by The Editors on December 8, 2009
Surfers have a little more to worry about in Grisborne, New Zealand. Moko the friendly dolphin has apparently become too aggressive, according to a story on abc.net.au.
Grant Fussell, the president of the local surf club, has had to rescue six people terrorised by Moko in the past two weeks. . . “The problem is we do have a lot of people going out and getting into trouble and they’re not aware of his weight and his strength,” he said. . . . “Some [cases are] not so serious – people wanting to get their surfboards back.”
One woman nearly drowned after the dolphin wouldn’t let her go back to shore because he wasn’t “finished playing with her yet.” Some even fear that Moko may try to “mate” with a human in the near future. Seriously. Brings a whole new meaning to the term “getting dropped in on.”
[Link: ABC.net.au and The Australian]
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
A contract dispute over who has rights to distribute Billabong in Indonesia is stalled in Australian court, according to a story on Goldcoast.com.au.
One Indonesian employee is currently on trial for alleged embezzlement of Billabong-branded advertising ‘light boxes’ while Gold Coast man Chris James is confined to Australia after an Interpol alert based on the same charge was issued for him by Indonesia earlier this year.
The contract dispute case was going to be heard December 8, 2009, in Supreme Court in Brisbane however, Bali-based Suzi Suweda’s barrister was not available, the story says. “Billabong is seeking a court declaration that the contract with Mrs Suwenda’s company was legally terminated.”
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
The ASP is playing up The Billabong Pipeline Masters battle of surf titans (which could begin tomorrow) with good reason, but here is the lowdown on the title race between Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson:
– Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
– Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
– Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
– If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.
We know Parko edged him at Sunset, but our money is on Mick Fanning. Follow the jump for all the details in the official press release.
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by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Whistler sure seems to be having fun with its lift towers lately. On Sunday December 6, 2009, the Big Red Express lift was stopped and 100 people were evacuated after “a device on one of the towers fell off,” according to a story on The Province.
Here’s what Dave Brownlie, president of the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort said:
“We had lift maintenance personnel inspect the situation,” Brownlie told The Province. “They determined that it was then safe to run the people off the line. . . He described the broken part as “a compression mechanism” that is installed on some towers to keep pressure on the top of the cable as it passes over rollers on the tower.
This is just the latest in a series of lift problems at the mountain over the past year. A drive motor failure on the Peak 2 Peak last April caused an unscheduled closure, a “broken bolt” stopped Blackcomb’s Harmony lift last February, and a “partial lift tower collapse” on Whistler Blackcomb’s Excalibur Gondola in December of 2008 resulted in several minor injuries.
Maybe this is what happens when the company that runs the resort is flailing. Good thing those Olympics are right around the corner.
[Link: The Province]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Nope. It’s not another story on Tony Hawk. This Investors.com interview is with former pro skateboarder Jeff Thompson about how he used all the lessons he learned in skateboarding to build a successful internet service provider business in Rhode Island.
To compete and gain sponsors, I had to skate four to six hours a day. It took passion. When you don’t feel like practicing, you can’t say no. You need that same dedication with an emerging technology to get from zero revenue to the Nasdaq. . . If you worry too much about the whole routine as you drop into your first ramp, it can add to your anxiety. It’s better to focus on one trick at a time and do it right.
So that’s the secret. . .
[Link: Investors.com]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Terry Hardy apparently hasn’t let a few ASP improvements get in the way of his plans for the Slater Tour aka CST, according to a story on Surfing Life.
Over the weekend Taj confirmed he had been approached by the CST promoters but told The Australian newspaper: “I don’t really like the sound of it, to be honest. It sounds really unorganised. The guy I spoke to didn’t seem to know that much. It was kind of bizarre. I just thought they’d be a lot better and a lot more organised in their approach. It didn’t seem very professional. . . “It doesn’t sound like they’re going to get the very best guys. If that’s the case, I’m definitely not interested. I’d only do it if all the very best guys were doing it. I’m not interested in separating the top ten in the world. It seems silly. it will just dilute it, i think.
We agree with Taj. Surfing has come too far. And with Andy Irons back on the ASP WCT next year then it really doesn’t matter all that much what Kelly Slater decides to do.
[Links: Surfing Life and The Australian]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Looks like the convergence of TV and web is finally bringing some good programming to the table as Fuel TV announces they will be broadcasting the Billabong Pipeline Masters live and direct over their cable network as well as in HD online for those of us who clipped the cables years ago.
Everyone seems to be happy about it:
“We’re excited to be offering the first-ever live broadcast of an ASP World Tour event to the U.S. audience,” says Scott Paridon, FUEL TV Vice President of Production and Development. “And with our networks in Australia and Portugal also broadcasting the contest live, people across three continents will be able to watch all the amazing action at the legendary Billabong Pipeline Masters.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with FUEL TV on this project,” says Graham Stapelberg, Billabong VP of Marketing. “The Pipeline Masters has been the site of so many exciting finishes to the world tour. The greatest surfers have carved out their legacy at this world renowned wave, and this live broadcast will be one that nobody wants to miss!”
Honestly, after catching Fuel.tv’s coverage of the 2009 Tampa Am yesterday we’re not sure we need to see this on cable TV, but there’s no doubt it’s going to look good on those 62 inch Sharp Aquos screens.
Follow the jump for all the details.
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by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Thrasher Magazine’s Jake Phelps calls Chris Cole to let him know he’s won the Skater Of The Year award for his second time in five years. Chris was pretty happy about it. How happy? “I’m just stoked out of my face,” Cole told Phelps. “Thanks for putting my shit in the mag.”
Will be even more interesting to see how Chris is feeling this Friday night at the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason.
Click the link to watch the entire video.
[Link: Thrasher Magazine]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
The Burton sponsored back-in-the-day snowboarding retrospective web series Power & Rails is back for season two on VBS.com.
The second season of “Powder & Rails” will features Tom Sims, Jamie Lynn, Shawn Farmer, Noah Salasnek, Chris Roach, Mike Ranquet, and Circe Wallace. Some repeat offenders from Season 1 (Shaun White, Damian Sanders, Jerry Dugan, Mike Hatchett, Tom Burt, Dave Seoane, and Jeff Brushie) will also be making appearances.
There’s nothing like look back to make us all feel old.
[Link: VBS.com]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
On Friday December 5, 2009 Agenda co-founder Aaron Levant and The Berrics co-founder Steve Berra announced (not without some hyperbole) a “revolutionary partnership” in which a “brand new section dedicated to skateboard brands” would be added to the January 8-9, 2009 Agenda Show in Huntington Beach. Agenda promised to “travel and accommodations” to all 61 shops listed on the Berrics Unified skate shop listing.
Then this morning (December 7, 2009), Blackbox Distribution owner Jamie Thomas announced (not without some hyperbole) a press release in which the Crossroads Retail Show and ASR have teamed up to present the “ultimate skate focused retail show” which will be added to the February 3-4, 2009 ASR Show only it will be held outside in the parking lot of Petco Park. Without promising “travel and accommodations” Crossroads is “committed to making sure that 100 of the nation’s key retailers. And what do you know, “space is limited.”
We have to wonder what happens to the entire trade show business model when they have to pay retailers to attend. Lord knows retailers need to be treated well these days, but it still seems to bring us back to the question that’s been plaguing the boardsports business for several years: are trade shows even relevant anymore?
Follow the jump for both press releases.
[Editors’ Note: Turns no one said Jamie’s press release was “all-encompassing statement.” We have removed the erroneously attributed quote from the above post.]
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Surfers have a little more to worry about in Grisborne, New Zealand. Moko the friendly dolphin has apparently become too aggressive, according to a story on abc.net.au.
