by The Editors on September 24, 2008
[Editors’ Note: It’s on all the blogs, so we guess we need to put it up to have it in the archive.]
Seems the city of Salt Lake has banned miniramps. And more than a crime against skateboarding, it’s a crime against freedom.
On Aug. 7, a government board banned such “sporting ramps” from private yards in a quiet move designed to ratchet up the county’s outdated noise regulations. . . . The Salt Lake Valley Health Department’s board added the anti-ramp rule after a resident complained about neighborhood half-pipes in a June public hearing.
Nick Hale has put up a petition website at slcminiramp.com. Go there to jump on the rebellion and send a message to the “desicion” makers.
[Link: Salt Lake City Tribune]
by The Editors on September 24, 2008
Looks like there was no magic for Kelly Slater in his final against Adrian Buchan. Kelly stuck at it with 11 waves, but could only come up with an 8.43 and a 6.73. The Australian edged in with an 8.17 and a 7.75 with 9 waves total.
[Link: Quiksilver Live]
by The Editors on September 23, 2008
The Christian Science Monitor is paddling into the “battle of the boards” as things heat up at the ‘Bu thanks to stand up paddlers invading the lineups. And who is the go-to guy for all thing SUP? San Diego surf talk radio host Scott Bass.
“SUP is a throwback to what true watermen all aspired to do, and once you try it, you’re instantly hooked,” says Scott Bass, a San Diego surf talk radio host. “But it’s also a curse.” . . . Mr. Bass, who prefers stand-up surfing when the waves aren’t big enough for shortboarding, says SUP is like having too much of a good thing. . . . “People see stand-up riders catching waves and suddenly they’re everyone’s enemy,” he says. “There are some beaches where there’s such a negative vibe that stand-up surfers don’t even step foot in the water.”
And it’s true. Malibu City Councilman Jefferson Wagner thinks they should be banned.
“Stand-up paddle boarders should be banned from the surf zone,” says Mr. Wagner, who owns Zuma Jay, a surf shop that is a Malibu icon. “SUPs are too large and bulky for a person to control around other people.”
For the rest of what’s SUP, click the link.
[Link: Christian Science Monitor]
by The Editors on September 23, 2008
Stephen Sprong, 23, an inventor from the UK who is competing in a Smiles Per Hour design competition run by Fiat, has developed a new skateboard that is powered by “the rider jumping up and down on the board,” according to a story in Echo News.
The competition to discover Britain’s budding inventors ran this summer and was based on the design brief of making travelling more fun. . . “It’s an entirely new and exciting transport of leisure board and on flat ground it allows the rider to propel themselves forward by pumping,” he said.
Sadly there is no video of the sprongboard in action..
[Link: Smiles Per Hour via Echo]
by The Editors on September 23, 2008
by The Editors on September 23, 2008
We first ran into Gale “America’s Sports Mom” Webb when she was doing her “Get high on life” sideshow sports demo tour with a handful of BMX and skaters.
She was loud, kind of crazy on the mic, but always drew a crowd. Now the Orange County Register informs us that she is still alive and riding at 65.
Her right ankle bones are held together with a bunch of bolts and screws. She needs a new left knee. And the arthritis in her fingers gives her fits. . . . But her brain apparently doesn’t care, because pretty much every day it bleats the same mantra: Mo-to cross! Mo-to crosss. . . You go, gramma.
Maybe this is her comeback. . . If we truly are replaying the 80s then Gale needs to get back out on the road to remind kids to “always wear their gear.” God, we can still her ringing in our ears. . .
[Link: OC Register]
by The Editors on September 22, 2008
We knew we should have flown down to Del Mar today. Looks like the the US Commerce Department hearing over route 241 tuned into more of a yelling and screaming, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Despite repeated warnings to maintain decorum, supporters and opponents of the proposed state Route 241 toll-road extension both cheered and jeered dozens of speakers at a public hearing Monday. . . . At times, some of those in the crowd of more than 1,000 drowned out the speakers. “Stop the lies,” yelled a woman from the audience.
Leave it to the engineers, construction workers, and unions to think that stopping this new road is all about them. For a surf-industry perspective check out Sean O’Brien’s story and photos on Surfexpo.com.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on September 22, 2008
Just a little reminder for those who just weren’t thinkin’ too clearly. Remember.
[Link: Tim Brauch via Hurley.com]
by The Editors on September 22, 2008
It’s official, Elena Hight the shred who’s been on the Veeco streetwear program since 2005 is now on the Volcom Snow program as they say “from her beanie to the board under her feet.”
The best thing about the Volcom snow team is the family structure and to have such amazing people around me. I love the tight knit program that Volcom has and I feel so fortunate to be able to experience this and have the opportunity to fully embrace it,” stated Elena.
Congrats, Elena. Nice work, Mr. Billy Anderson.
by The Editors on September 22, 2008
Unfortunately, we were unable to make it over to the continent for the Quiksilver Pro France to see if Kelly can tie up number nine, but apparently Tony Hawk was because on Saturday night close to 10,000 people “packed the beach town’s main square” for a little demo from the Birdman.
People were packed onto rooftops, into alleyways on top of shoulders and anywhere they could find to see the world’s most legendary skater and an all star crew including Andy McDonald, Sergie Ventura and Kevin Staab, put on a show on the massive half pipe. It was utter chaos and mayhem but everyone loved.
And from the pictures, we’d have to believe it.
[Link: The Mountain And Wave]
[Editors’ Note: It’s on all the blogs, so we guess we need to put it up to have it in the archive.] 
