It all started, appropriately enough, in a garage. The brothers, who lived in Fort Collins, launched Swift Snowboards with their friend Scott Rolfs out of their home in 1983, a year after they were introduced to the sport. Tim Canaday, just 14 at the time, and four years Tracey’s junior, built the first snowboard in his wood shop class. “Tracey and Scott were figuring out the business, and I was good at building things, so I gave them advice on how to build a mold that I just learned from my shop teacher,” he says.
After a terrible start the first jewel in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing the Reef Hawaiian Pro finished off on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 with some overhead waves and a win for Taj Burrow.
“I had a good run, it feels good scoring in the 9-point range and it’s hard to do,” said Taj, world #3. “I just really wanted to win an event here. I am really happy. . . It’s funny I have never really gotten a good shot (at the Vans Triple Crown). I was thinking, maybe I should really have a go at one of these things so I actually have it right in the front of my mind.
It would be great for Burrow to win something, right? He edged Adam Melling, Adriano De Souza, and Nat Young in the final. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
This collection of videos from Ambition Snowskates kind of puts all those binding sporting urban snowboard heads to shame. We’ve rarely been stoked on Snowskating, but Jam Pack makes living in Quebec seem almost possible.
In preparation for the 2011 Tampa Am on December 4, 2011, the Skate Park of Tampa has given their facility an total upgrade with new features, updated old features and a slew of other improvements. For detailed photos of all of it click the link.
Matt Wilkinson continues to shameless charge on into the surf media world with his rarely safe for work Tumblog Out 2 Brunch. This time it’s sex on the beach. And yes, the edit does feature some surfing. . .
For better or worse the 2011 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is kicking off today with the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa. Currently, the waves are rolling in at two feet, but the surf is set to build through the day and deliver enough waves to finish the contest in three days. Overall, however, it’s looking like one of the worst years ever.
“In the 29-year history of running the Vans Triple Crown, we’ve never gone this far without running one competitive day,” says Randy Rarick, Executive Director of the Series. “But we knew it was possible, given it’s a La Nina year. We saw a similar pattern last year, but this year La Nina is more strengthened. This is precisely why we have a 12-day window. Without it, the event would not have been able to start.”
Kelly Slater may be moving forward with his circular wave pool idea, but the Kelly Slater Wave Company has hit a flat spell when it comes to protecting its intellectual property thanks to an extremely similar patented registered by Greg Webber andWebber Wave Poosl, according to a Stu Nettle story on Swellnet.com.au.
Since applying for a patent in 2008 Kelly Slater and his business partner, Adam Fincham, have twice been rejected because their wave pool infringes upon Greg Webber’s design. In both of their attempts – first in 2008 then again this year – the response from examiners at the US Patent Office has been identical: the design submitted by the Kelly Slater Wave Company is “unpatentable over Webber.” It is too similar to Greg Webber’s design for a patent to be granted.
Click the link for all the shore breaking details.
Southern California snowboarding is now in full effect as Bear Mountain proves with this video from the 2011-12 season’s week one. It may not be four feet of fresh powder, but it’s white and it slides.
On Black Friday, November 25, 2011 Supra will release a limited edition Stealth version of their Skytop III.
The shadowy black Stealth upper is cloaked in a “military grade” block stitch TUF specifically designed for this shoe. The black upper is accented with black TPR straps, black waxed laces, black mesh tongue, charcoal speckled blown EVA midsole, and a black cup sole. Other features include a custom night vision sock liner, and Stealth Bomber hangtag.
Only 413 of the shoes were made and each in numbered on in the inside of the shoe. For a list of the 13 stores world wide where the Stealth will be sold, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Wondering what it looked like on November 18, 2011 at Mt. Baker for opening day? TJ Schneider shows it all in The Snowboard Realms. Let’s just call it deep. . . and furry.
