For the past 32 years the SnowSports Industries America has released an “intelligence report” of topline numbers from the snow sports marketplace. This year is no different. Here are some of the bullet points we cared about:
$2.8 billion in sales of snow sports equipment, apparel, and accessories from specialty shops and Internet sales.
Online sales grew 12% in dollars and 23% in units
15% of all snowboard equipment was sold online
The average snow sports participant is about 30 years old, has a college degree and household income exceeding $100,000 annually
The snow sports demographic experienced a doubling in unemployment rate during the 2008.09 season as the economy tanked
Last night at around 10:30 PM PST CJ Hobgood sent out the following message on Twitter. “HOLY EFFIN CRAP! all my boards were stolen last night, reward name your price? 5 CGD,1 tokoro,1 TL2 AND 2 MERRICKS.magics yellow blue rails.” Stab Magazine immediately jumped in and got the entire story:.
CJ arrived in the beachside suburb of Seignosse at 4.30pm yesterday. He retired to bed around midnight, waking at 4.30am to find his boards stolen. The thieves had entered through the back sliding door, which had been left open by someone in his travelling party. While he, his brother and trainer Chris Gallagher had slept, the crims lifted all nine of the Floridian’s boards for the European leg. Amazingly, none the sleds were in a board bag, meaning the thieves – assuming there was less than four of them – would have had to make more than one trip through the house. Not to mention a conspicuous get away with CJ’s beaming neon-railed sleds under their arms.
CJ is offering a reward for the boards “$1,500 Euros for their return no questions asked. Anyone with information should email jed@rollingyouthcom and he’ll pass on the info.
Louie Vito did alright on the first night of ABC’s hit show Dancing With The Stars, you know, once you get past the fact that he’s on the show at all.
He and his parter Chelsie Hightower performed a foxtrot and finished second behind Donny Osmond and Kim Johnson. Here’s what Extra TV had to say about his number:
Professional snowboarder Louie Vito[‘s] . . . smile might be stronger than his dance moves. Carrie Ann said she was surprised by their dance, but she can tell he’s never danced before. Bruno says the performance was “so cute” and it was like watching a “dancing hobbit.” The couple earned a 19 and 8 points for their Salsa relay dance.
“Dancing hobbit?” Right. Coming from a judge Todd Richards described as “dude looks like Mr. Bean” that kind of makes sense.
It’s the middle of summer, but the Snow Industries of America wants everyone to know that the show’s move to Denver, Colorado (yee haw) is the best thing ever and they’ve got video proof from the likes of Joel Gomez, Dave Roseberger, Andrew Marriner, Rick Alden (and some guys we don’t know from some ski companies) in this six minute “come to cowtown” video.
World Industries is taking their warehouse on the road in the Southwest this fall with a fleet of vehicles that will be able to sell and deliver single board to multiple board or larger purchases right out of the back of the van.
“We’re really looking forward to using Southern California and the other select territories to test this concept,” said World Industries President John Dickinson. “The hope is to be able to build this program into a great benefit for our skate retailers and move it into all territories across the U.S. By bringing the product to the shops we hope to add a little more savings to the retailer, help them increase the frequency in which they update their product offerings, and give them better margins on hardgoods.”
There’s nothing like door-to-door service, especially in trying economic times. Follow the jump for the rest of the info. [click to continue…]
Ari Marcopoulos’s photographs convey a remarkable feeling of intimacy. He draws the viewer into relationships with his subjects that could only have been achieved through a powerful experience of empathy and engagement. Self-taught as a photographer, Marcopoulos makes photographs that are often imbued with a subtle formalism, a classical austerity—informed by the artist’s broad knowledge of art history—combined with an intuitive approach and an ability to adapt to the moment.
There will also be a new book released at the show the will go perfectly in our library next to Transitions And Exits. The show runs through February 7, 2010. For more information follow the link.
Tonight (September 21, 2009) the new season of the hit ABC series Dancing With The Stars kicks off with a two-hour live show featuring our favorite dancing snowboarder Louie Vito. In an email sent out to industry heads on Sunday, 686’s Mike West encouraged everyone to vote often for Louie.
I’m going to be heading to the live show to give support (as well as get my laugh on…) Yeah, I know there’s been mixed opinions on why he’s doing this (Not to mention he’s all hip hop, only wears XXL and can’t dance to save his life) But at the end of the day, LV’s gonna make the best of it-While we get to laugh our asses off in a good way. . . If you agree, vote for Louie.
“The macho photographers who shoot fisheye, they’re all impressed by the heaviest situation,” Mr. Bielmann said. “But I don’t see it that way. I don’t look for how hard a photo was to get, I just look at the end result.”
No, Brian doesn’t need to prove anything these days.
ESPN/Action’sWest Coast Editor Micah Abrams has jumped in on the unexploded “Slater Tour” grenade with more thoughts on a story that keeps getting written regardless of the complete dearth of facts, quotes, or any new angles whatsoever.
How nice must it be for Terry Hardy, the main instigator of the hypothetical tour, to get so much media play for not saying anything to anyone. At this rate his “Champions Tour” could surpass the world cup in hype without anyone having to release one bit of concrete information.
Abrams, however, has thought deeply about the new tour and what it could mean and lays it down much more concisely than most, even though his employer (Disney/ESPN) has potentially more to gain from a new surf tour than anyone.
Someday this will all sort out, and we can look back and laugh. . . hopefully.
While we were sweating away in the Hurley Pro VIP tent at Trestles, the SoCal snowboard world was at Bear Mountain for the 6th Annual Hot Dawgs & Handrails event. Luckily for us, Snowboarder Mag had the whole thing covered.
On Saturday, September 19th, 2009, 50 pro riders and over 5,000 spectators descended on Big Bear to celebrate So Cal snowboarding at its finest albeit, out of season. The Bear park crew brought in 110 tons of ice to create the most ambitious HD&HR setup yet. Unlike similar events which incorporate a single feature, Bear built two separate lanes, each with multiple jib options, giving the riders the opportunity to dial their lines and link up tricks, making it more akin to a conventional slopestyle event than a simple rail jam.
We’re just bummed we couldn’t be in two places at once. Maybe we should invest in some unpaid interns. . .
For the past 32 years the SnowSports Industries America has released an “intelligence report” of topline numbers from the snow sports marketplace. This year is no different. Here are some of the bullet points we cared about:
