Quiksilver’s recent financial challenges aren’t going to drag Street League Skateboarding down. No way. That’s because Street League just bumped their sponsorships up with a “multi-year partnership with Nike SB that supports the mission of elevating professional skateboarding worldwide with the SLS Nike SB World Tour.”
“Nike SB is committed to inspiring and supporting skateboarders around the world,” said Melanie Strong, Sr Director of Global Brand for Nike SB. “This is a true partnership and testament to Street League Skateboarding in that we are celebrating skateboarding on the grand stage and making this journey accessible to all fans and skaters.”
This year’s tour includes stops in Kansas City, Portland, and Newark as well as international events in Brazil, Spain, and Germany. Phew, that was a close one. Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
Fans of snowboarding, graphic design, Field Notes, and great story telling in general should not miss and evening with Aaron Draplin as he tells Tall Tales From A Large Man at the LA Mart in Los Angeles, California on Thursday, April 11, 2013.
Using scientific proof and state-of-the-art multimedia techniques, Aaron James Draplin of the Draplin Design Co. delivers a sucker punch of a talk that aims to provide bonafide proof of work, the highs and lows of a ferociously independent existence and a couple of tall tales from his so-called career in the cutthroat world of contemporary graphic design. Just a regular American guy with a trajectory a little dirtier than yours, his talk is open to all incomers brave enough to show up. If you are a youngster, you may find yourself inspired to attack your design future in a different way. If you are established, you may just leave feeling grateful you don’t have anything to do with him. Hard to say. All Los Angeles champion citizens are invited to attend. Be there!
If you’re into action sports and like beer then Saint Archer Brewing Co. has just the brew for you. A idea launched by Josh Landan, Mikey Taylor, and Paul Rodriquez, Saint Archer will be available wherever Stone Brewing beer is sold beginning April 15, 2013.
In addition to Taylor and Prod, the brand lists a who’s who of action icons including snowboarder Todd Richards, surfers Taylor Knox, Dusty Payne, Josh Kerr, Laura Enever, Chase Wilson, Dane Zuan, shaper Chris Christenson, skateboarders Sean Malto, Bryan Herman, Chris Miller, Omar Salazar, Bryan “Slash” Hansen, Shane O’Neill, filmmaker Derek Dunfee, photographer Atiba Jefferson, and outdoorsman Jeff Johnson.
With that stacked a promotional arsenal, we’re guessing the word will get out pretty fast. Here’s what Archer says the brand is all about:
Saint Archer Brewing Company was founded on a unique strain of creative talent: World-class brewers. Artists and musicians. Surfers, skateboarders, and snowboarders… All coming together with passion and commitment to express our collective true love –– handcrafted beer. Saint Archer’s been a long time in the tank and we hope you taste our appreciation and gratitude in every sip.
World Industries is announcing their new shoe partnership with the Keep A Breast Foundation in which the company will have shoes manufactured with the “I heart boobies” logo right there on the bottom of the shoe as Andrew Cannon is so thoughtfully modeling.
“We are excited to collaborate with The Keep A Breast Foundation, an organization that supports a cause that is very close to me and my family,” said Scott Chantos, President, World Industries and recently elected Keep A Breast Foundation Board Member. “My mother and aunt are both breast cancer survivors so I know how important early detection is. I love what Shaney jo and her team are doing at KAB and we wanted to create a product to promote awareness for the cause and contribute a portion of the proceeds to help fund programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle.”
The footwear line, which includes men’s and women’s models, will debut in select retail outlets in September 2013 for $50 a pair. For more details, follow the jump.
Don’t worry about Arbor Snowboards production for the 2013-14 season. No sir, they’ve moved it all to the snow sand laden mountains dune of Dubai and the nearly formed Solico Winter Sports snowboard factory.
SWS is a division of Solico and has been in the business of producing wake boards and kite boards for over 10 years. Today, Solico “Water” Sports builds approximately 90-percent of the worldwide production of wake boards and 20-percent of the worldwide production of kite boards. This year, they will produce over 200,000 units of wake boards, kite boards, wake surfers, kite surfers, and wake skates combined. . . “The ingenuity and commitment to development at SWS is like nothing I’ve ever seen, says Matt Patti, Arbor Snowboard’s Product Line Manager. They have a true command of the craft of high-end sandwich construction, with a proven understanding of the materials used in snowboard production, he continued. They are also dedicated snowboarders committed to the sustainability and progression of the sport. In the end, it is their passion for riding that ultimately lead to the decision to expand into snowboard production.”
The boards look pretty nice. Follow the jump for the official word from Arbor. [click to continue…]
Salemtown Board Co. Another instance of skateboarders making a positive difference in the world around them. Here’s more:
Salemtown Board Co. was established in 2012 with a dream to impact the city through making beautiful skateboards. We started with no money, a tank full of gas, some reclaimed oak, and access to a vintage wood shop outside of Bucksnort, TN. We exist to build the highest quality handmade skateboards and to employ, train, and mentor urban youth in Nashville, TN. Every board is a one-of-a-kind, handmade, solid oak skateboard. Boards are cut, shaped, finished, and painted 100% by hand.
This is the first skate video we’ve seen in a while to kick things off with a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote. And that’s a nice surprise, as we don’t remember ever reading anything by Ralph Waldo Emerson in our lives. But he’s someone you’re supposed to know and appreciate when you see his name, and the same goes for this video.
This new Stefan Janoski x Official collab the “All Mesh Camper” may be nice and cool for skateboarding, but just think how great that visor would work for late night poker games?
Official has paired with living skateboard legend and eclectic artist/fashion designer, Stefan Janoski to bring you one of the our most unique collections to date. This capsule collection was actively designed and developed by Stefan himself. He really pushed the envelope on our detailing (peep the ambient visor!) while still keeping solid the pillars of Official’s signature shapes and designs.
The Camper retails for $32.00 and is available along with the rest of Janoski’s designs in the Official online store.
Chelone “Chilly” Miller, 29, was found dead in the van where he lived in Mammoth Lakes, California on Sunday afternoon, April 7, 2013, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle. Miller, the brother of Olympic skier Bode Miller, was working toward making the 2014 US Olympic Team in snowboard cross.
According to the statement, the sheriff’s office dispatch received a call around 12:45 p.m. Sunday regarding an unresponsive male in his van. Paramedics, the fire department and deputies were dispatched to the scene, whereupon arrival “it was determined that Mr. Miller was deceased,” the statement said.
According to a story on ESPN.com/Action, Miller was found by a close friend.
Miller — affectionately known as “Chilly” — played golf Friday and spent Saturday lapping the resort’s terrain park. He had planned to fly to Alaska to compete in the Arctic Man race on Friday, an event that pairs snowmobilers with skiers and snowboarders who reach speeds in excess of 80 mph. “He was a very talented snowboarder and a great friend,” said John Teller, a Mammoth-based skicross racer who won X Games gold in 2011.
No foul play is suspected in Miller’s death. According to ESPN he had a “history of seizures” following a 2005 motorcycle crash that left him in a coma for 11 days. Our thoughts are with Miller’s friends and family.
What do you know. Billabong has apparently gone into “exclusive discussions” for a 10-day period with Paul Naude and his big wallet backers (Sycamore Partners) regarding a $299 million purchase of the Billabong brand, according to a story on Fox Business.
The cash offer values the company at about 287 million Australian dollars (US$299 million) excluding debt, confirming a report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday. . . A separate consortium involving VF Corp. (VFC), the owner of brands including The North Face and Timberland, and Altamont Capital Partners had earlier made an indicative offer to acquire Billabong but has now been frozen out of talks.
Of course the founders of Billabong (Gordon Merchant, et. al.) would want one of their lieutenants to buy the company back now that they’ve drained every drop of shareholder value out of the company. Doing a deal with VF Corp., while arguably being better for the brand’s future survival, would mean the old guard would all be out of the mix. And it seems the old guard is still at the wheel of Billabong’s ship.
Quiksilver’s recent financial challenges aren’t going to drag Street League Skateboarding down. No way. That’s because Street League just bumped their sponsorships up with a “multi-year partnership with Nike SB that supports the mission of elevating professional skateboarding worldwide with the SLS Nike SB World Tour.”
