by The Editors on November 13, 2012
When you think about it the Jake Burton Pro model should have come a long time ago. While some could argue that the original Backhill (featuring Jake Burton Carpenter’s signature) was in fact a “pro model” this one is for real. It’s called the Stone Hut and features all the things Jake’s always wanted in a snowboard (click here for an interview with Jake).
“Even though a piece of me has been in so many of our boards over the past 35 years, this is the first signature board I’ve built,” said Jake. “When the boards team approached me about doing a sig board, I jumped on it and talked them into doing a really limited production run so we could make them in Vermont at Craig’s. Up until now, we’ve only made prototypes or boards for team riders there. So the Stone Hut is special for many reasons, but the one I keep coming back to is I think Craig would be stoked that it was built in his facility – I know I am.”
The board, produced in an extremely limited run of 100, comes with a laptop case that is loaded with goodies including an “EST CantBEDs (size medium), a binding accessory that many Burton team riders and Jake use all the time. If riders need a different size, they can call Jake’s office directly – the number is listed with the kit. Also included is a Sharpie for marking binding stances, an EST Tool for fine-tuning bindings, a credit card scraper that fits in a wallet, a code to download some of Jake’s favorite Hendrix songs and stickers from the Burton archives.”
How’s that for a package? Follow the jump for the official word plus more photos. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 13, 2012
Vans has decided it no longer wants to be in the helmet business and has sold Pro-Tec to San Diego, California based paintball company Dye Precision Inc for an undisclosed amount.
“We’re very proud of the work that the Vans® and Pro-tec® brand teams have done to build the brand globally during the last decade,” said Kevin Bailey, President, Vans. “Together, we have continued the Pro-tec® brand’s leadership role in skateboard and BMX protective gear, while expanding the brand’s position in snow sports and mountain biking. . . “The Vans® and Pro-tec® brands share a complementary action sports heritage,” he continued. “But we believe that Dye Precision can provide Pro-tec® a better operational fit and focus, which will allow the brand to thrive and reach its full potential.”
Guess it’s going to be the Vans Pool Party from now on. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 12, 2012
The May issue of Surfer Magazine features an essay by Lewis Samuels titled, Culture of Cool: Surfers Are Sheep. Here Are The Details. The bit features the following line that few can honestly argue with:
I want to believe I’m an individual. I want to believe that my life choices add up to something unique. But the evidence sure as hell suggests otherwise. I’m indistinguishable from the rest of the surf-hipster herd. The sad thing is, I don’t even feel like part of the tribe. Instead, I am who I hate.
Click the link for the rest for more of the annoying-yet-compelling hipster navel gazing that Samuels does so well.
[Link: Surfer Magazine]
by The Editors on November 12, 2012
Burton Snowboards is getting a little more serious about Canada with the hiring of former [drink of the colored cow] employee Sebastien Paradis as the company’s first General Manager for Burton Canada.
“Canada is so important for Burton and snowboarding in general, so it’s exciting to step up our investments there in sales, marketing and retail support,” said John Lacy, EVP of Product and North American Sales. “Sebastien is the ideal person to lead this effort as he brings an impressive combination of industry credibility and first-hand knowledge of the Canadian market. We’re confident he will make great things happen for the brand and the sport in the region.”
Burton is seriously getting on top of things lately. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 12, 2012
According to a story on All Things D Google’s YouTube is about ready to “pull the plug” on 60 percent of its channel programming deals, you remember, all that money that was given to channels like Network A, Tony Hawk’s Ride Channel, Red Bull Media House etc. . .
This week, Google’s video site will start offering new contracts to some of the channel programmers/creators it signed up in the last year. But not all of them: YouTube figures it will end up re-investing in up to 40 percent of its original channels by the time the renewal process is done. . . YouTube will handle renewals in batches, starting with the first set of channels that launched in January of this year.
If we go by Adage.com’s weekly ranking of the YouTube Channels and guess that Google is going to save save their top performing channels and lose the bottom, then it would appear that number 17 ranked Ride Channel might just make the cut. But then, we have no idea how Google with sort this out. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
[Link: All Things D]
by The Editors on November 12, 2012
The US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, Michigan will name legendary snowboarder Craig Kelly (Photo: Bud Fawcett) to their Class of 2012 inductees, along with freestyle skiing pioneer Wayne Wong and a couple other skiers at their ceremony on April 13, 2013, according to as tory in the Mining Journal.
Craig Kelly is the third snowboarder elected to the hall of fame. An influential pioneer in the sport, he won four world titles in its early days and worked with Jake Burton Carpenter to open countless ski areas to snowboarding in the 1980s. . . Playing a key role early on at Burton Snowboards, Kelly had an honors degree in chemical engineering and starred in numerous skiing and snowboarding films for 20 years. . . The first true pro snowboarder, he was awarded TransWorld Snowboarding’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. . . He died a year later in an avalanche while seeking to become the first fully certified Canadian mountain guide as a snowboarder.
Great to see Craig continue getting the recognition he so rightfully deserves..
[Link: Mining Jounral]
by The Editors on November 12, 2012
Not saying that the ASP needs more World Championship Tour events or anything, but they just announced that the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro will be a and official WCT stop on the 2013 for women and 2014 for the men.
“ASP is very pleased to announce the sanctioning of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro as a WCT event in the coming years,” Renato Hickel, ASP WCT Manager, said. “Margaret River is a long-standing event on the ASP World Tour and a favorite stop for many of the world’s top men’s and women’s surfers already. We are pleased to add such a quality event and location to our elite World Championship Tour.”
Taj Burrow must be happy. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 11, 2012
TimeLine Films‘ second movie White Noise will be released soon and until then here’s a little teaser of some of the Xavier de La Rue big mountain badassness that is on its way.
This year, not only it will show the best shots from the season but also it will give an intimate and artsy angle to why Xavier is riding like he does. His way of approaching the mountain has gotten himself noticed these past season by the snowboard scene and also mainstream media.
Apparently some of Xavier’s footage is also in Standard Films 2112 so some of it may seem familiar. Click here for all the info.
by The Editors on November 10, 2012
In an opening ceremony held today (November 10, 2012) on the beach at Mavericks, the waiting period for the Mavericks Invitational big wave contest officially started. And nearly all of the 24 invited surfers were there to celebrate.
“The surfers look forward to the ceremony to reconnect with each other and with Mavericks,” said contest director Jeff Clark, who introduced the surfers and led the group in a prayer. “It’s the coming together of the family and the brotherhood that goes way deeper than surfing. It helps us remember that it is a power much greater than us that allows us to challenge one of the greatest forces of nature.”
For the official word, including heat lineups follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 10, 2012
They did it! After turning their snow guns on Friday, Southern California’s Mountain High has thrown down 12 to 16 inches of new snow and is ready to fire the lifts up on Sunday, November 11, 2012.
Up to 3 lifts will be available Sunday accessing 4 trails with a good combination of beginner and intermediate terrain. This means there is something for every member of the family including top to bottom terrain features for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Mountain High offers a full line of rental and retail products along with repair services and food & beverage. The Winter Sports School will also be open with its early-season $99 Special consisting of a lift ticket and one hour private lesson for both children and adults ($140 Value).
For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
