by The Editors on May 18, 2011
Don’t mean to harsh on the rest of the hard charging ASP Elite Tour professionals in the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio, but all we really cared about today was whether Jordy Smith, Joel “Police Escort” Parkinson, Bobby Martinez, and CJ Hobgood would make it through their Round 2 heats because we’re “that kind” of surf fan. Guess what? They did.
Jordy slipped through even though he wasn’t all that stoked on his performance.
“I don’t know what was going on, usually I kind of go out there and let loose and I was nursing everything,” Smith said. “I was surfing really careful because I didn’t want to blow the waves I got but I ended up blowing them anyway. I’m happy that I made the heat though.”
For the full results and tomorrow’s Round 3 heat match-ups, follow the jump. And remember, show starts at 3:30 AM PST (6:30 EST). [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 17, 2011
Can’t fault ESPN executives for playing into one of their few sports property strengths. Today, as just one of the items the company rolled out to advertisers during “2011 upfronts” ESPN announced that they are doubling the number of live, faux-sporting, action entertainment television events to a total of six for the coming three years, according to a story in the LA Times.
Currently, X Games events are held in Los Angeles during the summer and in Aspen, Colo., and Tignes, France, during the winter. Under the new plan, called Global X, four events will be held outside the U.S. ESPN will hold a competitive bidding process beginning in 2012 to select the three new locations, which will be signed to three-year agreements and work with ESPN to stage the events.
Not surprisingly ESPN’s Senior Vice President of Programming and Global X Games Scott Guglielmino is “incredibly excited to take the X Games to the next level.” More events, more coverage, more sponsors, more money, more dilution, more irrelevance. Sounds like a perfect plan.
[Link: LA Times and Broadcasting & Cable]
by The Editors on May 17, 2011
When Mammoth Mountain says they’re open until July 4, 2011, they’re not just fooling around. On Sunday, May 15, 2011 they had 11 inches of fresh snow for full Main Lodge powder shredding. Today they’ve already gotten four more inches of new snow, the high temp is going to be 25 degrees, and it is supposed to snow tomorrow and possible Thursday as well. Damn, that’s winter in May.
Follow the jump for a couple more reasons why it might not be a bad idea to get your snowboards back out and charge the 395. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 17, 2011
After days of waiting, the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio finally shuffled through Round 1 in what the ASP described as “consistently changing conditions” (whatever that means). Kelly Slater’s fans can rejoice in the comfort that he; one, is still in it, and two, snapped in the highest score of the day with a 9.0 (pictured above) to win his heat against Julian Wilson and Brazilian Peterson Crisanto.
“That 9 felt good,” Slater said. “I went down to grab my jersey and there was some confusion. By the time I got out, the heat had already started and Julian got that first one. It wasn’t a good start. I knew there were going to be some good ones and I just had to be patient. That one good wave actually let me bottom turn and hit the lip, most of the waves were soft and had a lot of horizontals.”
The only other real news from the day was that Patrick Gudauskas edged Jordy Smith by .06 in Heat 5, and Taylor Knox stuffed Joel Parkinson 15.03 to 8.34 in Heat 12 to sending two of the world’s best surfers into the second round. Maybe the practice will help keep them lose.
It would also appear that the contest will continue tomorrow May 18, 2011. We’ve just got to figure out a way to get up in time to watch it. Sometimes 4 AM is just too early. Follow the jump for the full results. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 16, 2011
See those ominous clouds? Feel that whipping wind blowing straight onshore at Barra da Tijuca? That’s why after five days of waiting the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio has yet to run even one men’s heat.
“Unfortunately we’ve got bad winds are definitely not running today,” Richie Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “The good news is we’ve got swell on the rise and conditions have been forecasted to improve and we’re looking to get things started tomorrow.”
Stay tuned tomorrow morning (May 17, 2011) at 3 AM PST (7 AM local) to see if the guys will finally get in the water. Afterall, there are only six days left in the waiting period. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 16, 2011
For fans of skateboarding, and skateboarding photography in specific there’s not much better that sitting in an old vinyl chair and listening to photographer Grant Brittain tell stories of back in the day. Grant’s stories have always been epic and in this new series Brittain’s Vault skate photog Ed Dominick plans to capture Grant in his classic best. This is episode one, we’re kind of hoping the next episode is a little bit longer, because this one was definitely, too short.
[Link: The Skateboard Mag]
by The Editors on May 16, 2011
Organizers of the annual Sheckler Foundation Skate For A Cause event at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest on Saturday, May 14, 2011 say they haven’t counted all the money yet, but they’re expecting to have raised well over $77,000 for Autism Speaks including $15,000 in prize money donated by the winners of four different skateboarding contests of skill and daring.
Steve Caballero started the day off by winning $3,000 in the Ball Park SkaterCross. Chris Cole earned $4,000 for the CCS best trick on tranny and Pat Duffy collected a giant $4,000 check for best trick on the Red Bull tech center. Ryan Decenzo won $4,000 for the best trick on the Power Balance stairs, rails and hubba section.
Click here for some Rob Brink photos or follow the jump for the official word from etnies. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 15, 2011
With a win over Sally Fitzgibbons, Carissa Moore took the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio (her third elite tour win of the season), solidified her lead in the rankings and helped end four-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore’s hopes of a fifth consecutive title.
“I just went out there and had fun and to me there was no pressure in the Final,” Moore said. “I was just stoked to be in the Final regardless of how I finished. Obviously I’m happy that I won. The girls really didn’t go on those lefts, but they worked out for me today.”
Gilmore got past Laura Enerver in the quarterfinals, but in the semis Fitzgibbons put her away 13.16 to 9.23.
“It was tough work out there,” Gilmore said. “Sally (Fitzgibbons) got a couple and I had some opportunities. I only needed a six and was too deep on that wave that came in at the end. Sally’s in the zone right now.” . . .“I’m going through so many emotions right now, it’s hard,” Gilmore said. “It’s been a pretty good year and Sally and Carissa (Moore) have been on fire. It’s good for the sport and good for me. I really don’t know what to say.”
Follow the jump for the full results. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 14, 2011
It’s nice to see that not much has changed when it comes to the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Surf Summit in Los Cabos, Baja, Mexico. At their 14th Annual event held May 11-14, 2011, it appears that the usual industry suspects, drank, surfed, and sat in air-conditioned meetings rooms just as they have for the last 13 years. Click here for the official party photos with little or no commentary whatsoever. Come to think of it, that’s probably all you need to know. Can’t wait for next year.
by The Editors on May 13, 2011
Surfer Adrian Bronson, 37, was in shallow water on May 13, 2011 “near the Harvard Drive beach approach in Ormond Beach, Floride when he felt a nip in his calf.
He sustained minor puncture wounds and didn’t go to the hospital, Marris said. After surfing, he went to work, she said. . . This is the second shark bite incident off Volusia County beaches this year, she said.
Volusia County sharks better hurry up if they want to hold onto their title as the “shark bite capital of the world.” Two this year? Someone is slacking.
[Link: Orlando Sentinel]
