Apparently watching things happen in super slow motion is a very popular thing. What people will watch on Youtube.com never fails to amaze us. But here is Tony Hawk. And he’s in slow mo and on his way to a million views. Ta duh!
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Ever wondered just how Shaun White transformed himself from a cute little snowboard kid sessioning the Encinitas YMCA miniramp everyday into a resort-owning, rock and rolling business titan with Olympic and ESPN gold medals swinging from his neck? Well, this fall Mr. White will tell it all in his own words and with his own voice as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt releases his as-yet-untitled memoir on Audible.com. Here’s their pitch:
The memoir will be a radical playbook on how to become a champion. A 3-time Olympian and repeat gold-medalist, and winner of an unprecedented 23 X-Games medals, Shaun White has been a fighter and a pioneer throughout his life, overcoming a congenital heart defect, periodic bouts of depression, and an establishment that didn’t take his sport seriously—until he became a legend and a leader whom everyone had to follow. It will be co-written with Neil Strauss, New York Times bestselling author of The Game.
Why shouldn’t Shaun’s memoir be written by the same guy who wrote the book on pick-up artists and Marilyn Manson’s autobiography, and Jenna Jameson’s How To Make Love Like a Porn Star). Oh, we’re looking forward to this one. For all the official details, please follow the jump.
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Regardless of what skaters may think, we don’t put a whole lot of thought into surfing, surfers, surfing journalism, nor surf media because while we may surf, we’re definitely not surfers. Last night, however, we listened to an episode of the Surf Splendor podcast (our first) and were pleasantly surprised. It’s nice to know that people still think and talk about surfing and surf media like it matters. The best part: not having to think about it ourselves.
[Link: Surf Splendor]
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Health-minded, recently vegan, seemingly ageless, best-surfer-of-all-time Kelly Slater is reportedly appearing in an advertisement for a major label beer brand that will run during the 2018 Super Bowl (a previously popular televised event where beer ads are separated by footage of large men repeatedly crashing into each other while trying to move a ball across a lawn).
We’re speculating that he’s appearing in the ad (which also includes sporting stars that we didn’t recognize) as part of a sales play to get said beer company to sponsor events produced by a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport) that Mr. Slater is involved with. But we have no knowledge of any such deals. What we did find entertaining was Mr. Slater rationalizing his appearance in the ad when questioned about it on Surfer.com.
I think everyone knows I don’t drink a lot, but I don’t mind a beer here and there, especially after a long day of surfing.. . . When somebody stands for something, people expect everything to perfectly align in that direction at all times. But I once drank a beer in a barrel in Tahiti in a heat. So I think people do understand that I have a beer from time to time. It’s just something culturally that goes along with the celebration of a win or competition or a long day doing something. Obviously anything done in excess is not a good thing, but I think a beer goes along with celebration.
And there it is. Kelly likes beer just enough to be in a commercial.
[Link: Surfer.com]
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Shaun White will apparently be featured in advertising for Omega watches during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
White, a two-time gold medallist, is making his fourth appearance in the Olympic Winter Games. He’ll be featured in Omega’s print and digital advertising campaign in the United States. The first advertisements will appear on February 1st and run concurrently to the television commercials.
We’re guessing nothing makes an athlete feel better than seeing an eight-year-old photo of themselves up all over the place. Nice work Omega. Then again these ads are coming from a Swiss company that hasn’t fundamentally updated their technology in over 100 years, so to them eight years is probably like yesterday.
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Pierre Agnes, 54, the CEO of Boardriders Inc, the parent company of Quiksilver and Billabong reportedly went missing at sea near Biarritz, France, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, according to an Associated Press story in the LA Times. Boats and helicopters joined the search immediately.
According to Agence France-Press, Agnes went out in his boat early Tuesday and later told authorities that because of fog, he would return later than he’d initially planned. . . The port authority of the Atlantic beach town of Capbreton said the search was launched after Agnes’ empty boat was found washed up Tuesday in nearby Hossegor. In a statement, Boardriders said that 54-year-old Agnes had gone fishing on his “beloved” boat, as he often did in the mornings, and that he had not been heard from since.The port authority of the Atlantic beach town of Capbreton said the search was launched after Agnes’ empty boat was found washed up Tuesday in nearby Hossegor. In a statement, Boardriders said that 54-year-old Agnes had gone fishing on his “beloved” boat, as he often did in the mornings, and that he had not been heard from since.
Our thoughts are with the Agnes family and we continue to hope for the best.
[Link: LA Times via SurferToday]
[Update February 1, 2018: The search for Pierre Agnes has been called off (Wednesday, January 31, 2018) the day after his boat was found washed up on a beach, according to as story in the LA Times. “Maritime authorities had struggled with waves of up to 8 feet and poor visibility Tuesday. They called off the search on Wednesday afternoon after canvassing the area with two boats, a jet ski and three helicopters, saying there was little chance of Agnes being found alive. . . Water temperatures were in the low to mid-50s, and that stretch of coastline is known for its fast, big and heavy barrel waves, making it a popular spot for surfers. At this time of winter there are also perilous riptides and shifting sandbanks.”]
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There are times that it becomes obvious that the bar in halfpipe snowboarding has been raised way, way, too high. Last night during a contest in Aspen, Iouri Podladtchikov, showed us just what can happen when a small mistake is made while competing at this level. He was down for 20 minutes and (after a complete check up at hospital) reportedly broke only his nose. We’re sincerely hoping that is all and that he has a quick, complete recovery. But it begs the same old question: how many more traumatic brain injuries have to go down before we all decide that enough is enough on the whole bigger, faster, higher progression in the snowboard halfpipe?
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It’s one of those days we knew would come eventually, but we’re very bummed it had to happen yesterday, Wednesday January 25, 2018. Ski movie pioneer and all around amazing guy Warren Miller has died peacefully at his home on Orcas Island, according to a story in the Seattle Times. He was 93.
To his legions of fans, Mr. Miller’s annual ski flick amounted to cinematic manna from heaven — an overdue shot of cold air and deep snow to stoke the fires within winter warriors who had suffered through the long, hot months of snowless summer. The films, most of which began with jaw-dropping alpine-ski sequences, featuring top skiers and snowboarders delivered by helicopter to some knee-knocking heights and set to a pounding rock-music beat, never failed to produce hooting, shouting and delirium among the snow-deprived faithful.
Mr. Miller is responsible for almost single handedly creating action sports film as a genre. His first film “Deep and Light,” debuted in the winter of 1949-50 in Port Angeles, Washington and over the years he became the Walt Disney of ski films. His yearly films shaped our lives in ways we never will fully understand. For that we thank him.
[Link: Seattle Times]
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TEN: The Enthusiasts Network, parent of Transworld Snowboarding, Skateboarding, et. al., is rebranding their GrindTV website as the all new Adventure Sports Network.
“ASN aims to be the world’s most engaged digital media platform serving the ever-growing outdoor/adventure sports and lifestyle community,” said Norb Garrett, President of TEN’s Sports & Entertainment group. “ASN’s editorial strategy is unique in that it will generate original content around experiences, product, gear and travel while also leveraging TEN’s twelve action-adventure sports brands (such as Surfer, Powder, TransWorld Snowboarding and Canoe & Kayak) as well as building a network of amazing third-party content partners.”
Hey, it’s a plan, right? As a media company you can’t just sit around watching as all your brands whither away to nothing. You’ve got to do something. And this is something. Not sure the world is pining for another wide ranging, general interest adventure sports portal, but there’s no denying that it’s a plan that will look great in a PowerPoint deck. It might even convince a few companies to give TEN some of their marketing dollars, or maybe even create a profitable “partnership”. So that’s good. Plus, it’s got a bangin’ logo. What else do you need in these times?
For the official world from The Enthusiasts Network, please follow the jump.
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Wanna watch Gabriel Medina (above) go after current world champion 2 John Florence next year on that surf series operated by a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport)? According to a story on Forbes.com you’ll have to do it on Facebook, because the days of watching the feed on the company’s website (and then airplaying it your TV) are over thanks to a payment of an estimated $30 million from Facebook for exclusive rights.
Facebook had non-exclusive rights to live WSL events last year with the competitions also broadcast on the WSL’s website and mobile app. Nearly 14 million people watched a World Surf League event on Facebook in 2017. “The exclusivity of this deal will elevate the profile surfing and the WSL have within the Facebook platform,” says Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO.
Thrity-million dollars is a nice chunk for a business that has most likely been losing large sums of money each year since buying the tour. But we can say this, we watched a couple events last season, now if they’re only available on Facebook.com we won’t watch any and we don’t think we’re alone. So long pro surf tour. . .
[Link: Forbes]
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