Extremehorizon surf blog providing: regular surfing news, updates, stories, surf pictures, product reviews, surfer interviews and anything from the world of actions sports which is begging to be blogged!
NEWS UPDATE The economic situation in the USA has not only hit the retailers and brand name companies in our industry, it has also taken its toll on the material we read. Source Interlink, the company that publishes Skateboarder, Snowboarder, Surfing, Surfer and five other action sports magazines and web sites, said today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The special interest media company, in total, publishes a total of 75 magazines and 90 web sites, described the bankruptcy as a prepackaged filing. According to the company’s website: “A “pre-pack” is a court proceeding in which the creditors will be paid in full or have agreed to take less. It is used to implement a restructuring of a company’s capital without disturbing its daily operations. A “pre-pack” is the quickest and easiest form of restructuring through the bankruptcy courts. Using this method, we expect to complete our restructuring in about 30 days.”
The statement also addresses the status of the companies immediate operation, “First and foremost, Source Interlink Companies wants to assure you that Source is continuing to operate its business without interruption.” The statement also goes on to say, “While we restructure, we plan to continue providing our customers with the outstanding service they have come to expect. We will continue to partner with our advertisers, publishers and vendors to ensure that the reorganization process is transparent to those we serve.”
According to Shop-Eat-Surf.com, in documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware yesterday, Source Interlink estimated that its assets range from $1 million to $10 million, but that its liabilities exceed $1 billion, and that it has 50,000 - 100,000 creditors.
While business is to remain as usually, it is just another example how the domino effect from small business trickles up to effect larger businesses. Marketing and media are usually the first avenues to feel the crunch when times are tough, it will be interesting to see if this move effects the content at all in some of the action sports industries go-to publications.
Swell charts indicate an awesome start to the Cold Water Classic in Scotland.
Big wave surfer Mark Mathews has been eagerly anticipating the second stop on the Cold Water Classic Series in Scotland - and not without reason.
"I checked the forecast yesterday morning and there was a 20ft swell forecast for Wednesday so I was really excited," he said. "But when I checked today it was down graded - but it still looks like there are going to be waves for most of next week which is good. I'm excited to get some freezing barrels!!!
At Extremehorizon we have a firm belief that businesses hold a responsibility to be actively environmentally friendly. We have a policy that our business attempts to minimise our negative impact on the planet as far as we can and its not just for show, its part of the companies founding principles. As part of our environmental efforts we look to offset the carbon emmissions generated by all of our brands and activities, so we've recently made our annual donation towards the Climate Neutral Groups re-forestation scheme in Malaysia with CO2 offsetting using 750 trees. For more info click here
Congratulations to Joel Parkinson for making it two in a row to start the tour year off in great waves at the Rip Curl Pro at Bell’s.
Mark Richards was first to achieve this feat in 1979, followed by Cheyne Horan in 1982, Hans Hedemann in 1983, Tom Carroll in 1985, Tom Curren in 1986 and 1990, Kelly Slater in 1997, 2006, 2008, Sunny Garcia in 2000.
All these surfers except Horan and Hedemann went on to win the ASP World Title from that start, so will this be Parko’s year?
Tom Curren is the only surfer to make it three in a row back in 1990, so let’s see if Parko can equal that record or even better make it four in a row.
South African Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker won two categories in the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy, when the Academy Awards of surfing were announced at a glittering ceremony in California on Friday (18th Apr) night.
Baker received the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave award for a ride on a wave measured at 20 metres (61 foot) at Tafelberg Reef, near Hout Bay in Cape Town, in August last year. The Durbanite also collected the Surfline Best Overall Performance award for his dedication in pursuing huge surf and competing in big wave events all over the world during the past 12 months.
Baker was also nominated for the Monster Paddle award while tow partner Greg Long (California), who towed Baker into the wave at Tafelberg, won the premier Billabong XXL Ride of the Year award and US $50 000 (approx. R450 000) for his incredible tube ride on a 10 metre wave at nearby Dungeons during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event in July 2008.
Baker earned $15 000 (approx. R140 000), a Honda Aquatrax personal watercraft and an HSA sled for his XXL Biggest Wave and a further $5 000 for the Overall Performance award.
The greatest big wave specialists from around the world have begun to gather in Southern California ahead of Friday night's Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards at the Grove Theater. The biggest and best rides of the last year will be celebrated in a video tribute before 2000 VIP guests, and the winners in seven different categories will take home the largest cash purse in the history of big wave surfing. To check out the full list of nominees and to watch the event on a live webcast visit Billabong XXL or click the video below to see some of the surfers in action:
Last Dec I reviewed a book called "Saltwater Buddah: A surfers quest to find Zen on the sea", which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I've been informed that its now available in stores, with an official release date of May 01st, so heres a heads up- I'd definately recommend getting a copy!
The author has also produced a cool short film to compliment the book and for more info my original review is pasted below:
"Its almost inevitable that living the life of a surfer will lead to a search; whether its a search for the perfect wave or sometimes its a search to validate, understand or explain the act of surfing itself. The latter is the intangible goal which author Jaimal Yogis has, in part, set out to attain in his nonfiction saga, Saltwater Buddha.
Many surfers who write (or even writers who surf!) have tried to capture the feeling of riding a wave in the written word and some have even likened surfing to a religion, but none that I know of have used religon as a metaphor or comparison, to imbibe a sense of meaning into what it feels like to surf a wave or be a surfer. Yogis has done just that by drawing parallels with his journey to surf and travel, with his study of Buddhism and quest for Zen.
Yogis story draws heavily on his buddhist influences which is conveyed in a genuine, self-effacing narrative style which explores a personal voyage of both physical and spiritual discovery. Its an engaging tale of a restless young man looking for direction in life through study, travel and a desire to surf, which sees the author living and surfing in Hawaii, France, Santa Cruz, New York and more.
Saltwater Buddha's Zen/surfing analogy gives a fresh perspective to the joy of riding a wave, set within an intelligent, thought provoking story which expertly captures emotions and situations which all surfers will relate to.
The quality of Yogis writing is up there with, amongst others, Daniel Duane, Allan Weisbecker, Kem Nunn, Tim Winton etc. Surfers and searchers alike will love it. Out in May 2009....reserve a copy! www.jaimalyogis.com."
Surf Girl is a v.cool surf magazine for....you've guessed it, girls. The layout and content is spot on, so for women who surf or are into the lifestyle its definately worth checking out.
This issue, Surf Girl has an interview with Serena Brooke, who collaborated with the guys at Surf Stronger fitness DVDs to produce the second in their series which concentrates on a Core fitness programme. The interview is well worth a read and the DVD is a must for anyone who surfs.
Surf photography in just the past few years has evolved beyond what we would have thought possible- the sickest shots, from the most radical positions, jaw dropping images. But its almost reached a point where we take for these images for granted because we're saturated by them in our favourite surf mags and in the media. So it takes something really special to grab our attention and in my humble opinion thats just what Clark Little has acheived.
Based on Oahu, Little has taken the wave as the primary focus of his subject, not the surfer and he's captured some stunning pictures. Check out his website below to appreciate the beauty our oceans can create... its all about the wave.
BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Monday, April 6, 2009) - The 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers begins its waiting period tomorrow and the world’s best surfers have descended upon the Victorian coastline to take part in one of the most historic and prestigious events on the planet.
The second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will look to take advantage of the swell on offer tomorrow morning for Round 1 of competition.
Swellnet, official surf forecasters for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for a slight decrease in surf tomorrow, but with potentially enough swell to get Round 1 underway.
Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecudador.
Team Australia wins fifth Team Gold medal - Dean Bowen (Aus), Tyler Wright (Aus) and Keanu Asing (Haw) win individual gold medals. Team Hawaii places second, Brazil third, USA fourth and France, fifth.
There are stunning images, beautiful waves, top surfers and its filmed in the inspiring setting of Western Ireland. This amazing documentary links the origins of modern surfing to Ireland and for those lucky enough to be able to catch this movie on the big screen, its released today, Friday 3rd April 2009 at cinemas across the UK (See listing below).
Waveriders stars Kelly Slater, Gabe Davies & Richie Fitzgerald and is going to be THE surf film, for surf fans & non surf fans alike. Directed by Joel Conrol, Waveriders is a film not to be missed!
Odeon Kingston Friday 3rd April - 23.45 showing time Sat 4th April - 23.45 showing time
Odeon Grenwich Friday 3rd April = 23.15 - showing time Sat 4th April - 23.35 showring time
Odeon Manchester Friday 3rd April - Thursday 4th April 1.35, 15.50, 18.00, 20.15
Wendy Nicolson spokeperson for SAS says of the offer, "Surfers Against Sewage are stoked that the guys at Extremehorizon and Matunas Surf wax are offering SAS customers a free bar of organic Matunas Wax and Base coat wax with all orders from the SAS eco-shop. We're confident that the lucky recipients will discover that less polluting, low-impact alternatives are now available to surfers that are easily as good as regular products - and most importantly they help protect the watery playground that we all enjoy!
The SAS shop raises essential funds for our campaign for clean, safe recreational water and sells organic t-shirts & hoodies and a range of recycled and sustainable accessories - to order and claim your free wax visit www.surfersagainstsewage.co.uk and quote WAX in the special offer box."
NEWS UPDATE
