Hirofumi Matsumoto, an employee of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the Mariana Island of Saipan is still missing after he and a friend got caught in a strong current that reportedly pulled them outside the reef where they were surfing last Sunday (September 6, 2009). The friend was able to paddle back in, however Matsumoto did not make it, according to a story in the Saipan Tribune.
On Tuesday Boyet Centeno found Matsumoto’s rental surfboard floating near shore.
Centeno told police he was fishing in the area when he saw the surfboard wash up on the beach. After several minutes, when nobody claimed the surfboard, he took it home. . . Centeno later read in the newspapers about the missing surfer so he informed his boss, Taylor, about the surfboard he found.
While search crews are still working it has now become a “search and recovery” mission, according to the story.
Last year The Crossroads Trade Show seemed like a reaction. It was a response to damage (real and/or perceived) that the Action Sports Retail show had done to the skateboarding business and the Crossroads was seen as a salve, an antidote, maybe even a correction. But in 2009 the Crossroads, held in the back parking lot of Jamie Thomas’ Blackbox Distribution on the eastern edge of Carlsbad, California seems to have grown into its own.
Today there wasn’t as much talk about the trade show wars. Instead most discussions centered around the brands, the products, and how good it was to see old friends. It is the gathering of skateboarding business. And while talk of the economy came up during the day, it was more out of optimism for the future than worry about the past.
Being a bigger show helps. “The event has grown quite a bit,” said founder Jamie Thomas. “It’s almost double of what it was last year. There are over 100 brands and we’re doing two days. I think tomorrow will be even bigger.”
Rolling around the booths, however, it was tough not to compare The Crossroads to what we’ll all see on Thursday when ASR kicks off in a corner of the San Diego Convention Center. It’s is nice to be able to walk in without waiting in line. Or skateboard in front of a booth in peace or do pretty much anything else without anyone telling you to stop, or leave, or ask to see your badge. And that in itself is reason enough to love it.
The International Association of Skateboard Companies will be holding an open board meeting at ASR on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 3 PM in upstairs room #3. Among other things the board will be discussing the new Consumer Protection Safety Commissions new lead laws and what effect they will have on the skateboarding business.
They will also explain what they have been doing to “lessen the effects on your business.”
Looking for a place to escape the ASR downstairs scene? Check out the DC Chill Zone Lounge in Room 17 on the Mezzanine. And on Thursday September 10, 2009, catch the $1,000 Grind For Life High Ollie Challenge from 4-6 PM.
Occasionally, Tony Hawk comes face to face with the realities of his ubiquity. Today, while viewing the September 5, 2009 BC comic strip was one of them, according to Tony’s Twitter feed:
People magazineis reporting that Louie Vito “is stoked” to be blogging for them during his time on Dancing With The Stars. Starting September 21, 2009 we can all tune in each week for more of this:
So when I found out I was going to be doing a blog on my experiences on DWTS, I was stoked. Then I started to think, ‘What am I going to write about that would make people interested?’ Well, first let’s start with who I am:. . . I’m a pro snowboarder and I absolutely LOVE what I do. I’ve been snowboarding ever since I was 5- or 6-years-old. This December and January, I am going to be trying out for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Just making the Olympics for the U.S. is a feat in itself. So, right now I have been trying to get in shape and strong for the upcoming snowboard season and practice, and do what I need to do for DWTS, which brings us to the show …
Damnit, Louie. You’re playing the celebrity game so earnestly that we find it hard to even make fun of you.
TrentBush has deeper roots in snowboarding that most. Along with his twin brother Troy, Trent has seen every phase of snowboarding from the inside.
Amazingly, he has avoided getting jaded and has continually been able to reinvent himself for the times. He and Troy have had their own outerwear lines several times, and designed outerwear for Burton. Most recently they partnered to found Brandbase, the company that operates Tech 9, Nomis, and Sound.
Shayboarder interviewed Trent to get the background on all things Bush. It’s definitely worth the read.
Celebrity gossip site TMZ got a copy of the original MTV contract with Ryan Sheckler for the first year of his reality show Life of Ryan. TMZ thinks he was overpaid, but it doesn’t really seem like it to us.
The docs show that when Sheckler was 17-years-old, dude was making $9,617.70 an episode for his reality show “Life of Ryan.” . . The docs had to be signed by his guardian and the president of his company, Ryan Sheckler Inc — both of whom happen to be his mom. . . . But Ryan wasn’t the only kid from his family cashin’ in — his brothers Kane and Shane also got paid for their sidekick roles, each were $1,500 a show.
There were eight episodes in season one so that means Ryan made $76,941.6 for having his life blown out on MTV. Aside from the fact that the show was basically an ad for Ryan Sheckler, Inc. it doesn’t seem like all the much for a hit MTV show.
The Maverick’s big-wave contest is moving forward as a democracy, without Jeff Clark. Everything is in place but the legendary surfer’s blessing, in the wake of a tempestuous summer behind the scenes.
Organizers have announced that this year the ultimate decision and whether to hold the contest or not will be left up to the surfers themselves. Though Clark has been officially invited to be the 25th surfer in this year’s event, he’s still not happy about the way things have turned out.
“I’ve tried to hold my tongue,” he said, quietly. “But it’s just wrong. Surfing is a way of life; it’s a spirit. To have a contest run by people who don’t understand the sport – it’s just not cool. That’s really all I’d like to say right now.”
Here’s a little teaser from Updown Mag‘s upcoming Nate Bozung interview (out Oct.5, 2009). From the sounds of this clip, he didn’t save a whole lot for the print magazine.
