The Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego drew a crowd of more than 6,000 this weekend for the Sacred Craft surfboard expo, an event open to the public showcasing some of the most renowned surfboard shapers and companies in the industry and several up-and-coming brands as well. TransWorld Business walked the show Saturday, checking in with Firewire’s Mark Price and crew, shaper Ryan Burch—who spoke with us after finishing up a board for the live “Shape Off” contest”—and many more. We ran into legendary surfers and shapers such as Ben Aipa, Matt Biolos, Rusty Preisendorfer, Mickey Muñoz, and Rob Machado, to name a few, who were all cruising the show floor, and ...
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SAN DIEGO -- Want to own a skateboard like the one Shaun White used to win his latest X Games gold medal? The action sports superstar is expanding his empire by launching the Shaun White Supply Co., which will sell skateboards, BMX bikes, helmets and pads, ramps and grind rails in sporting goods stores across the country and online. The 25-year-old White said his product line is a logical step in a two-sport career in which he's dominated some of the sickest halfpipes in the world, from Los Angeles to Turin to Vancouver. "The nice thing is, since I've gotten older, I have the mindset to take on things like this. When I ...
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SIMA presented its New Advertising Boot Camp Wednesday to representatives from more than 35 surf manufacturing companies at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. The day's seminars aimed to teach attendees how to more effectively reach consumers using interactive advertising platforms. David Shing, AOL's Digital Prophet, was the first speaker of the day, with his presentation called "Campaigns to Conversations." He explained the power of the internet if used correctly by a brand, the two websites to watch and get involved in, fourquare and LinkedIn, and that advertising is all about creating a conversation online with your audience through search, social outlets, and syndication. Shing also made a prophecy that the future of effective ...
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Check out this link from ESPN Action Sports. New goggle designs look insane and Dragon is releasing the fire ever frameless goggle! Now go get outfitted for the 2012 Winter Season!!
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Feds pull plug on jet ski assist in San Francisco: When the biggest and brightest stars in the surfing universe descend on San Francisco's Ocean Beach in early November for the Rip Curl Pro they, just like anyone else who hunts waves at the Northern California beach break, are going to have to do battle with the unforgiving paddle that has helped make the urban surf zone infamous over the years. Thanks to a late-hour reversal of opinion announced last week by the National Park Service, competitors in this year's Rip Curl Pro Search event, will not, despite previous pledges to the contrary, have the luxury of jet-ski assistance during the contest, ...
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SURF INDUSTRY RAISES MORE THAN $128,000 NET FOR HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS & HONORS SHANEY JO DARDEN 9/20/2011 La Jolla, Calif. (September 20, 2011) – A sold-out crowd of more than 400 surf industry executives, surf stars, and VIPs gathered together on Saturday, September 17, at Liquid Nation Ball 8, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund’s annual fundraiser. Over the past eight years, the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised more than $1.58 million dollars for global medical relief, urban youth outreach, injury prevention and assistance, and health education and awareness. The event honored Shaney jo Darden, Co-founder and CEO of Keep A Breast, as the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year, as ...
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REGIONAL SURF SHOP CHAMPIONS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY MEET IN HUNTINGTON BEACH FOR THE 2011 OAKLEY SURF SHOP CHALLENGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP San Clemente, CA (September 19, 2011) — SURFER Magazine's 2011 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge (OSSC) National Championships will take place at Huntington Beach Pier tomorrow, September 20, 2011. This year has seen 268 surfers from 67 shops around the country compete at seven regional stops around the country. The winners of each of those events have made their way to Southern California in hopes of taking home the $10,000 prize purse and the title of the "Best Surf Shop" in the U.S. Left: Last year's National Champs: Ross Stevens, Tony Butler, Owen Moffett, Michael Powell, ...
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The great NBA championship teams have a lot in common with our philosophy in terms of the design of acquisition programs for our clients. The basketball champions had two major superstars (Jordan and Pippen, Magic and Kareem, Bird and McHale to name a few) surrounded by a cast of role players -- future stars, rookies and specialists. In the direct response customer acquisition world, our major superstars are Direct Response TV (DRTV) and Paid Search Engine Marketing (SEM), and our supporting cast includes social media, SEO, online display, DR radio and others. In the same way that NBA superstars made their teammates better, DRTV and SEM improve the effectiveness of other online ...
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After last year record NFL TV ratings last year, breaking even on NFL ratings this year would be a big deal. That happened Sunday. Fox's late-afternoon time slot, featuring Giants-Redskins, drew a 17.1 overnight rating, which translates to 17.1% of households in the 56 urban TV markets measured for overnights. That's even with last year's comparable coverage. NBC's Cowboys-Jets game Sunday night drew a 16.9%, the weekend's second-highest NFL rating -- up 3% from last year's opening Sunday night. And CBS' Sunday game coverage, featuring Pittsburgh-Baltimore, drew 10.6% -- even with last year.
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Young Australian Own Wright won his maiden WCT contest earlier today in Long Beach, NY. Thanks to the friendly track of Hurricane Katia consistent 6-8ft waves were greeted by offshore winds offering up great conditions for all competitiors. Owen redeemed himself after losing to Kelly Slater a few weeks ago in Tahiti in the finals. Slater still sits atop the ratings but this win puts Owen into second heading into Trestles. Look for the title race to really heat up this Fall with the top 5 all in striking distance to win the World Title.
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After a historic final round at the Maloof Money Cup in Washington, D.C., Sunday, 33-year-old Baker skateboards owner Andrew Reynolds took the win and $160,000. Reynolds' smooth style and huge tricks -- manifested in over a dozen video parts, through eight pro model shoes and a skater of the year award in 1998 -- made him the frontrunner. When asked what he planned to do with the money, Reynolds said: "I'll put some into a few new windows for my house and some construction. Then I'll put some into Baker." The finals were a head-to-head, four-minute jam using the entire park. Jack Curtin mixed up flip tricks with nollie in grind tricks ...
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Kelly Slater claimed his 47th elite World Tour victory today at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, but it was an expression session dedicated to the late Andy Irons that created the emotion. To the haunting melody of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "What a Wonderful World" ringing out across the lagoon, Bruce Irons, with brother Andy's board under arm, was ferried through the flotilla of craft and out into the lineup. In honor of the fallen world champion Billabong granted Bruce Irons and friends a chance to surf during the break between the semifinals and final, and joining Irons was Joel Parkinson, Luke Egan, Koby Abberton and Keala Kennelly. Slater, ready to surf the final, ...
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