Meow. . . Brian Anderson talks with FourTwoNine about what it means to be a gay skater who comes out at the ripe old age of 40. The interview mostly goes over everything he’s already gone over in other interviews (and videos), but Brian’s answers to questions regarding sexual preference and skateboarding are always enlightening and entertaining, and the fact is with each interview he’s getting better at communicating his thoughts. For instance:
I’ve never been tempted to throw a purse over my shoulder, but that doesn’t mean I am not really gay, nor does it mean that people who chose to do so are more so. I think we are all just one varied community, and we all have to respect our different understandings of what being gay is. It’s such a difficult thing to not be informed, especially when you’re brought up in a town away from the two coasts. When you’re brought up in the middle of the country, you’re not exposed to as much, and that can lead your parents to be really closed minded and make it more difficult for you as a child growing up.
The CEO of a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport) announced yesterday (Wednesday, January 11, 2017) that he is leaving the company that he helped create.
“It has always been my intention to pass the baton to someone at the right time to lead the next phase of what we have all created,” he said. “I believe that time is now. With the acquisition of the Kelly Slater Wave Company, we are at a remarkable inflection point in the League’s history and we are ready for a new leader who can guide the organization to even greater accomplishments.”
We did not have high hopes for the organization when it began, however, it has done an amazing job of packaging and presenting pro surfing to the global audience. We still believe the global audience which they are selling sponsorship against is much smaller than their business (and their high production values) can viably support, but they have survived for five years and likely will keep going as long as their current interim CEO wants to.
As we have mentioned before, this CEO appears to have a knack for leaving companies just before they implode. This could be because he’s such a great leader that the companies are unable to survive without him, or maybe it’s a sixth sense for getting out just in time. Either way, it will be sad to see him go — especially for those who enjoyed making fun of him.
For the official exit message from the CEO, please follow the jump.
Vans kicks off 2017 with the return of the Vans Hi-Standard Series, an international all-ages contest inviting snowboarders to showcase true style and expression in an exciting open-jam format. With a new stop in Switzerland and a grand finale in California, the Vans Hi-Standard global series will be touring across the US, Canada, Switzerland, Korea, and France. The inclusive snowboard jam will feature an original big air jam format where riders are judged by individual style only, with no rotations over 720 permitted. For the grand finale, Vans will bring a new, non-traditional feature into the fold by creating a unique custom-spec course, where riders are encouraged to push the boundaries of their creative expression.
It’s always great watching Temple Cummins slide the white, but the real joy in this clip is Austen Sweetin’s hauntingly raw and sloppy version of Highwaymen. It sounds good.
Philosophical powboarding in the freshest from Wolle Nyvelt and friends. “Surfing changed my approach and how I look at snowboarding a lot.” What is the meaning of all these levels of paradise? Of a cameo from Hydrodynamica surfboard shaper Richard Kenvin. We don’t know. It goes way, way too deeply into the glide.
Best surfing Christmas song ever. Hit play and let The Rad Dudes put you in the mood. For the story behind Joe Klein’s late 80s Christmas anthem click here.
Ho ho ho, and Merry Christmas. The 2016 commercial surfing season is finally over. In a final reminiscent of 2007, the Pipeline Masters was decided at Backdoor on Monday December 19, 2016. Michel Bourez defeated Kanoa Igarashi in a heat where the highest scoring wave was a 5.
“I still don’t believe it,” said Bourez. “I’m just happy to be here. Last year I got injured and it was really tricky and tough for me to come back. I almost dropped off tour. I worked really hard at home and tried to stay positive the whole time.”
With this Pipeline win Bourez has become the third surfer to win all three of the Hawaiian Triple Crown events. The other two are Michael Ho and Andy Irons.
In other news 2 John Florence won the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing for the third time.
For the official word from the event owner, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Need a last minute Christmas gift for the snow dogger in your family? Here it is — a subscription to The Snowboarder’s Journal. Right now when you give a gift subscription you’ll receive a free print of Iuna Tinta’sLuminous Lights.
Featured in The Snowboarder’s Journal Issue 14.1, Iuna Tinta’s ethereal landscape paintings epitomize the alpine dreamscapes that we chase all winter. This 9″ x 8″ print made by Asymbol Gallery is a hand-numbered, limited edition of 125 so act now before they sell out.
Subscriptions are $39.99 for a whole year. Click the link for all the details. And act know, because those prints are going to run out soon.
