Quiksilver Cuts Riders, Staff, and Brands

2/27/2013

 
Following on the heels of Nike and Burton cutting team riders and brands, Quiksilver announced to today that it will be cutting riders, staff and brands from its lineup. COO and Global Brand President, Craig Stevenson, will leave later this year. Top athletes like Kelly Slater, Dayne Reynolds, and Tony Hawk will be safe. Rumors are all over the internet, but Transworld broke the story before all people were notified, so a full update may come tomorrow. As of now, Womens brands at DC and Quiksilver were cut (not Roxy), along with Quiksilver Girls. There is talk of the Quiksilver snowboard team being let go, except Travis Rice. Also talk of deep cuts in the DC family like the BMX team.

All of this seems to be an attempt to streamline the company, cut costs, and boost the stock price under new CEO Andy Mooney who joined last month. Quiksilver's stock price (ZQK) has rallied from $2.33 last summer to closing at $6.21 today.

Kelly Slater's and Joel Parkinson's 2012 Boards In Charity Auction for Surfers Healing

12/29/2012

 
Sufers Healing is an amazing foundation that helps children with autism.

 "Surfers Healing was founded by Izzy and Danielle Paskowitz. Their son, Isaiah, was diagnosed with Autism at age three. Like many autistic children, he often suffered from sensory overload--simple sensations could overwhelm him. The ocean was the one place where he seemed to find respite. A former competitive surfer, Israel hit upon an idea--with Isaiah on the front of his surfboard, and Izzy steering from the back, the two spent the day surfing together. Surfing had a profound impact on Isaiah." 

Every year there is a surfboard auction where the proceeds directly benefit Surfers Healing. This year boards ridden and signed by the ASP's #1 and 2 surfers, Joel Parkinson and Kelly Slater, are up for auction. Most bids are right around the price of a new board, except Slater's commanding a bid of $4,400. Whoever spends that much on a board, I really hope they ride the hell out of it and don't hang it on a wall in some land locked house. 

Top Five Predictions for 2013, You Heard It Here First!!!

12/26/2012

 
We have looked into our crystal ball, explored the Mayan tombs, rolled our chicken bones, and this is how 2013 will unfold....
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5. Bob Haro will unveil his Ikonix bike, no one will be able to buy it, they will all be sold to collectors at obscene prices. Haro will use that seed money to start a retro line of Haro Master BMX bikes.
4. ZoSea Media will finally get a website, create a some sort of business plan, draft a mission statement, and basically let people know who they are and what they plan on doing with the ASP Tour in 2014.
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3.  Hurley will sponsor John John Florence (with Nike's money). If Nike couldn't get a world champ in 2012, they'll just sponsor as many surfers as possible behind the guise of the Hurley brand.
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2. Areas devestated by Hurricane Sandy like the Rockaways, Long Beach, Coastal NJ will all rebuild and come back stronger than before.
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1. Aliens will land on Earth and reclaim Kelly Slater as one of their own. Why do you think his wave pools are round? Perfect landing pads for the flying saucers. He will take surfing to new planets, thus preventing another year of him beating kids less than half his age on the ASP Tour.

Will Kelly Slater Compete in 2013?  UPDATED

12/18/2012

 
UPDATED 1/8/13 : Ignore what I said originally. Komunity Project by Kelly Slater just posted the 2013 ASP Schedule, and asked who can't wait? (see above) I doubt Slater's own company would be hyping the up coming season if he wasn't going to compete. Now it's time the connect the dots. 

-Kelly Slater tried to create the Champions Surf Tour in 2009
-ZoSea Media is headed by Terry Hardy who manages Kelly Slater, and is the Director at Kelly Slater Wave Co.
-ZoSea Media will take over the ASP Tour in 2014

Whoever really owns ZoSea will own the ASP Tour in 1 year. Now who might that be?

[12/18/12 Will Kelly Slater compete in 2013? It's the million dollar question. Slater proved everything he had to once again. He finished ahead of the talented John John Florence at Pipeline. The point difference between Slater and 2012 ASP Champion Joel Parkinson was 3,250, and Mick Fanning was a distant 3rd with 47,000 points. To do it all again would be extremely stressful and tiring just to get that official #1 ranking that most people think he never lost due to missing one tour event this year due to injury.


Now at age 40, his next challenge will most likely be growing his wave pool company, Kelly Slater Wave Co. Slater has already put his mark on the surfing world as a competitor, but now he has the chance to leave his legacy on the sport as an innovator. Wave pool design has been stagnant for decades, this is Kelly Slater's chance to reset the status quo once again. He'll probably compete in the two Quiksilver events next year but not the full tour. I think this was Slater's last year on tour, but I can't wait to see what he does next.]
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