Quick Hits Archive: February 15-21
Feb 23 2007 / Los Angeles, CAFebruary 20, 2007
SNOW
Announcement: Helmets Are No Longer Dorky
Helmets—they’re not the sexiest piece of snowboarding gear, but the Fort Collins Coloradoan has uncovered some pretty interesting stats about them. Though usage grows about five percent a year, the average number of snow deaths annually has stayed steady at 38. But it’s not just about death—helmets still decrease the incidence of head injury by 30 to 50 percent. Not bad.
Full story >
Mother Goes Snowboarding, Kid Dies in Fire
Avalanche Kills 5
Huge Snowfall in Colorado Closes I-70
Save our Snow Blog (Snowboarder)
SKATE
Cruz this park
Santa Cruz Parks and Rec opens its new 15,000 square-foot skate park at Mike Fox Park this Thursday. Designed by Zach Wormhoudt, it looks pretty bad-ass, especially thanks to a full pipe that resembles a wave. The park will also feature permanent art pieces from three local artists. Gnarly.
Full story >
Arkansas girl killed on skateboard
A four-year-old girl in Springdale, Arkansas, died yesterday when she lay face-down on a skateboard, rolled into the street and was hit by a car. The driver, described as a mid-20s white male with spiked hair and a mustache, then sped away.
Full story >
Skateboard Industry Special Report
The International Association of Skateboard Companies has teamed up with Transworld to release a huge package entitled “Under Fire: A Special Report on the Skate Hardgoods Market.” It consists of 18 parts, and from what we can tell, it pretty much comes down to the industry not being happy about shops selling blank decks.
Airwalk Signs Rodney Jones (TransWorld Business)
SURF
Ashley laces up with Airwalk
Congratulations to Lat34 Girl On girl Anastasia Ashley, who just signed a deal with Airwalk to be part of their Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 ad campaigns. The super-hot surfer, who’s currently tied for 13th in the WQS rankings, joins fellow Airwalkers longboarder Josh Mohr, snowboarder Jimmy Dowd, and skaters Andy MacDonald and Rodney Jones on the team. Aw yeah.
Full story >
Kelly Slater’s big 3-5
The champ celebrated his 35th birthday at Mercedes Grill in Marina Del Rey, and both his “friend” Cameron Diaz and his ex from way back in the nineties, Pam Anderson, were on the scene. Hmm, guess he’s trying to keep his options open.
Full story >
Slater's Nine Not Necessarily So Fine (Surfer)
Photo Gallery of Nixon Trip To Tavarua (Surfer)
February 15, 2007
SURF
Rip Curl and Renault give birth
So Rip Curl and Renault have teamed up to create this new, action-sports-friendly Clio. What makes it different? Let’s sample the press release: “The special rubber flooring and rigid boot box are impervious to sand or snow.” The engine “combines driving pleasure with low fuel consumption and emissions.” The new body color, “Iceberg blue, provides a neat link between glacier and ocean.” Oh, and don’t forget those Rip Curl logos plastered everywhere. Bitchin’!
Kelly and Cameron cool off?
We don’t know what to believe anymore—the New York Daily News rumor that Cameron Diaz was at a Beverly Hills restaurant glowingly comparing Kelly Slater’s manhood to a nine-inch breadstick, or Kelly’s reported quote to People that he and Cam are “just friends.” Oh well, guess you can read the two stories here, then believe what you want.
Breadstick story (scroll down)>
Just friends story >
Savvy.com loves Daize Shayne
Is it time to say we knew her back when? Lat34’s November 21st Girl On, surfer/rocker Daize Shayne, is now one of Savvy’s Delicious Divas. Though their coverage doesn’t compare to ours (how could it?), they have a nice interview with Daize in which she explains that her new album “doesn’t taste like a to-go box of left-over tuna sandwich.” Good to know.
Kiwi surfer tasered
You heard about the tasered skater. Now a 43-year-old New Zealand surfer has gotten the voltage outside a North Shore surf shop. But considering that he yelled profanities, attacked the owner of Planet Surf Hawaii, threw a giant Tiki carving through a store window, and was asked twice to give up before the police got out the stun gun, this particularly action sports citizen probably deserved it.
Full story >
SKATE
Way catches air (and exhaust fumes)
We’re not sure if this Danny Way-starring commercial for Nissan—unearthed by the hardworking boys at skateandannoy.com—ever actually aired. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s kinda cheesy, or that the voice-over guy sounds kinda stoned.
The littlest philanthropist
You don’t have to be grown-up to give back. As a bar mitzvah project, SoCal skater Devin Schneider, 13, collected old skateboard decks, trucks, wheels, and bearings from relatives and friends, then assembled/refurbished 32 skateboards in his garage. Now he’s donating them to a group that teaches inner-city kids to skate. Good stuff, Devin.
Z-Boys building debate continues
The LA Times brings the latest update on plans to raze the building the Zephyr skate shop once called home, with one encouraging bit of news: “After seeing a copy of Dogtown and Z-Boys, developer Juli Doar voluntarily withdrew her application for a demolition permit and organized two public meetings at which community members aired gripes and brainstormed ways to commemorate the Zephyr team’s contribution to skating.” Sounds promising.
Full story >
SNOW
Pro riders rock music video
Props to Snowboarder for directing our attention to Norwegian pop star Marion Raven’s video for her song “Falling Away.” Why should you watch it? Well, first of all, she’s hot. But second, it features footage of Andreas Wiig, Hana Beaman, and Mike Casanova carving and hucking while Marion sings her heart out in a cute little snow outfit. Just press play.
Snowmobiler to attempt record jump
We’re not totally sure what this is about. But one thing’s for sure: If we were free the night of February 24th—and lived anywhere near Shakopee, Minnesota—we’d definitely check out Paul Thacker’s attempt to break the snowmobile jump record. Heck, it’s free!
Burton’s snow day
Thanks to several feet of snow dumping on Vermont, Burton gave its 400-plus employees the day off Thursday to hit the slopes. “Nothing makes me happier than giving the people who work here the opportunity to experience the essence of a sport that they are making accessible and fun for so many others,” says Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards. Which is great. But was a press release about it really necessary?
