Burton Lays Off 17 Employees

by The Editors on February 12, 2010

BurtonlogojpgThanks to a year that reportedly saw Burton’s sales drop 13-18 percent the Burton corporation has announced that they will be laying off 15 people in their Burlington offices according to a story in the Burlington Free Press.

In addition to the cuts in Burlington, two staffers in a California office will be laid off, Potdevin said. . . After staff reductions, Burton employs more than 600 people in North America, with its total global headcount topping 950. . . “Our industry has contracted. The layoffs are about scaling the company to the industry’s size,” Potdevin said. . . “This hasn’t been easy for anyone,” said Jake Burton, founder and chairman of Burton. “It’s still a very challenging marketplace, but with the best product, team and marketing in the industry, we will get through this stronger than ever. The reinstatement of salaries and merit increases has been a priority, and fortunately, with our improvement in performance we are able to accomplish that.”

The layoff apparently represents two percent of the global work force. Not bad, really.

[Link: Burlington Free Press]

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Time Inc. VP Named To Quiksilver Board

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

Paul Speaker, the president of Time Inc.’s in-house video production unit, has apparently been named to the Quiksilver board of directors according to a press release issued today. Bob McKnight is very pleased.

“We are very pleased to welcome Paul to our Board of Directors and we look forward to the important contributions he will make to the future success of Quiksilver. Paul has a terrific track record as a marketing innovator and he will add a valuable executive perspective to our continued efforts to market our great global brands and our media in new and interesting ways. Paul’s experience in coordinating marketing messages across multiple platforms including online, television, mobile and video-on-demand will help us to evolve our marketing strategies and drive effective use of technology in communicating our messages.”

We’re certain stranger things have happened on the Quik boards, but we just don’t remember them. Follow the jump for the entire release.
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The Puehse Twins Go To Hollywood

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

4N11Skatehill.Xlgraphic.Prod Affiliate.4.JpgFor the past few years Northern California’s Puehse Twins (Nick and Tristin) have occupied a strange place on Youtube somewhere between Tyson the Skateboarding Dog and Todd Falcon.

They were amazing as little kids, and now they’re okay as pre-teens, but something about the way they’re always being marketed has seemed strange. According to an article in the Sacramento Bee the brothers have a new DVD coming out.

In June, their first feature film, “Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega,” co-starring rapper Bobby J. Thompson and TV veteran Lindsey Shaw, will be released on DVD. . . Their father, Michael, a marketing executive who also aggressively markets his talented twins, has talked with Nickelodeon about a TV series. He says a major studio, Lionsgate, has shown interest.

The twins say they want to be professional skateboarders and actors. We hope that’s true. It appears that they’re on their way on at least one front. Read the story for the rest.

[Link: Sacramento Bee]

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Leo Romero x RVCA

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

Yeah, it’s an ad. But we’re backing Leo’s RVCA Signature Collection so just watch.

[Link: RVCA via Thrashermag.com]

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Mavericks Is On For Saturday

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

MavsmapThe votes has been taken and it looks like the yes’ have won according to the Mavericks big wave contest is on for Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Twenty-four surfers are on the scramble to get to NorCal ahead of a monster swell that will be be hitting Mavericks Saturday. Click here to watch it live on uStream or click the link for all the details.

[Link: Mavericks Surf via @surfline]

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Fanning Offers Obama Surf Lessons

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

Hurleypro09A  126ASP World Champion Mick Fanning has offered Barack Obama a surf lesson if The President should visit Tweed Australia, according to a story in the Tweed Daily News.

“I’ve actually seen photos of him on the net standing up on a surfboard so there’s probably some basic knowledge there we could build on,” Fanning told the Tweed Daily News. “If he’s able to get to his feet okay I’d probably try and get him doing a couple of turns, maybe even get him working on an air-reverse or a rodeo flip.”. . . “I’d like to meet the most powerful man in the world, plus he seems like decent bloke,” he said. “It would be really interesting to get an insight into what his life is like now he’s the president. . . “I’d have so many questions for him, so hopefully there would be plenty of time between sets.”

Guess it wouldn’t be the first time an Australian tried to give a Hawai’ian some surf lessons.

[Link: Tweed Daily News]

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Chanelle Sladics Has A New Website

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

Chanelle

. . . and not surprisingly, it looks good as long as you’re not trying to view it on an iPhone. Those who are will get a little blue box and nothing else. Apparently someone mistakenly told Chanelle that Flash was good. They were wrong. But visit the site anyway because even Flash can’t spoil everything (hint: Portfolio > Photography > Lifestyle).

[Link: Chanellesladics.com]

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Slater Hacking Away At Pebble Beach

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

Slater-2

Why is Kelly Slater in Monterey this week? It’s not for Ghost Trees. He is playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with other celebrities like Tom Brady, Kenny G, and Bill Murray. Not a bad way to spend the week.

[Link: PGA Tour]

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Vans & The North Face Have Record Q4

by The Editors on February 11, 2010

VfcorpIn a conference call at the ungodly time of 8:30 AM ET today VF Corp announced their Q4 numbers and aside from a “$114.4 million after-tax, noncash charge related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets” things were looking up even though total 2009 revenues were down 6 percent.

Fourth quarter revenues in our Outdoor & Action Sports coalition grew 8%, with operating income and margins each reaching record levels for the period. Global revenues of The North Face(R) and Vans(R) brands grew 7% and 14%, respectively. Total coalition revenues in our Americas businesses rose 4%, while international revenues were up 9% in constant dollars, led by exceptionally strong growth in Asia. Total direct-to-consumer revenues for our Outdoor & Action Sports coalition rose 21% in the quarter.

Inexpensive, stylish shoes and high-priced technical outwear seem to be growing in popularity. Follow the jump for the press release or the link for all the numbers.

[Link: VFC]
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Shark Hits Sydney Surfer

by The Editors on February 10, 2010

3317152Mona Vale, Australia surfer Paul Welsh, 46, was “having a surf” with his young son at Basin Bay when “a small shark” hit him from below, according to a story on Stuff.co.nz.

He made it out of the water and his wife drove him to Mona Vale Hospital, where he is recovering well, a NSW Health spokesman said. . . “He’ll be out of hospital by the end of the day.” . . “I was pushing my son on to waves and it just belted [me],” the man told the paper. “I grabbed on to the pinnacle of a rock and held on as it tried to drag me out … and I won.” . . .The victim has signed an exclusive deal with Channel Nine, a NSW Health spokeswoman said.

Exclusive deal? Guess if you’re going to be news you might as well get paid for it.

[Link: Stuff.co.nz]

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