Apparently, Mike Vallely isn’t the only board worker to make the jump to the MMA world. Former Burton Snowboard’s Senior VP/Global Marketing Bryan Johnston has reportedly become the UFC’s first chief marketing office, according to a story on Sports Business Journal. Johnston will reportedly be overseeing “marketing activities “with an eye toward further global expansion.”
Yeah, that sounds about right. Follow the jump for the entire press release.
Wallenberg’s swan song? We didn’t go, but everyone we know did. Said it was amazing. Here’s a little of what the SF Weekly had to say:
As Jimi Hendrix’s version of the Star-Spangled Banner christened the event, Jake Phelps — Editor of Thrasher and Master of Ceremonies for the day — yelled, “Wassup? You ready to jump this thing?” Evidently, people were. No sooner had Hendrix’s last wave of feedback ceased than Marissa del Santo flew off the top of the stairs — nearly landing. The crowd went crazy.
We’re not sure Kelly Slater will appreciate this or not, but Manhattan Beach, California artist Alison Wright and surfboard shaper Mark Brog have created a piece of art on display today at the Culver City Art Walk titled “If Slater Bowled.” The piece features a 10-foot tall bowling pin along with a bowling ball that is 4 feet in diameter, according to The Beach Reporter.
“The concept of the work responds to Los Angeles’ love affair with heroes as well as to the long, narrow characteristics of the gallery itself, which is featuring a group show of artists whose studios are in the Helms Building,” Wright said. “Several of the artist’s studios will be open in addition to the gallery during the art walk.”
Brog will reportedly try to surf the bowling pin after the show is over. Come to think of it, maybe Kelly should try it out on the WCT. Couldn’t hurt, right?
A bride and groom celebrating their marriage in Cornwall England decided to go out for a short surf during their wedding reception at a bar on the beach at Porthtowan, but neither of them were ready for the conditions according to a story from the BBC.
His wife joined him for a dip and the pair got caught in a rip current. . . Off-duty lifeguards raced to the sea and rescued the bride, who ended up on some rocks, before saving her husband. . . the groom was caught in a really strong rip current and was being dragged around the corner of the headland, which at high tide is “no-man’s land”. . . “He was in a fair bit of trouble and had also abandoned his board, which was his only flotation device,” the lifeguard added.
It took lifeguards and some other surfers nearly an hour to paddle the groom back to his reception. Hopefully, the couple is a little better at marriage than they are at surfing. . .
According to the Associated Press Austria’s health ministry claims to have found traces of cocaine in samples of Red Bull Cola.
Spokeswoman Sigrid Rosenberger says the traces are very slight and do not pose a health risk. . . Earlier this month, several German states told retailers to stop selling Red Bull after a sample test by authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia state found 0.4 micrograms per liter in the drink. . . Rosenberger said Friday the Austrian findings hovered around the detection limit.
Red Bull says their product is completely safe for marketing in the US and Europe and that we should all keep drinking so we can work longer hours, so we can buy more Red Bull so we can work longer hours, so we can buy more. . .
This Sunday May 31, 2009 members of the surf community will be paddling out at Doheny State Beach (Picnic Areas A and B) at 3 PM to remember the life of former SIMA president Dick Baker, who died on April 14, 2009 after a two-year battle with cancer.
One of our favorite snowboarders of all time is back on board after a pretty lengthy hiatus and ESPN ActionNate Deschenes got the scoop on Kevin Jones‘ self-financed snowboard resurection from the man himself.
Mentally I think you feel stronger—at least I do. And there is always the feeling your body is older and you can’t tomahawk out of something and be back on it the next day. So you have to adjust there. But I think young and hungry is a relative term. You are young and hungry and you want to have what guys have already had. I’ve already had it. This thing I am doing now is not for the money — I’m not getting paid by anyone. I don’t have a contract or anything; I am only doing this for me. There’s nothing in this industry that I can do anymore. What, am I going to be Transworld’s Snowboarder of the Year a fourth time? NO! Am I going to be ESPN’s rider of the year again? NO! Do I want to go win the X Games again? NO! For me this is to prove to people that, no, you are not done at 30—you are just starting…in my opinion.
Reading this interview just reminded us how much we’ve missed Kevin, and how much we’re looking forward to seeing the new footage.
[Link: ESPN.com/action]
Forbes.com apparently has a little section where they ask a couple questions of someone with an odd, interesting, or strange job. Tucked in between a “pinball inspector” and a “truck maker” is Steve Coulter, a “snowboard maker” from Burton’s Manufacturing Center in Williston, VT.
Someone told me that every snowboard I make brings a smile to a persons face. That’s a lot of smiles! I find it very rewarding to make something from parts to a finished product. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been making snowboards for so long. The more I make the more I love making them.
Nice to be reminded that Burton is still making some snowboards in the USA.
The Guardian UK is reporting the sad news that French Alpine snowboarder Karine Ruby, 31, has died following “a mountain accident,” according to the French Skiing Federation.
It happened in the afternoon, she is dead,” a FFS spokeswoman told Reuters without elaborating. . . Ruby, 31, won the giant slalom gold medal in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. She also had six snowboard world champion titles to her name.
According to reports on AFP and SI Karine and two other “mountaineers” were roped together when they fell into a very deep crevasse while climbing in France’s Mont Blanc Range. One, a 38 year old, also died the other was “seriously injured.” Karine Ruby will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
Apparently, Mike Vallely isn’t the only board worker to make the jump to the MMA world. Former Burton Snowboard’s Senior VP/Global Marketing Bryan Johnston has reportedly become the UFC’s first chief marketing office, according to a story on Sports Business Journal. Johnston will reportedly be overseeing “marketing activities “with an eye toward further global expansion.”
