Las Vegas the Agenda Show will double in size with the addition of a surf/lifestyle zone called Woods and the Agenda WMNS section.
“We feel AGENDA has barely scratched the surface of what is possible in the Vegas landscape. There are so many opportunities and an amazing potential to grow in this space,” shares Levant.
For the official word from Agenda, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 1, 2013
by The Editors on November 1, 2013
Want a quick refresher course on some stories every real snowboard should know? Then Onboard’s collection of “38 iconic moments” is a great place to start. Beginning with the Bunker Board 1939 and rolling right through Peetu Piiroinen winning his 4th TTR Title and you have a pretty straight (if not Onboard/Euro focused) list of events you should have at least heard of if not witnessed. Dive in and enjoy.
For more stories to discuss and debate follow the jump for The History of Snowboarding: A 30 Year Time Line [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 1, 2013
Corey Duffel, Bo Mitchell, Rob Brink and a big, hairy Erica Yary impersonator star in this week’s episode of the Weekend Buzz. Ouch.
In its continuing battle to throw off ballast, Billabong has finally sold Canadian action mall retailer West 49 to Candian mall fashion retailer YM, Inc. for approximately $10 million, according to a story on Reuters. These are the same stores that Billabong paid $93 million for in August of 2010.
