by The Editors on March 15, 2011
The New York Post has finally dropped in on the story that many have known for some time: that Tony Hawk left his third wife Lhotse Merriam for the wife of his long-time friend and business partner. Here’s what Page 6 had to say:
Sources said Merriam found out about her action-sport-star husband’s new relationship in December after she found a plane ticket for Cathy that Hawk had booked for her to join him in San Francisco — despite his being lifelong friends with [her husband].
Bummer all around. We did, however, have to laugh with the blog The Blemish who titled their post on this story, Tony Hawk Is Lazy.
[Link: New York Post and Fox News]
by The Editors on March 15, 2011
Last week we were going to write up the latest financials from Quiksilver’s first quarter, however, we lagged and now it looks like Jeff Harbaugh has done it for us. He says:
For the three months ended January 31, 2011, Quik reported a loss of $16.3 million compared to a loss of $5.4 million during the same quarter the prior year. Sales fell 1.45% from $432.7 million to $426.5 million. Sales in Asia/Pacific were essentially the same from one quarter to the other and rose $6.8 million in the Americas. But European sales fell 7.1% from $177.8 million to $165.2 million.
CEO Bob McKnight appears to be happy about the company’s recent performance according to the conference call transcript posted on Seeking Alpha.
I’m very pleased to report solid first quarter results that were in all aspects better than we expected when the quarter began. Revenues of $426 million in the first quarter exceeded our plan, and were up in constant currency when compared to the first quarter of 2010. This marks the first time in the last nine quarters that we’ve grown revenues and constant currency and demonstrates that previous revenue declines are abating.
Guess the best way to feel good about losing $16.3 million is to plan on losing much more. For Mr. Harbaugh’s analysis on these numbers (including thoughts on Quik’s aggressive DC growth strategy) click the link.
[Link: Market Watch]
by The Editors on March 15, 2011
Canadian retailer Below The Belt is apparently planning to open a 3,300 square foot Volcom retail store in the West Edmonton Mall in April, according to the Edmonton Journal.
“The new store will be one of the largest Volcom stores in the world at 3,300 square feet and will offer the complete assortment of Volcom and Electric apparel for men, women and boys,” spokesman Rob Whetstone said.
Below The Belt owns 30 retail locations in Western Canada, according to the story. This will be VeeCo’s second Canadian mall store.
[Link: Edmonton Journal]
by The Editors on March 15, 2011
By all accounts core mall retailer Zumiez was getting a pretty good deal by only paying their CEO Richard Brooks $262,500 a year in salary. But, according to a story in the Seattle Times, those bargain days are over.
Everett-based retailer Zumiez said Monday it will pay Chief Executive Officer Richard Brooks an annual base salary of $613,200, more than double the $262,500 a year he had been paid. . . Zumiez cited Brooks’ 18-year tenure with the youth-oriented retailer, its strong financial performance in 2010, and a desire to bring his salary “closer to the 40th percentile peer group target.”
The company made $24.2 million in profit last year so it’s probably about time. Wonder if this new policy on salaries will trickle down? Hope so.
[Link: Seattle Times]
by The Editors on March 15, 2011
The 26-year-old man who attacked Stephanie Gilmore outside her apartment on December 27, 2010 is still in jail after appearing in court on charges of “grievous bodily harm, according to a story on ABC.net.au.
Twenty-six-year-old Julius Fox appeared in the Lismore Local Court today to face three charges relating to grievous bodily harm. . . He did not apply for bail.
Hopefully, he will stay in jail for a long, long, time.
[Link: ABC.net.au]
by The Editors on March 15, 2011
Bob and Cheryl Zider, the parents of 15-year-old snowboarder who died from snow suffocation while snowboarding at Tahoe (Chris picture right), have created a $20,000 award “inspire the design of a positive-release snowboard to save lives” according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Zider, a Peninsula resident, was provoked to action after reading a series of stories in The Chronicle that described how more than 15 snowboarders have died since the Christmas holidays, most in the same manner as his son. . . “It’s time to build a better snowboard binding,” Zider said. “The device I’m looking forward to has to be positively activated on demand by the boarder. . . . While snowboarding is generally seen as no more risky or dangerous than skiing, the risk of death goes up exponentially in avalanche or tree well accidents due to the fact that the board is rigidly attached to the boots, and the boarder is often unable to reach his boots to release in these conditions. Most die of suffocation as a result.”
Most of the pull-release designs we’ve seen over the years have been pretty terrible. Maybe this award will help. For more information on the Award and where to submit plans visit Chrisziderscholarship.org.
[Link: San Francisco Chronicle]
by The Editors on March 14, 2011
Byron Bay, Australia surfer Prem Puri had just dropped in on a perfectly little right and was setting up for cutback when something hit the tail of his board and stopped him dead in the water, according to a story in the Northern Star.
“I didn’t see what it was, but there are definitely no rocks or anything around there where I was surfing,” he said. . . “I was doing a bottom-turn and something hit me and threw me off – it had to be something big.”
When he came up the tail of his board was broken off and his foot was in pain. He’s still not exactly sure what exactly chomped him, but from the photographic evidence it looks an awful lot like the work of the gray suits, doesn’t it?
[Link: Northern Star]
by The Editors on March 14, 2011
Travis Lee Huffman, 22, an employee of the Aspen Skiing Company, was ticketed by the Aspen Police department for reckless snowboarding Saturday, March 12, 2011 after he slammed into a 7-year-old boy, according to a story on The Aspen Daily News.
The victim’s family happened to be videotaping at the time of the incident and captured the whole thing, Snowmass police officer Franz Zedlacher said. . . Huffman, who was in uniform, allegedly caught air off a blind roller and landed right behind the child before immediately colliding with him, Zedlacher said. . . “It was very blatant,” said Zedlacher, who added that Snowmass police watched the video. Huffman “clearly failed” to ride in a responsible manner, he said.
Huffman faces up to a $1,000 fine for his “Colorado Ski Safety Act” violation. Which reminds us: thinking a few yards ahead while riding really can help.
[Link: Aspen Daily News]
by The Editors on March 14, 2011
When The Skatebook ran nine spreads of Bart Simpson rolling some of the most famous spots in skateboarding history in book three (Lance Mountain Issue), it was one of the raddest things we’ve seen in a skateboard magazine book. Now, according to a recent email from Publisher/editor/receptionist Mike Ballard it may also result in the death of The Skatebook.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and its related entities (collectively “Fox”) is suing Skatebook for paying tribute too and turning Bart Simpson Pro. . . So more than likely Skatebook is a wrap because of the legal fees and cost this suit will bring down on this non profit dig. Second if you’re selling this classic book [retailers], Fox is demanding it be pulled from the shelf’s and destroyed or else.
That said, Amazon.com says they still have three more copies that are ready to ship. It’s a sad to see The Skatebook go down, but if you have a copy, hold on to it. Thing is like gold.
by The Editors on March 14, 2011
For a while now we’ve been surprised that Dennis Busenitz wasn’t cleaning up at pretty much every contest he enters. Sometime it causes us to wonder if the judges are watching the same skater we are. On Sunday (March 13, 2011) at the 2011 Tampa Pro, however, everyone saw the same thing. And it was crazy. Click the link for the rest of the action or here for the final results.
[Link: Skate Park of Tampa]
The New York Post has finally dropped in on the story that many have known for some time: that Tony Hawk left his third wife Lhotse Merriam for the wife of his long-time friend and business partner. Here’s what Page 6 had to say:
