As we follow the launch of the new Youtube action sports channels, here’s the teaser for Network A, the channel being created by Wasserman Media Group and Bedrocket. According to sources, it will go live later today right here. Tony Hawk’s The Ride Channel is already live. We still want good video without having to wade through all the stuff we don’t want to watch and so far these new “channels” don’t seem to be helping much in that pursuit.
Julius Sterling Guy Fox, the 27-year-old man who allegedly hit Stephanie Gilmore with a “metal pole” will be in court February 21, 2012 for a committal hearing on charges of “wounding and intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” according to a story on News.com.au.
The four-time world champion suffered a fractured wrist, a cut to the back of her head and cuts to her hand.
She was out of the water for about six weeks after the attack at the Tweed Heads unit.
Thankfully, Fox has been in custody since being arrested for the December 2010 crime, and if he is found guilty it would be great if he stay in for the foreseeable future.
Lachlan Burgess, a 17-year-old Australian skateboarder is now dead after falling while skateboard towing behind his friend’s car in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales on Monday, January 16, 2012, according to a story on News.com.au.
Police said Lachy fell from his skateboard about halfway down Plunkett Drive, impacting heavily with the road. He suffered major head injuries and sadly died at the scene.
According to The Border Mail several of Burgess’ friends phone were confiscated by police because the crash may have been caught on video. Burgess’ friend who was driving the car has been charged with “manslaughter and dangerous driving occasioning death.” Another sad reminder.
Scotty Vine and Ian Sams show the world that SoCal’s Bear Mountain doesn’t need any fresh snow to make snowboarding happen. That’s what miles of snow blower hose is for. . .
Jake Owen, a country singer we’ve never heard of before, reportedly broke is collar bone while snowboarding in Colorado on Friday the 13th, according to a story on The Boot.
He got pretty banged up, but that didn’t stop him from hopping on Twitter to share the details. . . “Just broke my collar bone,” he tweeted. “Guess I charged this mountain a little too hard.” . . Included with the post was a picture of the country star with his arm in a sling.
Oahu, Hawaii fishermen Addison Toki and Dominick Gaballo had just pulled in a 300 pound Marlin about five miles outside Yokohama Bay on Oahu’s west side when they noticed a fin beginning to circle their boat, according to a story on KITV.com.
“As it got closer and saw just the size and features, we knew it was a Great White,” said Gaballo. . . 18 years ago, Toki says he saw a Great White Shark on the North Shore, but that it doesn’t compare to this recent encounter. He estimates the shark was about 15 feet long. . . “I see all types of sharks but when you see one like that it’s like wow. I’m blown away,” said Toki.
The shark reportedly circle the board for about a hour and several times came up to nibble on the boats prop. At one point the videographer says: “If I wasn’t tired I jump on the buggers back. Maybe next time.” As the blog Board as Fuck said, “Best commentary ever.”
Ngidi Msungubana, a 25-year-old surfer from Port St. Johns, South Africa died yesterday (January 15, 2012) after being hit repeatedly by a shark that he battled with for nearly five minutes at Second Beach, according to a story in the Daily Mail.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: ‘The man was surfing and was in water which was only around a metro and a half deep when the shark struck. . . ‘Witnesses who were near him at the time said he wrestled with the shark for around five minutes as the water turned red. . . ‘A fellow surfer then helped a lifeguard to get the man out of the sea and onto the beach. . . “There happened to be a doctor on the beach who helped to treat the man at the scene, and an ambulance then arrived to take him to hospital. . . ‘However the surfer had been bitten on both of his arms and his stomach and he sadly died on the way to the medical facility.’
We had to laugh when we saw the photo that the Association of Surfing Professionals included with their “Anti-Doping Policy” press release. Two surfers looking off into the sunset with binoculars. What does this image mean? Is the tour as we know it is over? Are we at the end of a too-long industry wide drug problem? Has there been wide-spread juicing in the upper ranks of the ASP? We don’t know.
We do know, however, that beginning with the 2012 ASP tour the top 34 men and top 17 women will be subject to drug testing following the World Anti-Doping Agency Code of substances (click here for the list) just like professional cyclists, swimmers, and FIS snowboarders.
“The men strongly support the implementation of the ASP Anti-Doping policy,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Top 34 competitor and surfers’ representative, said. “It is a positive step which enhances the professionalism of competitive surfing and sends a great message to the kids out there who look up to us as role models.”
We’re guessing that the cannabinoids and narcotics will be some of the least interesting banned substances to turn up in some athlete’s urine. And maybe a few of surfing’s top talents will be forced to spend the rest of this season on the beach with a pair of binoculars watching the sun go down from their home beach every night. Could happen. . . Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
Landen Swanson, a 20-year-old skateboarder from Vista, California, died January 13, 2011 from injuries he sustained when he was hit-and-runned on January 9, 2012, according to a story on 10News.com.
Longtime family friend Staci Bevell told 10News media partner U-T San Diego the skateboarded was Landen Swanson. . . Swanson was taken off life support Friday when it was determined he had no brain activity so three of his organs could be donated, Bevell told the newspaper. . . A 35-year-old San Marcos man called authorities several hours after the incident and confessed to striking the skateboarder, authorities have said.
Our thoughts are with Swanson’s family and friends.
In the latest episode of Vans Surf LA video program surf coach Sean Johnson reminds us that there still are stoked surfers who drive for hours every day just to ride waves. Nice to be reminded how good we have it every once in a while, dude bro. Stoked.
