Last weekend December 14, 2013, pro surfing came to a dramatic season ending at Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s north shore with Kelly Slater, 41, winning his 7th Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons in massive 15-foot waves. Slater defeated John John Florence (HAW), 21, in a hard-fought, 35-minute Final that ended with less […]
Kelly Slater vying to win again at the Billabong Pipe Masters. Photo by Cestari/ASP. The North Shore of Oahu is currently packed with the top surfers in the world vying for the coveted win of the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons. Billabong Pipe Masters represents the pinnacle of the 2013 Association of […]
They call it their “profit improvement plan” to streamline the brand, and focus, but another way to put it is that Quiksilver, once the kingpin of surfing and action sports, has had to deal with a harsh wake-up call that they simply aren’t popular with their once-core market of teens. Quiksilver hasn’t turned a profit […]
It was a busy Thanksgiving holiday on the North Shore of Oahu as the second out of the 3 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events, the most prestigious events in surf competition, set-off on macking-big waves. The winner of the 39th annual Vans World Cup of Surfing on December 1, 2013, was a real surprise, […]
The largest storm ever recorded has left over 1 million people without clean water in the Philippines. Waves For Water non-profit, with the support of Hurley H20 is currently asking for support to get clean water filtration systems into the area. Here’s more: New York, NY // Nov 8, 2013 – Waves For Water founder Jon […]
The HIC Pro is the local’s qualifying surf event that grants surfers the chance to enter the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of surfing on the North Shore of Oahu in the coming weeks. The competition is always tight as so many top surfers surf the waves in this area daily, but last week’s winner, Mason […]
Today, November 7, 2013, ESPN announced that that the inaugural X Games Austin event dates will shift to June 5-8, 2014. Previously, the X Games was May 15-18. Here’s more: Following a highly competitive bid process during which Austin edged out Chicago, Detroit and Charlotte, N.C., ESPN announced in July that the Texas capital was […]
On Sunday, November 23, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a summit to discuss sports and the environment and the kick-off of the Sochi Games in February, 2014. Two of the key topics centered around bringing young people into sports and the role of sustainability. As we’ve noted before about the Olympics, they are not […]
Billabong continues to struggle along, this time by selling 92 West 49 retail stores across Canada to YM Inc., owners of Sirens, Stitches, Urban Planet, and Bluenotes for approximately C$9 million-C$11 million or between USD $8.6-$10.5 million. In a statement Neil Fiske, CEO of Billabong, said, “The sale of West 49 is part of our […]
While Nike tends to still hold fast to the notion that sneakers are not fashion, but are first and foremost about high-tech function, niche brands with a nod towards fashion have plowed their way into the cool aesthetics of a new culture of sneaker-heads. Not that Nike’s not on the leading-edge of sneaker style, because […]