by The Editors on March 23, 2009
The Honolulu Symphony announced that they have added Laird Hamilton as one of two new “honorary board members.” The other was actress Marcia Gay Harden, according to a story in The Garden Island.
Both Hamilton and Harden are dedicated supporters of educational philanthropy, as well as many other civic organizations. They join a dedicated board of community leaders who are committed to keeping a world-class orchestra in Hawai‘i and offering high-quality music education programs in the state’s schools.
We’re going to have to explore the whole “honorary board member thing” sounds like a nice way to attach people’s name to projects they have nothing to do with.
[Link: The Garden Island]
by The Editors on March 22, 2009
Chas Guldemond had a $145,000 payday when he won the US Open Slopestyle and clinched the Burton Global Open Series Championship at Stratton Mountain, Vermont. “I really wanted to do good on the Global Open Series, but I never planned on this,” Guldemond said. “I really appreciate the people above that took care of me, and everyone along the way. This is such a great day.”
Chas’s run included: a frontside boardslide 270 out to a 50-50 backside 180 followed by a switch backside 900, backside 1260, Cab 900 ending with a backside rodeo on the jumps.
Kjiersti Buaas (pictured above, photo: Jake Stangel) proved that she’s still well in the game by throwing down a nosepress on the box, 50/50 to frontside 180, Cab 540 indy, backside 360 indy, frontside 360 stalefish ending with a frontside 720 mute to edge Jenny Jones for the win. “Being the best overall rider meant a lot to me because I strive to be good in the pipe and slope,” said Kjersti. “I was trying all season to be good in both disciplines, it makes me so excited. Now people can’t just define me as a pipe rider, and that means the most to me.”
For the full results and official press release follow the jump.
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by The Editors on March 22, 2009
Everyone watched it live and in HD on Fuel TV, but we’re still putting it up just for history sake. Greg Lutzka (click here for profile) wins it. If you missed the finals, or just want to watch it for a second (or third time) it’s already up on Fuel TV. This is how we like to watch skate contests. . . seriously.
Javier Nunez pulls off the Tampa Pro best trick with a nollie half cab heellflip to switch 5-0.
Follow the jump for the full results.
[Link: Skate Park of Tampa]
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by The Editors on March 22, 2009
by The Editors on March 21, 2009
Okay, so the big question from those of us who did not make the pilgrimage to Vermont for the US Open of Snowboarding was, “Where the hell is Shaun White?” But then, that’s how well we’ve been following along lately. Because if we’d been paying attention we would have know that he pulled out of the competition this morning only hours before the start with a “severely sprained left ankle,” according to the International Herald Tribune.
That appears to have left the door open for almost anyone to win and Danny Kass was the one who casually walked through the open door to win the US Open Halfpipe Title for a record fifth time with a run that included “a frontside 1080, Cab 1080, frontside 900, backside 720, ending with a switch alley-oop 540.”
“I feel amazing, I am beyond stoked that this is my fifth win,” said Danny Kass. “It feels great to come out again and put together some runs. I was feeling it today for sure.”
On the women’s side Torah Bright tied Kelly Clark’s record for the most US Open halfpipe wins. They each have three.
Torah Bright’s final run stole the show when she dropped in switch, starting off with Cab 720 indy, followed by a crippler, backside 360 indy, switch backside 720 ending with a backside 540. Kelly had one more chance to top Torah’s amazing 96 points, but she fell on her last run.
For the rest of the official details (and the results) follow the jump for the press release.
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by The Editors on March 20, 2009
Marc Frank Montoya’s Wham Bam Charity Jam at Mt. Hood Meadows on March 27-28, 12009 will be raising money for Invisible Children, an organization that works with children in war-torn African countries.
[Link: CharityJam via Yobeat]
by The Editors on March 20, 2009
by The Editors on March 20, 2009
Surf writer Nick Carroll’s new two-part documentary on surfing in Australia Bombora hits Australia’s ABC1 next Thursday. Before it airs The Australian discussed surfing and what it means to Australia comparing Carroll’s doco to fiction writer Tim Winton’s must-read coming of age surfing novel Breathe.
Bombora, a documentary about the history of surfing in Australia, is no exception. It’s not just the history of a subculture but an ambitious argument that surfing is the ultimate embodiment of Australiana. “It’s impossible to imagine what Australia would be like without surfing,” surfer and author Tim Winton says in the introduction to the first of the two episodes. . . . That’s a big claim, but the documentary, driven by the encyclopedic and analytical mind of veteran surf journalist Nick Carroll, makes a convincing case: the original European settlers revelled in Australia’s warm water, which allowed them to do things they’d never imagined; as the country urbanised, it turned its back on the bush and made the beach its playground; surfers emerged to epitomise the young nation’s culture, especially after youthful rebellion became such a ubiquitous rite of passage, and their larrikin spirit was transformed into a multibillion-dollar fashion industry that “would one day outsell the high fashion houses of Europe”.
Being fans of Nick Carroll and Tim Winton we believe both are adding art to the world through surfing and we’re looking forward to seeing Bombora just as soon as it comes out on DVD (hint, hint, Nick).
[Link: The Australian]
by The Editors on March 19, 2009
According to an 8-K filed on March 13, 2009 by Spy Optic parent company Orange 21 the company has cut employee pay by 10 percent for at least three months.
Pursuant to the Reduction, the annual base salaries of the Company’s salaried employees were reduced by ten percent (10%) and the Company’s hourly employees were put on reduced work schedules that resulted in their compensation being reduced by ten percent (10%).
When you figure that nearly everything but fuel, food, and healthcare seems to be running at about 50% off it’s really not that bad.
[Link: SEC.gov via Outdoor Business Update]
by The Editors on March 19, 2009
