NASA planetary scientist Serina Diniega believes she has figured out what made all those first tracks (a.k.a. linear gullies) that have been showing up on photos from Mars lately. They look like snowboard tracks and seem to have been formed by something sliding down the dunes. Diniega figured it out.
Eventually, Diniega theorized the grooves could have been made by blocks of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, that naturally forms on the surface of Mars . . “We think some of this accumulation will compress down and actually form ice slabs and ice blocks,” Diniega said in a video posted to NASA’s website.
Now Diniega dreams of going to mars and riding these slopes herself.
“I’m looking forward to the day when astronauts can engage in a whole new area of extreme sports,” she said. “They could snowboard down these carbon dioxide-covered dunes on a cushion of carbon dioxide. You would just shoot right down those slopes, it would be amazing.”
Yes, and if our planet keeps heating up Mars may be snowboarders’ only option.
We’ve always been stoked on Trevor Colden. The kid is good. And, as proof, here’s a teaser from his full part which apparently debuts on Thrasher Mag on Thursday, June 20, 2013. They’ve seen it and described it as “gnarly as hell, no-filler, all-ender, skate prodigy insanity.” Watch for it and in the meantime peep this tease.
The last time Quiksilver posted a profit was 2006. A survey by financial services firm Piper Jaffray & Co. found that Quiksilver’s brands trailed in popularity among teenagers, its core customer base. . . “The company faces competition from other action sports brands. . . ” King said. . . “Much of the company’s potential for success hinges on its ability to accurately predict consumer preferences and fashion trends,” he said. “We believe that the company’s failure to anticipate, identify and react in a timely matter to fashion trends could negatively affect its business.”
Yeah, that’s possible. The analysts, however, believe Quik is still a buy or hold because hey, that new CEO has a great plan.
St. Augustin Beach, Florida surfer Andrew Birchall, 37, is recovering from two shark bites to his foot after jumping off his board and stepping on a shark, according to a story in Action News Jax.
“When he got off the board, he apparently stepped on the shark in about waist deep water. The shark bit him we think twice. We think he bit him once, then kind of pulled his foot out of the shark’s mouth, then he got another bite on his toes,” mother Nancy Birchall said. . . She said her son has been surfing the St. Augustine Beach area for years, and never had a problem.
After a trip to the hospital and surgery to remove a shark tooth from his foot, Birchall is doing well. Seems it’s hard to step off your board in Florida without stepping on a shark.
Yes, when an independent magazine gets another issue out it is something to celebrate. That’s why we’re posting this video from the crew at Later Magazine. And then there’s the part about writing from Chas Smith, Dave Carnie, and a special appearance by Chris Cote. We might even have to read this one . . . if it finds its way into our mailbox.
We’re always a little worried when major labels announce plans to double or triple revenue, but that’s exactly what Vans is planning to do by the year 2017 according to a report released today. As part of VF Corp’s “global strategy to reach $17 billion in Revenues and $18.00 in earning per share by 2017” Vans will need to nearly double revenue in the next four.
The Vans brand raised its average annual revenue growth projection, initially provided in June of 2012, from 13 percent to 15 percent. The brand is now targeting total revenues of $2.9 billion by 2017, up from $1.5 billion in 2012.
It’s nice to have a goal, right? But think about how ubiquitous Vans are now and then double that? Doug Palladini and the team have a pretty big job to do. For all the official details on the plan, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The Volcom Fiji Pro returned to Cloudbreak on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 (yesterday in Fiji) and the six-to-eight foot monster barrels were the perfect stage for the ASP’s top contenders. Kelly Slater (pictured above)slipped past Jeremy Flores to make the quarters along with Sebastiean Zietz, Parko, Mick Fanning, 2John Florence, CJ Hobgood, Josh Kerr, and Jordy Smith.
“That was unbelievable,” Slater said. “Those were some of the best waves I’ve ever had in a contest. On the 10, I was deep in the barrel and grabbed my rail, but I had to let go to get speed and then I hit the foam ball, I barely made that one. I did the turn and got another tube. On that one big one, it was so perfect and I just wanted to be in the right spot. As I was in the barrel, it spit really hard and there was lots of mist and I couldn’t see. The foam ball pushed my tail up in to the wave and I just couldn’t come out the way I wanted to. I didn’t even care if I won or lost, because I’d get to surf again.”
For the official word from the ASP including the quarterfinal match ups follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Dennis Busenitz certainly does catch those flips nicely. In fact, there’s not much Busenitz does on a skateboard that doesn’t look good and fast. Here’s a little more proof.
We ran into former Transworld Media President and Group Publisher Liam Ferguson in the Cardiff Reef, California parking lot on Sunday and got the low down on his new gig as the vice president of sponsorship integration at the Association of Surfing Professionals, but today the official word finally came out.
As part of recently hired Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Michael Lynch’s team, Ferguson will help lead the process of securing sponsorship marketing partners. . . “This is an unprecedented time in the sport’s history and we are fortunate to have someone with Liam’s extensive experience and capabilities join the team,” Lynch said. “Liam has an excellent rapport with sponsorship and marketing individuals in both endemic and non-endemic circles and his passion for professional surfing is evident in everything he does. We are both very excited about this next chapter for the ASP.”
How’s the for landing on your feet? Turns out the ASP is looking inside the industry for talent as well. Not a bad idea. Ferguson’s skills will come in very handy as the ASP rolls out its plans for the future. Congrats, Liam. For the official word from the ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
During the summer of 2012 the City of Mammoth Lakes, California (home to Mammoth Mountain) filed for bankruptcy thanks to losing a lawsuit to a developer. Rather than throw in the towel, the City worked with Mammoth Mountain to plan for their eventual rise from the ashes and the strategies they used over the past seven months could work for almost any business that is down and feeling like there is no way out. For the entire breakdown check out this story by Robert Holmes on Urban Land.
