In a story on a skateboard photography exhibit in Auckland, New Zealand Skateboarder magazine editor Mark Barber says something we think every time we try to explain what we do to people:
It’s probably gonna sound really negative but why would anybody buy a photo of a person they don’t know doing a trick they don’t understand doing a move they don’t know, but that’s probably just me being negative about it.”
Exactly. . .
[Link: 3 News NZ]
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Santa Cruz, California’s woman-owned shop Paradise Surf Shop has a new owner according to a story in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Anna Macken, 26, saw a post on Craigslist and bought the shop.
“I have always known that I wasn’t interested in pursuing a high-powered career in, say, the financial district,” she said. “I was wondering which direction to take my life in, I knew I wanted to be able to surf and hang out with my son after he gets out of school and I came across a posting for the shop and pursued it.”
Macken is a single mom with a 6-year-old son and a degree from Mills college. According to the story she is currently working on a master’s in business administration there. There’s nothing like running a surf shop to introduce people to the realities of retail; especially in these times.
[Link: Santa Cruz Sentinel]
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When the news of Van Wastell’s death began circulating at the beginning of September very few details were included in the condolence stories. Now, New York Times writer Michael Brick delves into the young skateboarder’s untimely death even though it seems no one close to the 24-year-old skater is interested in talking. Here is what The Times uncovered about the tradgedy in Berlin:
On Sept. 5, Wastell was a guest at the NH Berlin-Alexanderplatz Hotel, close to the city center in the Friedrichshain quarter, according to the front-office manager, Gerd Fromm. . . . Shortly after midnight Sept. 6, a guest heard a noise outside, looked out his window and saw a man lying on the terrace, according to Klaus Schubert, a spokesman for the Berlin police. . . . “An emergency doctor came, but there was no chance to help,” Schubert said. “It must have been a window of the stairway area in the sixth floor from where he fell or jumped down.” . . . Schubert added: “The most important question, whether it was an accident or a suicide, I cannot answer at this moment.”
While nothing can be done for the sadness the entire skateboard industry feels, sometimes more details can help process the pain. Our thoughts are with the entire Wastell family.
[Link: New York Times]
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Lewis Samuels’ interview with Andy Irons was only up for two days before Surfline Editor Marcus Sanders had to shut the comments board down at 500 messages saying, “Thanks for all your comments; Andy’s seen some of ’em, and is taking the next month away from the spotlight. We’re closing down comments now, but stay tuned for more.. ”
Andy, unlike many professional surfers, says it exactly the way he see it no matter what. And that attitude is a magnetic attractor of opinions of all kinds. It’s difficult not to want to comment when a surfer says something like this:
No one really said shit when I was winning about how I acted. Now that I have a bad year, everyone is asking me to change, so let me tell you guys this: I have been on tour for the past 12 years. I have won 3 titles, and come runner-up who fuckin cares how many times. Do any of you people ever think about how draining it is to travel all year long, going to the exact same places, when the waves seem to almost always be shitty, trying to keep a winning attitude? You don’t see anyone giving Bruce shit about going off tour or losing in France with a 2, but that’s ’cause he never acted like he cared. Figure that shit out… You are on tour to win, and anyone who is on tour that says they don’t want to win is just saying that to make themselves feel better about losing. Dane might be an exception, ’cause he’s a little weird like that, but aside from him everyone cares. Saying they don’t is just a disclaimer.
This interview is great for so many reasons, mostly because it is so rare to read an honest interview in action sports. It obviously can cause problem for athletes when they do it, but we just want to say, “Thanks, Andy.”
[Link: Surfline]
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Thanks to Burton’s Love Line and Primo Line of snowboards a Vermont “community-based nonprofit organization with more than 38 years of experience” is going to refuse donations from the company this year, according to a story on WCAX.com.
Spectrum Youth and Family Services is rejecting donations from the company. Each year the “Burton Chill Program” provides homeless and at risk teens with free gear and lift tickets at Bolton Valley. . . . Administrators at Spectrum say they will not participate this year, because the company is producing products that go against Spectrum’s values.
Guess that’s just another cost of trying to be everything to everybody.
[Link: WCAX.com]
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Snowboard mountaineers John Griber, Doug Stoup and Sean Busby are headed south to lay down some first descents in Antarctica. And Busby, the 24-year-old University of Utah student, former Olympian, and Wasatch Academy Snowboarding director is the star of the show, especially since he has diabetes.
The trip, which begins Oct. 25 and ends Nov. 15, has visits along the way to such misnamed places as Paradise Bay. . . The crew involved will spend time on the frozen continent documenting their travels and experiences. They will also take satellite phones and laptops in order to upload daily broadcasts and updates to children’s hospitals where patients suffering from diabetes are receiving treatment.
Nothing like a few first descents to give the kids a little hope.
[Link: Deseret News]
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Props Snowboard and Skateboard Shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada went up in flames in the early hours of October 15, 2008, according to a story in the Winnipeg Sun.
I would say an early damage estimate would be in the region of $500,000,” said Det. Darryl Drewniak, of the arson strike force, who was among the first investigators on scene. “There is substantial damage to the property.”
It would appear that arson was suspected in the “mysterious fire.”
[Link: Winnipeg Sun]
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We don’t know how many times we’ve been working away on our iPhones when we’ve been hit by the urge to check out Electric’s latest shades. Okay. . . never. And we don’t know anyone else who has either, but that doesn’t make the new Electric iPhone app any less cool.
Keep up with the latest Electric news and product updates. Browse our entire line of Sunglasses, Goggles, Softgood and Accessories right on your phone. Fine the products you want and search for the Electric dealer nearest you.
Just the fact that Electric knows their target market is using iPhones puts them miles ahead of the competition and that alone is enough reason to put it out there. Nice work: especially since without it their “flash site” is unviewable on most mobile phones.
[Link: Electric Visual via Surfline]
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Ray’s Apparel and Split Clothing will be no longer in 60 days according to an Adam Sullivan story on Transworld Business.
“Rays Apparel has always been a very profitable company,” explains Ray’s Apparel president Jim Stark. “We got into mid-2008, probably about May, and started running into the same economic woes and problems that our competitors have been having. And for the past four or five months, we’ve been losing money. And it certainly looks that way for the balance of the year.”
While more than 60 employees will reportedly be out of a job, Stark says Split will “continue shipping product into 2009.” The Split brand, however, is up for sale. . . seems like it would be a perfect for one of the mall chain stores. PacSun? Buckle? Zumiez? Anyone?
[Link: Transworld Business]
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Tony Hawk has apparently purchased Birdhouse Skateboards from Blitz Distribution according to a press release posted on Transworld Business.
Tony Hawk and Per Welinder, business partners for the past 15 years, reached a definitive agreement whereby Tony Hawk has acquired all interest in the Birdhouse Skateboards brand from Blitz Distribution, Inc. . . . By purchasing the brand, Tony Hawk will initiate integrating Birdhouse into his overall activities and his business, Tony Hawk, Inc. Full ownership will also give Tony increased oversight and involvement to his biggest priority, the Birdhouse team riders.
Hard to believe this hadn’t happened sooner (especially considering the mainstream marketing power of Tony and Shaun White). No one does better with Tony’s brand than Tony. And maybe those new THPS controllers will be Birdhouse decks.
[Link: Transworld Business]
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