by The Editors on July 8, 2008
ASP number six CJ Hobgood isn’t saying that no one can stop Kelly Slater. He’s just saying that it would take something very special, according to a story in Florida Today.
“But Slater can be touched,” C.J. said. “It’s still early and someone can get on a roll like he has. But, like I told him, if someone was to come back, it would be one of the greatest comebacks in surfing history. It’s really his to lose now.”
“He is definitely getting better, but it’s like in a different sense,” C.J. said. “He’s surfing more like a kid and acting like a grom. He’s just enjoying himself. You can see it in his interviews. He just has that more-free, more-loose go-for-it attitude. I wouldn’t know if he’s actually surfing better than he ever has, but he’s certainly having more fun.”
Guess that’s what happens in sports journalism: the rest of the guys get interviewed about the number one guy.
[Link: Florida Today]
by The Editors on July 8, 2008
Doctors have reportedly reattached snowboarder Cole Ortega’s severed arm. The 14-year-old, who was run over by a dory boat in while surfing near Pacific City, Oregon, is still in the hospital.
An official with the High Cascade Snowboard Camp told KTVZ-TV in Bend that Ortega underwent surgery to reattach his arm and everything seemed to go well. “So far, it looks successful,” Michele Schnake told KTVZ. “They are watching for signs of infection.” He added that Ortega’s fellow snowboarders were praying for him.
[Link: NWCN.com]
by The Editors on July 8, 2008
We’ve always thought stand-up paddlers had their control boards a little scrambled, but these Kirk Aeder photos of 24-year-old CJ Kanuha prove it. As Kilauea pumped some fresh molten lava into Ma Ocean, Kanuha paddled in as close as he could while Aeder snapped the images from the safety of a helicopter.
We both knew it would make for an amazing shot if we could pull it off,” the 49-year-old added. Before attempting the stunt, the surfer left an offering for the mythical Hawaiian goddess of fire known as ‘Pele’ on a nearby beach. . . .”Not leaving an offering could have resulted in bad luck, a value that most native Hawaiians strongly believe in,” Mr Aeder said.
Well, at least they were taking proper precautions.
[Link: Telegraph UK]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
Dogtown legend and North Shore charger Jay Adams was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Oregon today (July 7, 2008) according to a post by PoolSnob on the Fuel.tv website.
Bussed to Portland and flown to LAX, Jay will be spending a few months at a halfway home in Southern California before moving in with his wife, Alisha, and their toddler daughter, Venice. He’s also been offered a job as facilities manager at Hurley headquarters in Costa Mesa. For the time being, Jay says he’s going to stay put in Southern California. Probably a wise choice, since the frontier of Hawaii’s North Shore can make things tough for people who often find themselves surrounded by their personal demons.
We’re hoping he can pull this one off. Someone with so much natural talent should not spend any more time in prison.
[Link: PoolSnob at Fuel.tv via Seshn.com]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
Okay, we’ll admit it: we don’t even understand what Insight (or US CEO Jesse Faen) is doing here with this Dopamine business, but the new series of ad/art surf posters by Dustin Humphrey and skate posters by John Bradford are definitely not your average action/product/logo ads. Leave it to Mr. Faen to breathe some life into the dead print medium.
[Link: Insight via slamhype]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
Shaun White’s “for Target” Collection drops on July 27, 2008. Shoppers will have 90 days to buy the clothes before they magically disappear. As might be expected from an action sports athlete who is being paid outrageous amounts of money Shaun is happy with his sponsor:
“Target is a great company that has been supporting me for almost six years. Having the opportunity to create an original line with them is a natural progression of our relationship and something that I was extremely stoked to do. The fact that I was able to work with my brother just made it even sweeter,” said Shaun.
Sweetness, right on Target.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
The Inland Emprie’s Press Enterprise takes a look into mixed martial arts clothing label Tapout. And what they find is a company that is crazy on the climb. Not that it comes as any surprise to anyone selling logoed T-shirts.
The privately held company reports that sales surpassed $25 million last year and are on track to hit $100 million this year. TapouT is now a major sponsor of fight events and reality shows produced for the cable network Spike TV by Ultimate Fighting Championship — a Las Vegas-based promoter better known as UFC.
They have a TV show, and thanks to a Hollywood-agency representation and product licensing they’ll be launching Tapout bottled water and energy drinks and is “considering lending its name to youth bedroom furniture.”
It must be nice to have no shame.
[Link: Press-Enterprise]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
Speaking of Surfer editor Chris Mauro: The London Free Press is reporting that Mr. Mauro used to take a “16 kilometer detour on his way to work each morning to check out the swells at his favourite surf break,” but that thanks to high gas prices he (like many surfers) has “cut out his daily ritual in favour of the savings.”
We all think about oil in our cars, but very few of us really consider the fact that every little piece of manmade equipment around you is oil-based, and surfing’s no different,” said Mauro, who’s seen the price of some surfboards double to $750 or higher. “The price of a surfboard, it used to be something where it was pretty digestible. Now, it’s like, whoa, OK, I’ve got to put some serious thought into this.”
Seems kind of sad that the editor of Surfer isn’t checking the surf. Maybe we should begin some kind of fund-raising drive so Chris get back in the know each morning.
[Editors’ Note: There is more to the story including quotes from Moonlight Glassing’s Peter St. Pierre, Mark Wooster of Wooster Surfboards, Randy French of SurfTech, and Surfline’s Mike Matey.]
[Link: The London Free Press]
by The Editors on July 7, 2008
The New York Times reminds readers that people still surf, even old people. Can you believe that? Chris Mauro even gets quoted:
Chris Mauro, editor of Surfer, a California-based magazine, said that the number of people surfing has grown since the late 1980s and has greatly increased in New Jersey.
“A lot of these surfers are part of the over-40 crowd,” he said. “In fact, the average surfer now is in their late 20s.”
It must be a big story because the Press Of Atlantic City is in on the “old surfer” tip as well.
[Link: The New York Times and Press of Atlantic City]
ASP number six CJ Hobgood isn’t saying that no one can stop Kelly Slater. He’s just saying that it would take something very special, according to a story in Florida Today.
