Julian Wilson Forgoing 2009 WQS For Irons Film

Life changing opportunities that come around in our lifetimes are far and few between.  Maybe you should have been that bellybutton ring MODEL when you were approached by a world famous photographer who wanted to use your stomach when he saw you at Raging Waters.  Or perhaps you did have a niche for singing when your grandmother suggested you should enter the hit show American Idol because she thought you would go far.  These opportunities come and go and I’m willing to bet that these breaks pass us by since we’re too pessimistic to take them on. 

The visionary individuals who dared to take on something different usually reap the benefits.  When squirrel shooting KARL MALONE from the Utah Jazz accepted a pay cut in order to win a championship with Shaq and Kobe came his way, he took it.  Unfortunately they didn’t win but they came close.  And back to American Idol, when WILLIAM HUNG skipped out on engineering classes to become a star, his time and dedication definitely paid off.  He brought new life to a forgotten RICKY MARTIN classic. 

The same can be said about Julian Wilson and his bold and daring move to forego next years WQS.  But this is no shot in the dark.  Julian was given the opportunity to star in a film with non other than the Irons brothers.  We’re not talking about chopped liver here, we’re talking filet minon.  Suring with two living legends while getting paid for something that will forever live in surfing movie history, why not?  Although they will have some tough competition.  I heard that Point Break 2 will be coming out around the same time.   Good luck guys!  Check out the press release at THEDAILY.COM

Posted in Surf | Tags: Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Julian Wilson, Karl Malone, Ricky Martin, Thedaily.com, William Hung — | 1 Comment »

Download Zero Videos For Only $3.99

You can buy and order everything online nowadays. I remember when I wanted to buy a He-Man book as a young child. The only place I could find that book was at BEST department stores. When I got older, I turned my interest into rare and obscure film titles. I couldn’t find one of the best comedies of all time, GOOD BURDER anywhere. I had to drive to San Francisco until I finally got myself a used VHS copy at Amoeba back in the 90’s.

Well as you probably know, times have changed and you can practically get everything online today. Even full length skate videos. The time has come for everyone including Skateboard companie to start embracing the digital video revolution. No more trying to fight pirating. Benefit from it.

ZERO is providing all their videos online for only $3.99 each. Sure you don’t get the packaging or the actual DVD but at least you will limit the waste you usually allow to collect dust anyway. I see this as the wave of the future. The next step will be microchips inserted into your head with a full skate catalogue.

Posted in Skate | Tags: Blackbox, Download Video, Good Burger, Zero — | No Comments »

Epicly Later’d: Lakai – Mike Carroll

 This is the last and final episode of Epicly Later’d, featuring Lakai great Mike Carroll.  I hope that these past seven episodes have been a real treat; along with being a great history lesson for you skate rats because they contained a lot of footage and information I’m sure many of you didn’t know.  For instance, along with being a great skater, Mike Carroll is also a great rave dancer.  PLUR. 

Posted in Skate | Tags: Epicly Later'd, Lakai, Mike Carroll, PLUR — | No Comments »

After Disaster, He’s Back

cr. Matt Power

Alex Schlopy was the big underground buzz in freeskiing slopestyle two seasons ago. But he seemed like many of the budding phenoms that excite the sport, then disappear. Maybe they can’t stand the pressure. Maybe they never got better than their first flash of brilliance. In Schlopy’s case, it was disaster that derailed him.

First, he suffered a severe concussion in a car accident last autumn. Back on skis and training for the U. S. Open in January, he blew out his knee and got another concussion, leaving him bedridden with vertigo. At 15, Schlopy had to deal with a double lesson of his own mortality.

That was then. Now he’s back. His big sponsor, Dynastar Skis, stuck with him.

“It was kind of weird at the beginning of the season, but now feel I’m getting back to the state of mind I want to be in. I’m catching up, getting back to where I feel I’m ahead of where I was before the accident,” the now-16-year-old said.

So did he choose some small, out of the way contest to make his comeback? Nope. He started big, trying for the first Winter Dew Tour stop at Breckinridge. But open qualifying was full. Alex was put on the waiting list. The night before the contest, one of the organizers called. A last-minute slot had just opened up. Alex was in.

“It was the first contest I’d been in since two years ago. I was a little scared, but at the same time I felt like it would be good to get back in. We got two hours of training before the contest.  It felt good to be hitting big jumps on a nice course, and I was ready. They were pretty big jumps, anywhere between 60-70 feet, but well built. I’d been off jumps that high, but not that well built,” he said.

Any action athlete coming back after down time knows how hard the first contest always is. Schlopy didn’t put down the run he wanted. He came in 17th. But only the top 16 would go on. Then he got another nighttime call. One of the top 16 athletes was injured and dropping out. Again, Alex was in. But contest day was a windy blizzard snowstorm. “You couldn’t even see the jumps,” he said.

Dew Tour organizers called it a day after the first heat and rescheduled the contest for two days later. Each athlete would have only one run to qualify for the finals. It was during his run that Schlopy learned that he’d made a mistake. ” I didn’t wax my skis, which was kind of stupid. I couldn’t get speed, I was having trouble with the course, and landed five feet short off the first jump; that was sort of it for me,” he said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Ski | Tags: Alex Schlopy, Winter Dew Tour — | No Comments »

It’s Official: Women’s World Tour Surfers Announced

Sally Fitzgibbons

Several days after the conclusion of the Women’s ASP World Tour season in Maui the roster for the 2009 Tour has been finalized.  While the surfers on tour will include 11 year’s worth of titles, there are also five rookies joining the vets — all teenagers.

Sally Fitzgibbons, 18, made history earlier this year by becoming the fastest surfer ever to qualify for the world tour in a season.  She will be joined by Brazil’s Bruna Schmitz, Kiwi Paige Hareb, Hawaiian Alana Blanchard (all 18) and Coco Ho, 17.

Aussies will dominate the tour, with Fitzgibbons and current world champ Stephanie Gilmore leading eight of their compatriots.

Seven-time world champ Layne Beachley remains on the tour, though she previously announced her retirement.  The move allows her to still compete at some events, though she will not participate in all events (there are eight total events).

The new season kicks off on Feb. 28, 2009 with the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.

Here are the 2009 World Tour Surfers:

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Posted in Surf | Tags: ASP World Tour, Layne Beachley, Sally Fitzgibbons — | No Comments »

EA Skate 2 + Epic Storyline

We’ve all seen the monumental EA trailer for the upcoming skateboarding video game SKATE 2 starring practically every single skater known to man, except for Tony Hawk.  I think he was busy that day dancing around in his briefs.  But basically, it looks like EA, in an attempt to keep video gamers (prepubescent and pubescent) enticed by a concept that may has lost steam over the past few years, came out with a sequel to SKATE.  This time with an extended storyline.

I’m not really into video games but that’s not to say that I’ve never been into them.  The only video games that have ever caught my attention have had storylines.  The first game I could ever remember being addicted to was a crappy game on computer game called LEISURE SUIT LARRY.  The only reason why I loved this game was because it was like a B-movie in the context of a video game. 

EA just released the second trailer for SKATE 2 over on TackyWorld giving you an idea of what you can look forward to.  This version of Skate looks great but I wished they added my favorite skate character, Officer Rivieri. 

Posted in Skate | Tags: EA, Leisure Suit Larry, Officer Rivieri, SKATE 2, Tony Hawk — | No Comments »

Devun Walsh On “The Daily Habit”

It’s Christmas Eve and you’re anticipating the moment you open your gifts that Santa left for you.  You already know what they are because you’ve been good all year.  Except for that time you got your nipple pierced, but nobody knows about that.  But what to do while you patiently wait for Christmas to roll around. 

Well you can get on your TV set and watch FUEL TV because DC’s Devun Walsh is taking over “The Daily Habit” tomorrow at 6 PM PST and 9 PM PST. You can catch additional episodes on December 25, 2008 at 11:30 AM PST and 2:30 PM PST.

On the show, Devun sits down to discuss his early days in snowboarding, the impact he’s made within the sport, and where his career has taken him today. Devun shares stories about being on the DC Snow Team and the fun times he’s had with Iikka, Lauri and Aaron. Plus, he talks about his new pro model DC snowboard, and gives a behind-the-scenes perspective of filming the “Enjoy the Ride More” commercials with Billy Mays.  Maybe he will inspire more presents for you to get. 

Devun also takes a close look at his long relationship with Mack Dawg Productions, the films he’s made in the past and his latest pa

Posted in Snowboard | Tags: DC, Devun Walsh, The Daily Habit — | No Comments »

Jose Rojo The Newest Addition To Team etnies

Just so you are updated with team acquisitions, Jose Rojo from ENJOI is the latest addition to the etnies skate team.  There is a lot to be said about one of the O.G. members of Enjoi.  But there’s even more to be said about him after you read his sit down INTERVIEW.  Be prepared to be surprisingly empathetic and disgusted at the same time.  Depends how you look at it.

Sometimes, there are occasions that should stay between those involved.  Other times, you should be so proud about certain moments that you should tell the whole world.  So again, it depends how you look at it. 

Posted in Skate | Tags: Enjoi, etnies, Jerry Hsu, Jose Rojo — | No Comments »

Volcom “Balut Salut” Manila Tour

Here’s a little Southeast Asian cultural treat for you.  People of this region occasionally enjoy a little snack called Balut.  Balut is actually quite a tasty treat and you should try it whenever the opportunity presents itself to you.  It’s a fertilized duck egg only a few days old.  When boiled to the right temperature, the shell is to be peeled off and with a little help of a tinge of salt and a squirt of vinegar, it’s a nice snack to munch on.  

Balut is such a treat I wanted my friends to try it (before I tried it of course).  Unfortunately, for my friends, I bought the eggs not knowing how to prepare it.  And without the crucial preparation of the boiling water, I pretty much gave it to them RAW.  Along with the beak, feathers, eyeballs, blood, echtoplasmic gelatinous, goo that squirted all over the place.  It’s pretty gnarly.  But if you can stomach all that, I suggest you try it too.  

The VOLCOM skate team too is saluting the mystical enigma that is balut with their tour of Manila, Philippines.  The first leg of their trip has been hampered by rains but has cleared up after a few days.  Check out the VOLCOM blog to follow their adventures through the PI and check out a cool video clip below. 

Press Space Bar To Play

Posted in Skate | Tags: Balut Salut, Manila, Volcom — | No Comments »

Gerry Lopez Interview In LA Times Today

One of the O.G.’s of surfing Gerry Lopez has a pretty in depth interview in the LOS ANGELES TIMES today.  Now 60 years old, you might recognize Gerry for a number of things.  In the 70’s, Gerry was widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, tuberider in the world by winning the Pipeline Masters two years in a row.  Or you might recognize him for his innovations in surfboard designs.  Lopez created the simple but eyecatching LIGHTNING BOLT jag that every surfer in the ’70s wanted.

But not me.  I don’t recognize him for those things.  I don’t even surf.  I recognize Gerry for his groundbreaking film role as “SUBOTAI” in one of my favorite films of all time, CONAN THE BARBARIAN starring California’s Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger.  That film really showed the ruggedness that can only be portrayed  by an extreme sports athlete.  He is by far, the best thing about that film besides Conan himself.

FYI, Gerry has also appeared in other films such as Big Wednesday,  North Shore, and Riding Giants.

Check out the interview over at the LA TIMES.

Posted in Surf | Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Conan The Barbarian, Gerry Lopez, LA Times, Lightning Bolt Surfboard, Subotai — | No Comments »