Everyone loves the 80’s.  Who doesn’t love that decade?  The music was awfully awesome, the films were carefree and light, and the style.  You can’t beat the style.  Everything from the JHERI CURL to the PANTS was fresh and that decade can never be duplicated again.  Even people who weren’t born in the 80’s love the 80’s.  Just look at all these skate rats with long hair and tight pants.  The 80’s was the decade when words like brah, gnarly, and bodacious was born.

Quiksilver All 80’s Vert Jam just went down this past weekend and it was a who’s who of 80’s skateboarding.  Back then, skateboarding took on a life of its own and it’s great to see a lot of the skaters of that era are still involved.  Everyone from Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Jeff Grosso, and Christian Hosoi were all present.  Check out the footage from Shred or Die and check out Concrete Jungle for more photos.

Overall Contest Results:
1. Tony Hawk
2. Andy Macdonald
3. Bucky Lasek
4. Kevin Staab
5. Jeff Grosso
6. Christian Hosoi
7. Steve Caballero
8. Eric Nash
9. Eddie Reategui
10. Henry Gutierrez
11. Darin “Cookiehead” Jenkins

China has recently experienced the major excesses of life due to their blossoming economy.  They are a good example of how communism can work in a capitalist world with a bit of slavery sprinkled in HERE and THERE.  Kidding.  Just a few years ago, you would never see a Ferrari weaving in and out of busy streets.  And snowboarding, what the heck is that?   But now, they are experiencing levels of spoils like never before.  Indulging in money, cars, and smog, they’re headed in a new direction.

As you probably already know, Quiksilver is one of the leading brands in board sports, fashion and all out bro attire.   So how fitting is it that Quiksilver has announced that they will be a major sponsor of the Nanshan Snowboard Park in Beijing, China.  Quiksilver is teaming up with the country’s top park construction firm Mellow Constructions China and the result will be the Quiksilver Nanshan Mellow Park, scheduled to open December 2008.

Of course in the Quiksilver press release there is no acknowledgment that this used to be the Nokia Nanshan Mellow Park with a very similar set up.

Oh well, it’s still cool.

There’s probably no thing more useless than speculating whether Kelly Slater will be there when the ASP World Tour kicks off its 2009 tour next February at Australia’s Gold Coast.  After all, it was a shot in the dark figuring out whether he would show up at this year’s events, even with world title #9 in his sights.

So what about next year?

“I’m not chained and bound to having to do it and sometimes I feel I just want to get on with life and not have to compete,” Slater says in an interview in The Australian.  “So I’ll feel it out and see how things are towards the beginning of the new season.

“If I didn’t win, it would be another year gone, when, for lack of a better term, I could have been living my life. The tour is fun, but there are other things I want to do, too…  It’s just the idea of the double digit for people, I guess – and that’s even for me.”

One thing Slater does dismiss is the notion that primary sponsor Quiksilver is ready to shell out a $10 million bonus if he does secure a 10th title.

“I don’t know who made that up. Purely out of thin air, somebody did that. But maybe hearsay can create reality and as I’m in a negotiating year with Quiksilver let’s see what happens. If enough people keep saying it and they didn’t pay, then maybe there’d be a backlash.”

If you’re interested in reading more of the interview, check it out.  You can find out more about his personal life, his new book and his process of paying taxes (I’d be interested in how much he’s been claiming this year).

Now Slater will be in person at Quiksilver stores in NYC and L.A. to sign copies of the book (just $35!).  Of course, there is a catch — only 200 people will be let in, so get there early.  Locations are below.

To get an inside look at the book, click here.

Nov. 16:  NYC – Soho Quiksilver Store (3PM – 5PM)
Nov. 18:  NYC – 5th Ave Quiksilver Store (7PM – 9PM)
Nov. 20:  L.A. – Santa Monica Quiksilver Store (7PM – 9PM)

The most-respected big wave surf contest in the world has announced its invitees for the 2008/09 edition.  The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (it used to have “Big Wave Invitational” in there, too) has a holding period between Dec. 1 and Feb 29, 2009 and requires a minimum of 20-foot (Hawaiian) surf to go off.

The Eddie has only been held seven times in the 24 years it has been in existance, with Bruce Irons winning the last one in 2004.  Before that, Kelly Slater won the 2002 edition.  Both are among the 28 invitees, along with Andy Irons, Sunny Garcia, Peter Mel and Ross Clarke-Jones.

When the event does go off, there’s usually only 24 hours of notice, if that.  Therefore, there are 24 alternates also named, who can fill in if any of the invitees are unable to attend.

The event will be webcast live on the official Eddie website if and when it goes down.

Invitees

Andy Irons
Brian Keaulana
Brock Little
Bruce Irons
Carlos Burle
Clyde Aikau
Darryl Virostko
Greg Long
Ian Walsh
Jamie O’Brien
Jamie Sterling
Kelly Slater
Keone Downing
Makua Rothman
Mark Healey
Michael Ho
Noah Johnson
Peter Mel
Ross Clarke-Jones
Rusty Keaulana
Shane Dorian
Sunny Garcia
Tom Carroll
Titus Kinimaka
Takayuki Wakita (JPN)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Ramon Navarro (CHL)
Ibon Amatriain (SPN)

Read on for the official release…

QUIKSILVER ANNOUNCES INVITEES FOR 2008/2009 THE QUIKSILVER IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU

Huntington Beach, California, November 4, 2008 — Quiksilver is pleased to announce the 2008/2009 Invitees and Alternates for The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau and the official launch of the event website at Quiksilver.com/eddie.

Scheduled to take place at the hallowed grounds of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, between December 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009, the event, otherwise known as “The Eddie”, requires one day with a minimum of 20-foot surf (Hawaiian scale) in order to run. It is the world’s most prestigious big-wave surfing event and is the only big-wave surf contest sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, the The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers 28 of the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the world as polled by a comprehensive panel consisting of influential watermen, members of the surf industry, and internationally recognized surfing Associations.

The first memorial event for Aikau was held in 1984 at Sunset Beach, two miles north of Waimea Bay. It was won by local standout Denton Miyamura. Following the inaugural event, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau moved to Waimea Bay, where it has remained ever since. 2008 marks the event’s 24th anniversary; in only seven of those years have the waves been big enough and the conditions right to hold the contest.

In the realm of big-wave riding, the name Eddie Aikau commands as much respect as Waimea Bay itself. Aikau was the North Shore of Oahu’s first lifeguard, watching over the Bay when he wasn’t charging the biggest waves of the winter. Tragically, he lost his life in 1978, at the age of 33, during a re-creation of the Polynesian voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti. In huge seas, the voyaging canoe Hokule’a was capsized. Eddie paddled off in an attempt to reach help for his fellow crewmen. He was never seen again but his spirit and legacy live on.

The complete list of Invitees and Alternates for this year’s event are available online at www.quiksilver.com/eddie. The website also includes photos and video from previous year’s events, Invitee profiles and swell updates. Visitors can sign up to receive text updates for the “Official Contest Call” and watch online when the Bay calls the day.

No one is probably happier about this than former Rossignol chief executive Bruno Cercley, who now heads Chartreuse & Mont Blanc, which is buying the company.

The recent financial crisis almost scuttled the deal, which was brokered two months ago with a sale price of $130 million.  Quiksilver saw its stock value drop 70% in just two months, forcing the Huntington Beach-based company to cut its losses.

After the deal was announced, shares jumped about 5% giving the company a market value of about $330 million — more than $200 million less than the company paid for Rossignol in the first place.

After the deal closes next month Quiksilver will still sell Rossignol clothes through winter and could license the name for use on clothing beyond that.

For more about the deal, check out this Orange County Business Journal article.

Kelly Slater has done it again.  Two years after securing his record eighth world title at the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, the 36 year-old surfing legend won his ninth world title in the same location after making his Round Four appearance.  Slater was knocked out in the fourth round but his place in history was already set.

While it’s been 16 years since his first world title, Slater is still surfing at the top of the game.

“In 1996 I had a good year – I won 7 out of 13,” Slater told the ASP. “In 1996 I won five events of 12 – but both years I was counting ninths at the end of the year. This year I’ve won five events of eight, I’m sitting on a second and I still have a throwaway to spare. The depth of success I’ve had this season is the deepest of my career.”

Slater has his own thoughts as to why he has done so well this season after finishing third overall in 2007.

“I felt a lot more at ease this year,” Slater said. “It’s probably my personal life. That’s the biggest change in my life. I’m happy and settled and I’ve got the support there that just feels amazing. Nothing else has really changed, I’ve worked with my boards a little bit here and there and I’ve always worked on my mind and my emotions, but something just really clicked into place this year.”

Slater’s title years were 1992, 1994-1998, 2005-2006 and now 2008.  He semi-retired from professional surfing from 2000-2003 citing burnout.

Of course, even with two events still left in the season, the immediate question is “Will he be back next year?”

Slater isn’t promising anything yet, but he does admit winning twice in a row is great.

“Winning them back to back is still pretty sweet.”

To celebrate the historic event, Slater’s main sponsor, Quiksilver, has launched a KS9 campaign to replace it’s now out-dated Sl8ter one.  Check it out.

Slater in his winning heat at Mundaka.

Here’s the official story from the ASP about the historic win.

Kelly Slater Wins 9th ASP World Tour Title

MUNDAKA, Spain (Friday, October 3, 2008) – Kelly Slater, 36, has won a record ninth ASP World Title after advancing out of Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Mundaka – the ninth event of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour. Slater came into the event needing an equal ninth finish to clinch the title, he secured that by beating local wildcard Eneko Acero (EUK) in four foot waves at Mundaka this morning.

“It’s going to take a little while to sink in,” Slater said when mobbed at the water’s edge. “I’m probably going to have to call home and talk to family for it to really hit me.”

Slater’s 2008 crowning comes 16 years after securing his first ASP World Title at age 20. He is the oldest and youngest surfer in ASP history to win a world title. The now nine-time ASP World Champion joined the tour in 1991 and won his first ASP World Title in 1992.

When asked if he had ever dreamed about achieving such a feat when he came onto the scene 17 years ago, Slater was close to speechless.

“I never even thought about it,” Slater said. “It never even popped into my head. It’s crazy.”

Despite entering his 14th year on tour already the owner of most every accolade in professional surfing, 2008 has been a banner year for Slater. With five wins in the first seven events of the year, a second place finish at the last event in France and a Round 4 berth at the Billabong Pro Mundaka later today, Slater is on track to post his most successful season to date. Slater’s winning average in 2008 is 89 percent at present.

“I felt a lot more at ease this year,” Slater said. “It’s probably my personal life. That’s the biggest change in my life. I’m happy and settled and I’ve got the support there that just feels amazing. Nothing else has really changed, I’ve worked with my boards a little bit here and there and I’ve always worked on my mind and my emotions, but something just really clicked into place this year.”

After winning his first ASP World Tour title in 1992 and claiming five titles in a row from 1994 to 1998, Slater went into semi-retirement at age 26 citing burnout and lack of motivation. He returned to the tour full-time in 2003, lost a heart-wrenching title race to Andy Irons (HAW) that same year, and wasn’t able to reclaim the crown until 2005. Slater cruised to title No. 8 in 2006, finished World No. 3 in 2007 and is once again World No. 1 after winning his ninth ASP World Title today.

“In 1996 I had a good year – I won 7 out of 13,” Slater said. “In 1996 I won five events of 12 – but both years I was counting ninths at the end of the year. This year I’ve won five events of eight, I’m sitting on a second and I still have a throwaway to spare. The depth of success I’ve had this season is the deepest of my career.”

With such a monumental lead so early in the season, it was less a matter of if Slater would win the title, and more a matter of when.

“I think there were key heats this year, a few I had with Taj, Parko and even Bobby in Fiji, where I got waves under the other surfers’ priority and won important heats, that it really sunk in that it was going to happen,” Slater said. “It was probably JBay where it really sunk in.”

Slater was quick to acknowledge 2007 ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and the support he’s given him both professionally and personally today.

“When Mick won last year I was obviously really stoked for him.” Slater said. “I think I knew from the first contest last year that Mick was going to win. He was really focused and he didn’t have anything standing in his way mentally or emotionally. He was the one person who sent me text when I was looking at leaving that said, ‘We need you to stay on tour. Don’t worry, you’ll find that personal stuff. It will happen,’ and now it has. Even though he is the toughest competitor on tour he’s always been a good friend and I have a lot of respect for Mick.”

Because Slater lost interest after winning five titles in a row from ’94 to ’98, and then toyed with retirement again after winning No. 7 and No. 8 right after each other, it would seem like winning back to back titles might have lost its appeal for the world’s most decorated surfer.

“No, winning them back to back is still pretty sweet,” Slater said with a smile. “If I can go back to back starting now that would be pretty sweet. It is really nice to come back and win it after you lost it the year before though. I’m sure if Mick were to come back and win one, or Andy were to come back and win one – C.J., any of those guys, they would definitely say how sweet it is to win it again.”

For Kelly Slater’s complete biography and career details visit www.aspworldtour.com/kellyslater.

Here’s some propaganda from Quiksilver about its favorite son…

KELLY SLATER WINS UNPRECEDENTED NINTH ASP WORLD SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP
KS9 Micro-Site Launches October 3, 2008 at Quiksilver.com/ks9

(Huntington Beach, Calif.) October 3, 2008 — Quiksilver congratulates team-rider Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, Florida) on winning his ninth world surfing championship today in Mundaka, Spain.  Dominating five of the season’s first eight contests, Slater accrued enough points to clinch the 2008 title with two scheduled Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Tour contests yet to be surfed.  Slater’s ninth world championship comes 16 years after his first, in 1992, and is his third championship title following a three-year foray into semi-retirement.

Slater’s win today solidifies what some say is his best season yet in an eighteen-year career, and reaffirms his unequivocal status as the most prolific surfer of all time.

On what his surfing means to him and others Slater remarked, “The rewards have paid off for a lot of work and commitment to surfing my whole life. I’m stoked, I just try to do the best I can with what I’ve got.”

After winning the 2008 season opener at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Slater built momentum over the next six contests, winning 32 of 35 heats surfed going into the Quiksilver Pro France last week, where he placed second.  He arrived at Mundaka on Sunday as the presumptive 2008 World Champion, and needed only a ninth place finish to clinch a ninth world title.

About his 2008 season Kelly said “I had a great year, and it’s nice to be rewarded like this. But besides that it felt like a great year. A lot of good things have happened up to this point on the tour.”

Reflecting on winning the title again at Mundaka, Slater said “It’s freezing, but a lot of people showed up to see today, so thanks to everyone who is here. Thanks for being here and being a part of this. It’s magic. We have surf and my year is complete.”

In 2006, he earned his eighth world title at this same Spanish surf spot.  Observers at the time felt it would be his last.  But as he was carried today up the rocky Basque country shoreline by friends and cheered by throngs of Spanish supporters on the cliffs above, it was clear that Slater is better than ever.

Asked if he’s going to continue surfing Slater said, “Always, surfing is a constant challenge.  I’m sure when I’m eighty I’ll think I’ll be getting better. It is just my life and it never ends.”

Yo bros and babes!  You presence was like totally missed at this passed weekend’s “All 80’s Day” street and vert contest hosted by the totally badical Quiksilver Skate Team.  The contest was held in the land of Gnarlia, a.k.a. Huntington Beach!  Brocious!!! So I gathered all my gear and went down there.

“So what did I triumphantly wear?” you may ask.  So first of all I most awesomely cut my hair in the shape of my favorite do, the bowl.  So I bogusly stole one of my mom’s baking bowls and placed it over my shag.  Then I stole my brother’s Flowbee to trim the excess hair making my newly shag looks radically radical!  Then I cut my favorite T&C Surft Design Gorilla shirt and cut the bottom around to expose my awesomely rad belly button ring.  Gnarly!! Then of course my totally rad 80’s shorts are so out so I had to jack my sister’s jean shorts.  Bogus!  But hey, they worked!  Gnarly!!

If you’re lucky like me to see check it out, Badical!! If not, bummer!  So check out the results below bro!

Pro
1st – Eddie Reategui
2nd – Alex Olson
3rd – Reese Forbes
4th – Skreech
5th – Sal Barbier
6th – Josh Borden
7th – Christian Hosoi
8th – Omar Hassan
9th – Adam Dyet
Ams
1st – Jordan Hoffart
2nd – Josh Hawkins
3rd – Matt Meier
4th – Sean Mazza
5th – Austin Hawkins
Groms
1st – Patrick Ryan
2nd – Zach Saraceno
3rd – Austin Ortiz
4th – Brendon Snow
Best Costume
Duane Peters

http://www.flowbee.com/

http://skate.quiksilver.com/index.aspx

Just when it looked like skateboarding was kind of catching up with snowboarding as far as production value, this comes out. It’s not even a snowboard movie; it’s a snowboard epic film. This film features the likes of , in some of the most beautifully shot sequences I’ve ever seen. Even more beautiful than “The Sound Of Music”, and that says a lot. Check out the teaser and judge for yourself.

For the second year in a row, Great Dane Rune Glifberg reigned victorious at the Quiksilver Bowlriders competition in Malmo, Sweden. With this event and after just winning the 4th Annual Vans Pool Party a few weeks ago, it looks like Rune is going nowhere. So watch out kids, you better take notice.

PROS
1. Rune Glifberg
2. Aaron “Jaws” Hamoki
3. Benji Galloway
4. Andy Scott
5. Ross McGouran
6. Mathias Nylen

LEGENDS
1. Nicky Guerrero
2. Chris Miller
3. Pat Ngoho

Check out video footage of the rest of the skaters runs over at Tackyworld.