The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang officially opened four days ago and already American’s have taken gold in every snowboard competition so far.
Red Gerard and Jamie Anderson took gold in Slopestyle and last night (February 12, 2018) Chloe Kim monster stomped her way to gold in the women’s halfpipe. Not to put a jinx on it, but we’re pretty certain an American will win tonight in the mens’ halfpipe as well, but we’re going to have to wait for the judges to weigh in on that one when the action kicks off this afternoon at 5:30 PM PST.
For a collection of official press releases (to which we added absolutely nothing) please follow the jump.
Iouri Podladtchikov may not be in the Olympics this year, but that hasn’t slowed the launch of his limited edition Leica Q “Snow” any according to a story on The Verge.
Dubbed the Leica Q “Snow,” the camera is decked out in silver anodized aluminum for the top deck, baseplate, and controls. The body of the camera is wrapped in pure white leather that will probably get dirty in the first five seconds after you take it out of the box. The camera also features an aluminum accessory shoe cover, which is apparently a first for a Leica camera. And to round out the color scheme, the Leica Q Snow also comes with a white leather carrying case and strap. . . ‘White – for me, that also means ‘carte blanche’ – it’s up to you. It’s time to get creative’, says Iouri Podladtchikov, who has already published two books of his photography and will soon be opening his own studio.
The camera apparently drops in March for only $5,395. It looks amazing but sadly, is a little out of our price range.
Olympic fever and the #ShaunWhiteHype are about to blow up around the world and we want you to be ready so you won’t miss a thing. This year NBC is running the feed live and on-demand replay for all the events on the NBCOlympics.com website and their smartphone app.
Slopestyle kicks off the events for snowboarding followed by halfpipe, snowboard cross, big air, and parallel giant slalom (yes, they still do this).
Iouri Podladtchikov, the defending Olympic halfpipe champ has decided that he will not be competing in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang due to a traumatic brain injury he suffered while competing in the 2018 X Games, according to a Reuters story.
When I received this diagnosis, it was clear to me that I had sustained a serious and dangerous injury and that participating in the Olympic Games would pose a great risk to my health,” the 29-year-old said in a statement released by the Swiss ski federation. . . “After all the tests that I have had on the way to the present day in the last two weeks – including my first practice this Friday – I can say for sure that starting and participating in the Olympic Games is in no way safe and responsible.”
The world is going to miss him, but there’s no doubt that he made the right decision, even if the media are already reporting that Shaun White’s hunt for gold just got easier. As someone close to I-Pod said, “We must honor this and all athletes who choose to make good choices for their futures even if it is at the expense of momentary fame.”
Tom Schaar has a pro model and it’s an Element Skateboard. It’s about time and it looks good. Welcome to the world of getting a slice, Tom. We hope it sells like . . . well, we hope it sells better than most.
Element Founder, Johnny Schillereff says “Tom is a gentleman, ripper, friend, family and officially a professional skateboarder! Congratulations and thank you Tom for ten years of dedication to Element. It is an honor to have been with you and your amazing family since the get. We love you Tom!”
For photos from what appears to have been a great “surprise” night, follow the jump.
Seattle’s 35th North Skate Shop has reportedly settled with the City of Seattle after the city sued them for a DIY bowl that was built on an island in Green Lake as part of a Nike SB promotion, according to a story in the Seattle Times.
No criminal charges were filed; however, the city filed a lawsuit against 35th North and the unnamed creators of the bowl, seeking to recoup the amount of money spent removing the bowl and restoring what the city called an “environmentally critical area.”. . Tony Croghan, the owner of 35th North, said that while his shop had not had any role in the construction of the bowl, he felt that settling with the city was the “right thing to do for the city and the skating community.”
It’s an outrageous amount to pay, but seems to be a relatively inexpensive compared to a long legal battle. Maybe Nike SB will help them out a little. That would seem like the right thing to do, too.
In what would seem to be good news for fans of Mammoth Mountain, former CEO and partial owner Rusty Gregory has been named chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company, the parent company of most of the resorts formerly known as Mammoth, Intrawest, and Aspen Skiing Company.
Mr. Gregory will focus on establishing the newly-formed Alterra Mountain Company’s culture and developing the growth, operating and guest service strategies for its platform of mountain destinations across North America, while leading its more than 20,000 employees. . . “I’m thrilled to be leading the Alterra Mountain Company team in its formative years at such a pivotal time in the mountain destination industry. This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with so many highly respected industry leaders and some of the most iconic mountain destinations in North America,” said Rusty Gregory, Chief Executive Officer of Alterra Mountain Company. “Together we will create a high performing enterprise by focusing on what’s important – our guests, our employees, and our mountain communities. We will build our business by enhancing and enriching the lives and experiences of each.”
At least Aspen and the Colorado crew aren’t taking things over just yet. Viva California. For the official word from Alterra, please follow the jump.
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!
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’sHow To Make Love Like a Porn Star). Oh, we’re looking forward to this one. For all the official details, please follow the jump.
In what would seem to be good news for fans of Mammoth Mountain, former CEO and partial owner Rusty Gregory has been named chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company, the parent company of most of the resorts formerly known as Mammoth, Intrawest, and Aspen Skiing Company.
Here are just a few of the Shaun White stories that are spinning ’round the Interwebs today. Enjoy #ShaunWhiteOut
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 
