Category: Snowboarding

USA Snowboarding Dreamteam Announced for 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

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On Sunday night, January 19, 2014, after the final Mammoth Grand Prix, a qualifier for snowboarders hoping to make it to the Olympics, the results were in.  The 2014 USA Olympic Snowboard Team which includes Halfpipe and Slopestyle, is an American dreamteam and will be a dominate force to watch during the Olympics in Sochi, […]

Shaun White Buys Majority Stake in Air & Style—Plans to Bring the Big Air Event to the U.S.

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Shaun White has dominated many snowboarding events, from winning the Austrian-based Air & Style in 2003 and 2004, to winning a series of gold medals in the X Games, and twice in halfpipe at the Olympics. It makes sense that the next phase of his career might include actually owning an event that he’s won. […]

The Agenda Experience Inspires with Fresh Streetwear, Action Sports, and Lifestyle Designs Capturing a Range Across Outdoor-Inspired to Music, Skate to Euro

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Story and Photos by Kathleen Gasperini and Tom Wallace The flagship Agenda trade show in Long Beach, CA, from January 7-8, 2014, represented a quintessential snapshot of where the marketplace of streetwear, action sports, and music-inspired lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories is headed. The show was packed with business being done at the brisk pace […]

Surf Expo Purchased by Outdoor Retailer Trade Show Owners for $335 Million

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The owners of Surf Expo, George Management LLC, has been purchased for $335 million by Emerald Expositions Inc. owners of Outdoor Retailer trade show. Interestingly, in the on-going evolution of trade shows, outdoor and surf have grown closer, especially a seen at the summer OR shows where several surf brands have been exhibiting and participating […]

Agenda Trade Show Announces Collaboration with Flexfit, and Agenda Emerge Names Speakers

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AGENDA, the leading forum for the action sports, surf, streetwear, lifestyle and footwear industries, has a lot going on for its upcoming trade show January 7-8, 2014, in Long Beach, CA. First, it’s announced a strategic partnership with FLEXFIT—one of the world’s largest vendors of custom, private label headwear—as its exclusive headwear sponsor for an […]

Brand Round-up: Lululemon Names Laurent Potdevin as CEO, Formerly President of TOMS Shoes and CEO of Burton Snowboard; Lucky Brand Jeans Sold

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Lululemon announced a new CEO on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Laurent Potdevin,who was previously the President of TOMS Shows and before that, CEO of Burton Snowboards. In a video introduction, Potdevin describes how he plans to position the brand for global expansion. Lululemon has been dealing with brand backlash from its loyal fans ever since […]

Quiksilver’s Mervin Sale Completed for $58 Million, Now Divesting Hawk Designs, Moskova, Surfdome Shop, Plus the State of Action Sports

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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 […]

X Games in Austin, TX To Be Hosted Later, June 5-8, 2014

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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 […]

Olympics’ Sustainability Movement Means New Requirements for Host Cities, Sports, Sponsors

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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 […]

Beleaguered Billabong “Simplifies” and Sells Canadian Chain West 49 to YM Inc. for USD $8.6-$10.5 Million

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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 […]