EDU: Learn How Mike Made It to Rome 

Tune in to www.twitter.com/romesds on Friday July, 30 2010.
3-5 Eastern
2-4 Central
1-3 Mountain
12-2 Pacific

If a poll was taken at the Rome SDS, Mike Forester would rank high as one of the company's favorite people.  Earning the title BIE (best intern ever) during his internship in the summer of 2009, he has now officially made the move from shop employee at Casualties in Marquette, Michigan, to intern extraordinaire, to full time Graphic Designer at Rome.

On Friday, July 30th from 3 pm to 5 pm Eastern Time (see time zone list below), Rome SDS's newest addition to the design team will be on Twitter to answer all of your questions in real time.  You ask a question, he answers it.

Here's how it will work:
1. Log on to Twitter at the designated time
2. Submit your question in the "What's Happening?" box
3. End your question with a @Romesds
4. Forester will fire back his answers to your questions

What did it take for him to land an industry job? What did he study in school to get where he is now?  Why does he insist on dressing up in a dog costume at every snowboard event? One of the most common emails at the SDS is "how can I get a job there"… well here's your chance to ask someone who did it.

In addition, Rome SDS will be picking a question at random that has the @Romesds in it during the designated time, and hooking that lucky rider up with a brand new 2011 Addictive Collection 157 Rocker, the Last Supper, designed by Mike Forester himself during his internship.

So do whatever it takes to shoot a "tweet" Foresters way for your chance to win a new 2011 Deck.  If you need an excuse to get out of school or work, tell them you have explosive diarrhea.  It's one of those things people are uncomfortable questioning… they'll just accept it.

3-5 Eastern
2-4 Central
1-3 Mountain
12-2 Pacific

Stay tuned to www.romesnowboards.com and www.twitter.com/romesds for more updates on the happenings of the Rome SDS.

group Y's Leading Youth Marketing Event Brings A Who's Who of Youth Marketers and Cultural Influencers
 
group Y's Action Sports Conference 2010 (www.actionsportsconference.com), presented by FUEL TV, continues to build momentum as the attending speakers and discussion topics are finalized. Taking place on August 3, 2010, the Action Sports Conference will bring together a diverse group of youth marketers, cultural influencers and interested parties for networking and panel discussions focused on the influential action sports industry.  Speakers at the event will include VP level executives from action sports brands, internationally recognized professional skateboarders, athlete managers, brand founders and journalists entrenched in the world's of skate, snow, surf and motocross.

With a dynamically shifting landscape of heroes and events, the action sports world continues to have a growing footprint on popular culture.  Its participants are sought after for promoting everything from performance cars to fast food, in addition to becoming staples on reality TV, late-night talk shows and Olympic podiums.  As an industry with more than 15 million participants and buying power in the double-digit billions, not including non-participants who are interested in emulating the lifestyle, opportunities are boundless for mainstream brands looking to join forces with the action sports world for the benefit of all involved.

While the action sports participant tends to be very influential, they're also notoriously fickle in their tastes and acceptance of non-endemic brands looking to target them.  Supposedly great boardroom ideas can become fodder for biting, brand manager cringing, online commentary overnight.  The Action Sports Conference not only serves non-endemic marketers with a way to network with action sports insiders, but also as a learning scenario to help them in developing better programs when targeting this desirable audience.

This edition of the Action Sports Conference will take place at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Hotel in Huntington Beach, CA, across the street from the US Open of Surfing.  The confirmed speaker list includes:
 
- Aaron Levant - Co-Founder & President, Agenda Show
- Alyssa Roenigk - Senior Writer, ESPN
- Ashley Fiolek - Professional Women's Motocross Racer
- Bobby Hundreds - Co-Founder & Creative Director, The Hundreds
- Bryan Johnston - Chief Marketing Officer, UFC
- Bryce Phillips - Founder, EVO
- CJ Olivares - General Manager, FUEL TV
- Dayan Henson - Chairman, V.A.S. Entertainment
- DJ Greyboy
- Doug Palladini - Vice President of Marketing, Vans
- Dustin Robertson - Chief Marketing Officer, Backcountry.com
- Grete Eliassen -  Professional FreeSkier
- Issa Sawabini - Partner, Fuse
- James Leitz - Senior Vice President Action Sports, IMG
- Jeff Tremaine - Director & Executive Producer, Dickhouse Entertainment
- Josh Hunter - Editor-in-Chief, Transworld Business
- Keith Hufnagel - Professional Skateboarder & Founder, HUF
- Nick Sargent - Director of Alliances at Burton Snowboards
- Mike Lewis - Managing Editor, Transworld Business
- Paul Gomez - Senior Vice President Global Branding, Hurley
- Phil Shalala - Vice President of Marketing & Chief Marketing Officer, Hard   
           Rock Hotel Las Vegas
- Sal Masekela - Host of ESPN X Games, Daily 10 & Producer, Berkela
           Films
- Shon Tomlin - Senior Vice President Programming & Marketing, FUEL TV
- Steve Caballero - Professional Skateboarder
- Steve Larosiliere - Founder & Executive Director, Stoked Mentoring
- Steven Astephen - Principal of Action Sports Management, Wasserman
       Media Group
- Tim McFerran - President, Maloof Money Cup
- Tim Swart - Founder, UNIV
- Tina Dixon - TV Announcer and former Professional Snowboarder
- Todd Richards - Professional Snowboarder, TV Announcer, Co-Founder O-Matic
- Wade Martin - President & CEO, Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

Registration for the Action Sports Conference is $350 and special rates will be available for IASC members, Transworld Business subscribers and college students.
 
The Action Sports Conference 2010 is presented by FUEL TV. Additional support for the Action Sports Conference is being provided by Transworld Business, Getty Images, ChopShop, ASR, Loeb & Loeb, Agenda Show, Luce Forward, Tadpole Marketing, Venu Interactive, IASC, Ypulse, Stoked Mentoring, Athlete Relief Fund (ARF) and BB Public Relations.

Additional details on speakers and topics can be found online at www.actionsportsconference.com.
 
About FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the action sports lifestyle network for skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX, motocross, and wakeboarding. Through its original and commissioned series and specials, short-form content, films, and prestigious event coverage, the channel features action sports athletes, emerging musicians, celebrities, and breaking news. FUEL TV was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 30 million U.S. homes. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

About group Y
Founded in 2006, group Y is the original collective of professionals focused on Action Sports, Youth Marketing, and Entertainment. Based in Southern California with a growing national reach, group Y boasts an active membership of the best and brightest these industries have to offer. Sharing insights from key decision makers at key brands, past speakers have included experts from companies such as Quiksilver, Burton, Oakley, Target, FUEL TV, and ESPN. Through monthly events, the annual Action Sports Conference, member outreach and online properties, group Y takes the work out of strategic networking and strengthens our entire industry in the process.  More information on group Y can be found online at www.groupYnetwork.com.

Feld Motor Sports announced today that the Utah Sports Commission will be continuing their sponsorship with Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, for the third consecutive year. Monster Energy Supercross will be returning to Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium, April 30 for the penultimate race of the 17 race championship.

"We are thrilled to bring Supercross back to Utah in 2011.  Playing host to a major sporting event like AMA Supercross, that provides both significant economic impact and global exposure, once again highlights the value of hosting these key sporting events for the image building and promotion of Utah," said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. "We are also very excited for our dedicated Supercross fans that this event is returning in 2011."
 
The Utah Sports Commission plays a central role in the Salt Lake City supercross races and continues to take vital routes to keep Rice-Eccles Stadium on the AMA Supercross schedule.

"By extending our relationship with the Utah Sports Commission, we will once again work cooperatively with the community to produce another exciting event for the loyal supercross fans in Salt Lake City," said Todd Jendro, senior director of operations, Feld Motor Sports. "Annually the Monster Energy race in Salt Lake City generates an estimated $9 million economic impact."

Last year more than 35,000 fans braved a mixture of snow, sleet, and rain at Rice Eccles Stadium where GEICO Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham raced to his second victory and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jake Weimer claimed the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship.

The first supercross race held at Rice-Eccles Stadium took place in 2001 where 42,135 fans packed the venue to witness Ricky Carmichael win his 13th race of the 16 round season.

August 13, 2010 - 2:00-3:00pm/ASR Tradeshow-San Diego

Whether you're a corporate giant like e-Trade or a small business start-up like Larry's Loungewear, you can make significant marketing blunders that could drop a lawsuit in your lap, land you in court and cost your company millions of dollars in monetary damages, court cost, and attorney's fees. 
 
Fortunately, there are some fairly simple steps, when implemented properly and consistently, which you can take to avoid those headaches and potentially debilitating expenses.  Spend an informative and highly useful hour with popular ASR speakers David Baker and Brian Kinder, intellectual property attorneys who emphasize the action sports industry in their law practice, and learn how you can effectively market your goods and services without setting yourself up for a marketing disaster.

For more information, call David Baker or Brian Kinder at 714-432-8700 or email dbaker@hkclaw.com or bkinder@hkclaw.com
 
The ASR Expo is an opportunity for action sports manufacturers, distributors and retailers to catch up on the latest designs and place orders. For more information on the show, please visit www.asrbiz.com

GIVEN SKATEBOARDS founder Kris Markovich has partnered with Switchboard Inc., a well-known manufacture/distributor of major skateboard brands, including Grind King, Termite Skateboards, Dogtown Skateboards, Layback Longboards, Dick Brewer Hawaii Skateboards, and Cargo Trucks. They have finalized a joint venture became effective on June 10, 2010.

Markovich, a top-professional skateboarder for the last 20 years, is also a well-recognized artist. According to Mark Sweetser, VP of Sales at Switchboard, Inc., "Through this new partnership, Kris has more time to focus on his passion for art and design.
The Switchboard Inc. family, is excited to bring Given Skateboards into its long term distribution plan."  With this new allegiance, Switchboard Inc. will utilize their back-end operations, sales force, and manufacturing resources to expand the presence of Given Skateboards in the market, and Markovich will focus on creating quality product with an authentic art-driven feel.

About GIVEN SKATEBOARDS

In 2008, Given Skateboards was created by professional skateboarder Kris Markovich.  Markovich based the company on combining the philosophies of skateboarding and art, purifying the creation process, and revolutionizing the outcome of what was and is created.  Formed by skateboarders, and run by skateboarders, Given Skateboards gives the industry a brand that goes back to the pure ideology of skateboarding.  This gives the brand global recognition and respect by the core skateboard market. Go to www.givenskateboards.com for more information.

ABOUT SWITCHBOARD INC.

Established in 2003, Switchboard Inc. manufactures and distributes skateboard brands. Their roster of brands includes Grind King, Termite Skateboards, Dogtown Skateboards, Layback Longboards, Dick Brewer Hawaii Skateboards, Cargo Trucks and accessories, and POD Fins.

When over 750 brands converge in San Diego, CA for ASR Marketplace this August 13th-15th, business opportunities will go beyond the show's retail sales and media placements; and into the investment community. On August 12, 2010, CONNECT San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) will hold a Capital Forum to provide a private setting for angel and private investors to review presentations from seven investment-ready action sport and active lifestyle start-ups from southern California.
 
"For decades, the investment community has attended ASR to feel the pulse of the industry," says Andy Tompkins, VP of ASR. "As more companies went public, ASR provided the perfect platform for analysts to see trends and how various brands were positioning themselves in the market. SDSI's Capital Forum will take that further; directing energy toward up-and-coming brands as they look for the best avenues and partners for future growth."
 
"San Diego is not only a vibrant action sport and active lifestyle community, but also a thriving environment for business," says Bill Walton NBA Hall of Famer and SDSI executive chairmen, "SDSI's goal is to act as a catalyst by connecting innovative sports minded entrepreneurs and start-ups in the Southern California region with mentoring, education, networking, technology and most importantly access to capital."
 
SDSI Capital Forum presenting companies include: AttaGirl!, Celtek, Clarinova, Cleatskins, DO or DIE, Prunolo and Seshday.com. All start-ups are investment ready and have been selected by industry experts through an extensive screening process.  SDSI, managed by CONNECT, capitalizes on the nationally renowned mentoring process developed by CONNECT and recently recognized by Inc. Magazine.
 
Following the Capital Forum, SDSI and ASR present Connect with SDSI, the organization's premier networking event featuring exhibits by some of the most innovative action sport and active lifestyle companies in the region. The event is open to industry executives, capital providers, individual investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and professional service providers specializing in the sport industry.  This is opportunity to check out cool tech gear and demos, get connected with key industry players and pick up on trends that are driving customer acceptance in diverse segments of the action sports industry.
 
Connect with SDSI will be held at the Candy Factory Warehouse in PETCO Park. All attendees will receive complimentary tickets to see the San Diego Padres play the Pittsburgh Pirates.  All are welcome to this one-stop introduction to the SDSI organization and the action sport & active lifestyle business opportunities in San Diego.
 
Leadership of SDSI consists of a 22 member board of directors packed with action sport industry veterans including: Bob Rief of Boardworks Surf & C4 Waterman, Dave Nash of Athleisure, Jeff Kearl of Skull Candy, Jim Stroesser of Adio Footwear; John Wilson of Stance Socks, Kevin Flanagan of Reef, Mark Schmid of Sk8ology, Peter Townend of ActiveEmpire and Tony Finn of Liquid Force.

SDSI Capital Forum:
Thursday, August 12, 2010 | 9:30am - 2:30pm | Ultimate Skybox at DiamondView Tower- Hosted by Cox
Connect with SDSI:
Thursday, August 12, 2010 | 3:30- 5:30pm | Candy Factory at PETCO Park| Register at http://sdsi.hookit.com/members/sdsi/connectwithconnectsdsi/preview/
 
Register here (http://sdsi.hookit.com/members/sdsi/connectwithconnectsdsi/) for Connect with SDSI. For more information on SDSI and its upcoming events contact Garrett Hale at Ghale@connect.org or 858.964.1314. Learn more about attending ASR Marketplace as an exhibitor, retailer or media at ASRBiz.com.

Factory Design Labs, a premier marketing agency for premium culture-driven lifestyle brands, announces the hire of Blake Ebel to the new position of Chief Creative Officer.

Mr. Ebel, formerly the co-Chief Creative Officer at Euro RSCG Chicago, brings significant experience leading large multi-discipline creative teams, global creative strategy and developing award-winning creative solutions.

"I'm thrilled that Blake will join the Factory team. We screened more than 100 candidates from around the world for this role and I sincerely believe that we have found the perfect partner," stated Scott Mellin, CEO of Factory Design Labs. "Our criteria was very rigorous: with a focus on quality, a dedication to our clients' business models and their customers, and the ability to earn the trust of our clients through excellence in creative execution."

Over the past 3 years Factory Design Labs has grown revenue over 600%. In anticipation of continued growth and a deep commitment to investment in the long-term future of the agency and it's clients, Factory continues to add new creative, interactive, production, strategic and media resources to enhance expertise in critical areas of the overall organization. Mr. Ebel will strongly compliment Vice President and Creative Director Andrew Price who has led creative direction since 2008.

"Our business model is unique and the trusted relationships we have developed with our clients prove we are focused on the correct elements of our business. Blake's hire is more than symbolic of our commitment to our creative product and underscores our confidence in our creative team with a leader who can teach them new layers of the craft," added Mellin.

"To work with the Factory team and their amazing clients is a true honor. One that I take with great humility and a sense of pride," said Ebel. "My role will focus on bringing the best out of the team and ensuring that we always have the most relevant, innovative and revenue-driving creative solutions for our clients."

:: Factory Design Labs is an independent agency focused on global premium culture-driven lifestyle brands including The North Face, Audi of America, Oakley, REVO, Aspen Skiing Company, Killington Mountain Resort, Ruby Mountain Heli Experience, Eagle Creek and Differences Ski.

:: For more information: http://www.factorylabs.com

Sunday, 7/18/2010 - Firsthand: Jeff Weatherall - 8:00pm ET/PT

Sunday, 7/18/2010 - Skateboard Madness: Fossil FUEL TV - 7:00pm ET

Monday, 7/19/2010 - Insane Cinema: Feelin' Minnesota - 9:30pm ET

Tuesday, 7/20/2010 - King of Wake World Cup Series 2010: Stop One - Acworth, GA - 8:00pm ET/PT

Friday, 7/23/2010 - Flip Feast Northeast Tour- 8:00pm ET/PT (SKATE @8)

This Week on The Daily Habit:

LA Ink Cast Member and BMX Pro Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla, Plus Pro Skaters Chris Troy and Jordan Hoffart, and UK Sole Rockers The Heavy - Monday 7.19.10

Welcome to a special week of celebrity panel discussion episodes on The Habit in which we hotly debate all things action sports. BMX pro rider, actor, stuntman and cast member on the new season of LA Ink, Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla, takes the counter to discuss the latest in action sports and general Youtube insanity with TDH comedy correspondents Hal Rudnick and Jordan Morris. Also, today, Adio teammates Chris Troy and Jordan Hoffart stop by the studio to talk about how it is skating for a tight-knit group like the Adio team. Troy also talks about his first year as pro as well as his upcoming "Going Forward" video series, whereas Hoffart chats about going to Dubai with the Bones Team. Also, UK band The Heavy stops by with a performance from The Stride Sound Stage! Chris Troy's sponsors include: Adio, Black Label, Independent, Innes, Gold Wheels, FKD Bearings, and Surfride Skate Shop. Jordan Hoffart's sponsors include: Adio, Powell Peralta, Bones, Quiksilver Canada, Active mail-order and Neff Headwear.

Sex Pistol Steve Jones, Big Brother Mag Founder Dave Carnie, BMX Pro Mike Aitken and S&M Bikes Founder Chris Moeller, plus UK Sole Rockers The Heavy - Tuesday 7.20.10

Today, our week of panel discussion heats up with Big Brother co-founder and celebrated skate journalist Dave Carnie, legendary Sex Pistol Steve Jones and TDH comedy correspondent Chris Fairbanks. Also, we sit down with BMX pro rider Mike Aitken and S&M Bikes founder Chris Moeller. Making it back from a terrible crash, Utah's Mike Aitken stops by to chat about the infamous '08 crash at Posh Trails, his recovery and his son's skills on a bike. S+M main-man Chris Moeller gives us a bit of a BMX history lesson, chats about his famed brand, the new S+M film and how's he's helping his riders with a little insurance coverage. Also, our very own Jordan Morris gives us a preview of the brand new "Predators" film. English musical guests The Heavy close out the show from The Stride Sound Stage. Mike Aitken's sponsors include: Fit Bike Co., Odyssey, Fox, Rockstar, Lotek, 50/50 Bike Shop, and Skullcandy.

UFC Fighter/MTV's Bully Beatdown Star Jason "Mayhem" Miller, and Sufers Alex Gray and Jay Davies - Wednesday 7.21.10

Today's panelists include the hilariously outspoken UFC fighter and star of Bully Beatdown on MTV, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, as well as big-wave pro surfer Alex Gray and comedy correspondent Hal Rudnick. And after that, hard-charging wave warrior Jay Davies stops by The Habit to tell us about all the craziness that went down this summer at the Rusty house in Newport Beach, CA. Jay also brings some of his latest pumping surf footage from back home in Western Australia. Then, it's off to see models posing in bikinis for a good cause at the Billabong Design for Humanity event. Jay Davies sponsors include: Rusty, Electric, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nixon, On a Mission.

Skater/Sirius XM DJ Jason Ellis, Mad TV's Matt Braunger, FMX Pro Blake "Bilko" Williams, plus Sub Pop Band Happy Birthday - Thursday 7.22.10

A week of highly entertaining panel episodes continue with skateboarder-turned-Sirius XM radio superstar personality Jason Ellis, as well as Mad TV cast member and Letterman regular Matt Braunger, and TDH correspondent Chris Fairbanks. Today we also have the young, the wild, the crazy - FMX pro Blake "Bilko" Williams on the show. Freshly back from injury, Bilko has survived yet another Crusty Demons tour, he's moved to the States, and is preparing to win one more X Games gold this summer. Plus, correspondent Jordan Morris checks out the latest button mashers at the 2010 E3 videogame convention. Also, Vermont-based, Sub Pop-signed act Happy Birthday stops by to perform on The Stride Sound Stage. Blake "Bilko" Williams' sponsors include: FOX, Monster Energy, DVS, Harley Davidson and Oakley.

Pro Surfer Gabe Kling, Skate Legends Mike V. and Duane Peters, plus Sub Pop Band Happy Birthday - Friday 7.23.10

Wow, is all we can say about today's show. The most memorable skaters turned rockers in action sports; true legends Mike V. and Duane Peters stop by to share their thoughts on everything from security guards to rappers with Pat and correspondent Chris Fairbanks. Plus the winner of SoCal's most prestigious surf contest, the 2010 Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, Gabe Kling rips through The Habit. Kling chats about the big win at the famed Trestles break. Also, correspondent Ian W meets Nicolas Cage and musical guest Happy Birthday performs live from the Stride Sound Stage! Gabe Kling's sponsors include: DVS, Matix, Electric, Surf Station, G-Shock & Bully's

For more information, check out www.fuel.tv/thedailyhabit

This Week on The Weekly Update: In skate news, Luan Oliveira scores the big check at the 2010 Copenhagen Pro presented by DVS.

Harley Clifford tops the pack in Kentucky on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour.

Ryan Dungey keeps his streak alive and well on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Plus, we're on the road with Drake McElroy for part two of his trip through Moscow.

In BMX, Ryan Nyquist's Warriors of Wood hits San Jose.

And in our highlight reel, Converse throws a party at the Pink Motel for the Rune Glifberg shoe drop, and Active launches The Workshop, plus news from the AFMXA, the Afro-Punk Festival, Fox's Golden State of Mind, and the Monster Energy WWA Wake Park Triple Crown.

The Surfrider Foundation's Not The Answer Campaign has partnered with waterman and activist Laird Hamilton for a new public service announcement (PSA) created by WINDOWSEATpictures urging President Obama and congress to reinstate the moratorium on offshore drilling.  Hamilton is featured in both 30- and 60-second PSAs running online and on-air.

The goal of the PSAs is to increase awareness about the situation in the Gulf of Mexico and encourage people to take action by writing the President and other elected officials asking them to reinstate the moratorium on offshore oil drilling.

Hamilton highlights that he's accomplished tremendous feats, and that nothing scares him, except for the threat of another Deepwater Horizon disaster happening somewhere else off our coasts.  He goes on to talk about how the Congressional and Executive moratoria have helped protect America's coastlines for nearly 30 years, and that "the tragic and devastating spill in the Gulf of Mexico is sickening proof that offshore oil drilling is not the answer."

"We're all affected by offshore spills, from kids playing in the sand to people like Laird who define wave riding," says Jim Moriarty, Surfrider Foundation's CEO.  "I love how this PSA illustrates the point that we should all be scared of man-made disasters of this magnitude, and that we should not stop until safeguards, like the moratorium, are back in place."

"Our personal desire to preserve the environment, coupled with the saddening disaster in the Gulf, motivated WINDOWSEATpictures to help spread the message with Laird Hamilton and Surfrider Foundation," says Moz Mirbaba, Executive Producer at WINDOWSEATpictures.  "Our political leaders need to know that offshore drilling is Not The Answer and that it comes at a terrible cost to our wildlife and environment.  This project is very near and dear to us.  We support Surfrider Foundation and are proud to have been involved with this noteworthy movement."

Laird Hamilton is known as the guiding genius of crossover board sports, and he is truly amazing in the water.  The waterman in the true sense of the word is famous for doing all kinds of extreme things in the ocean from making epic long distance journeys on his ocean-going paddleboard to creating the fast forward speed sailing loop, to pioneering tow-in surfing - a method still used today to surf some of the world's biggest waves.  As an activist and advocate for our oceans, waves and beaches, he supports education and outreach within the community to protect our waters for future generations to enjoy.

Surfrider Foundation's "Not The Answer" PSAs with Laird Hamilton were made possible by the generous support from WINDOWSEATpictures, who provided filming and editing, and the Sierra Club who donated video footage from the Gulf of Mexico.

To learn more about Surfrider Foundation's Not The Answer Campaign and take action, visit www.nottheanswer.org.

To stay updated on Laird Hamilton's travels and accomplishments, visit www.lairdhamilton.com.

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org.

About WINDOWSEATpictures
Founded by Creative Director/Director Bill Kiely and Executive Producer Moz Mirbaba, WINDOWSEATpictures uses film and video to create marketing solutions to engage youth culture audiences.  WINDOWSEAT's inventive take on production has garnered the appeal of major brands such as: Vans, Nike, O'Neill, REEF, Billabong, Anheuser-Busch, General Mills, Monster Energy Drink, Mattel, US Air Force, Maloof Money Cup, NBC, CBS, FUEL TV, and Fox Sports to name a few.  For more information on WINDOWSEATpictures, go to www.windowseatpictures.com.

CLASS@ASR brings together spring line debuts from a unique mix of sophisticated fashion, apparel, accessories and footwear brands this August 13-15, adjacent to ASR in San Diego. The featured lines span from surf/skate culture into the prestigious fashion market. CLASS@ ASR is an exclusive event with its own vibe, booth design, food and ambiance open to qualified buyers and working media.
 
"We're entering the second year of CLASS@ASR and the event has met the demand from retailers for a convenient way to shop for new and higher-end labels with one trip to ASR," says Andy Tompkins, VP of Nielsen Sports Group. "Our goal is to offer the most efficient buying experience to a wide range of buyers and CLASS@ASR helps us, help them."
 
Leading boutique and fashion buyers traveling to San Diego for Class@ASR combine with ASR's established global mix of specialty action sports, swim and department store buyers. The fusion of categories makes ASR Marketplace an unrivaled platform for labels to reach the right buyers and media.
 
"Going to ASR is like killing three birds with one stone. I get to see the higher-end brands, as well as up-and-coming brands emerging into the market at CLASS@ASR, all of my core skate brands at Crossroads and the major boardsport brands like Element and Volcom at ASR," explains Craig Scholla, Owner of Belmont Army in Chicago. "Last show I found Toddland and Farrah at CLASS@ASR, but also linked up with brands that I carried in the past and found that they once again made sense for my business. I'm also a big fan of sun, fish tacos and beer!"
 
High-end swim has found a home at CLASS@ASR with a reliable mix of west coast, designer and international lines previewing spring swim collections. The refined atmosphere of CLASS@ASR provides a fitting platform for boutique, crossover and surf buyers to preview and buy swim. Footwear is also gaining traction at CLASS@ASR. Havianas, Creative Recreation, Radii, Gravis, In Soul, DVS, Lakai and many more will preview shoes and sandals this August.
 
The upcoming CLASS@ASR features a range of indulgences to fill time between appointments including a candy shop, an adult playground complete with foosball and pool tables and a hair-as-art exhibit, sharing complimentary trims, blow-outs and beauty tips from LA's Barracuda Salon.
 
Spacecraft will present a "floating artshow" made up of 16 pieces by Stefan Hofmann. The work is a visual narrative created by mixed media: wood panel, screen print, digital imagery, collage and hand lettering. Atwater is again showcasing works from Angry Woebots, Mainframe, Tommii Lim, Paul Brown and other artists that the brand is collaborating with on its spring collection.

The busy opening day at CLASS@ASR will flow straight into Siren, Sè San Diego's stylish rooftop pool bar and lounge, for cocktails and music. From 7:00-9:00PM guests are welcome to mix and mingle around an open bar accessed with a CLASS@ASR badge.
 
A sampling of CLASS@ASR brands includes:           
210 Fitted
Aerial7
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada
Allay California
Alphanumeric
AMBSN
Analog Clothing
Anenberg
Antifashion Clothing
ANZA
Artlife Clothing
Atwater
B Swim
BECCA by Rebecca Virtue
Belusso
Betsey Johnson Swim
Brandy
Brette Sandler
C4 Distribution
Calle
Cardboard Robot
Cheddar Pocket
Christys Crown
Christys London
Cia Maritima
Cover Style
Creative Recreation
Dav
Despi Swimwear
DVS Shoe Company
Entree Clothing
ERGO
Eskuche
Euro Outlet LLC
Ezekiel
Farah Vintage
Flexfit
Freedom Artists
Freewaters
Fydelity
Gravis Footwear
Havaianas
Heel Bruise
HippyTree
Hot Tuna International
IMIXID
Imperial Motion
In Soul
Inca
Index Ink
Insight
Iron Fist Distribution LLC
Katin
L Space
Lakai Limited Footwear
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Lil Bettie Beachwear
Lira
Loser Machine
Love Nail Tree
L-R-G Clothing Co.
Lucky Brand Bathing Suits
Lucre Collezione By Von Zipper
Luli Fama
Lunada Bay Corp
Luxe by Sauvage
Luxirie By LRG
M Collective Inc
Maaji Swimwear
Mara Hoffman
Marpessa
Martha Rey
Mas Sas
Matix Clothing
MG Black Label
Morphine Generation
Neon Green Soular Powers
Nikita
Nixon Nomis
NuCourse Distribution Inc
Onda De Mar
O'Quinn Clothing
Original Penguin
Podium Distribution
Poko Pano Swim
Quiksilver Girls
Radii Footwear
Raen Optics
Red Carter
Revolutionary Me
RVCA Clothing
Sabre
Salon-9
Sauvage Swimwear
Scratch Tracks LLC
Sprinkles
Stance
Starlet
Stussy
Style West
Sunsets Inc
Swim Systems
Tavik
Tea In The Woods
True Love & False Idols
TurtleScarf
Vestal Watch Inc
Vitamin A Swimwear
Vix By Paula Hermanny
Vix Swimwear
Von Zipper
Wellen
WESC
Zimmermann
Zoo York

Visit CLASSatASR.com to learn more about exhibiting at and attending this one-of-a-kind trade event when it returns to San Diego, CA, August 13 through 15.

The upcoming Sacred Craft Consumer Surf Expo, which is now downtown San Diego during ASR, August 13th and 14th, has something for everybody, even antique collectors. The Vintage Surfboard & Surf Memorabilia "Antique Roadshow" presented by Primo Beer is modeled after PBS TV's highly successful "Antique Roadshow" series. Sacred Craft's version of ‘Roadshow' invites the general public on to bring collectable surfboards and memorabilia to a panel of experts for appraisal on August 14th. The panel will assign a value to the items, but more importantly they often uncover the provenance, or story, behind the value of the item.
 
"The power of the ‘Roadshow' lies in the 'buried treasure concept," says Scott Bass, Expo Director. "Many of us possess, in our garage or attic, or perhaps under the house, a collectable surfboard; a board that for whatever reason holds intrinsic value above and beyond the value of a regular or 'normal' used surfboard. If the board has a strong provenance, well, this generally increases its value.  Perhaps it was on the cover of a surf magazine, or Skip Frye crafted it for G&S back in 1971; whatever the case, our appraisers want to see it."
 
But ‘Roadshow' isn't just about surfboards. Surf 'paper', as the experts refer to it, is also of import to the collectors and appraisers. Maybe you possess an old Rick Griffin surf movie poster from the La Paloma, or a San Diego World Contest program, or perhaps a business card from Bob Simmons or signed photo of Duke Kahanamoku. Any item that that may be worth something, the appraisers would love to see. They can help to better understand its provenance and possible market value. The more information brought to the discussion, the more accurate the appraisal.
 
Everyone has a bit of buried treasure; we just may not know it! The vintage Surfboard "Antique Roadshow" appraisals presented by Primo Beer will visit the Sail Pavilion in the San Diego Convention Center one day only, on Saturday August 14 from 10am-4pm as a part of the 2-day Sacred Consumer Surfboard Expo. Expert appraisers will be on hand for surfboards, surf 'paper', surf posters, surf magazines, surf art, surf books and surf memorabilia. Please bring out your surf collectables for appraisal -- and a great time.

ASR and Malakye.com teamed up to co-sponsor Hole#1 at the SIMA Waterman's Golf Tourney in Dana Point, Calif., this past Thursday, July 8, 2010.  Deemed the Fairway Fun Zone, golfers had the opportunity to play carnival-esque games in hopes of winning raffles tickets for a shot at winning the ...Lost surfboard displayed at the hole.

Due to the strenuous nature of the game, ASR and Malakye had a full carb n' hydration buffet stocked with Karl Strauss beer on tap, SKYY vodka and Captain soaked snow cones, and a trifecta of flavored popcorn to keep the golfers on point and trim during the tournament.

Games on the menu: the popular Dunk Us dunk tank, beer pong Hole in One, and the Nerf Sharp Shooter.  The dunk tank was the game of choice for obvious reasons, and takers had the chance to win 3 raffles tickets if they could dunk Chad Mihalick or Josh Lewis from Malakye.com.  Though popular, this proved to be tough for many, perhaps it was the incessant heckling and smack talking by the Malakye folks to help keep themselves out of the icy waters waiting below.  Some golfers even took a shot at dunking their fully-clothed comrades; it was a good time for everyone.

As for the Hole in One, golfers dug deep to rekindle skills from their beer-ridden frat' days in order to bounce a ping-pong ball into one of the designated green cups surrounding the flag pin.  This gave them a shot at winning 2 tickets toward the board - many succeeded.  Golfers had to stroll even further back to their adolescent years for the last game on the menu, the Nerf Sharp Shooter.  With a fully loaded clip, all they had to do was topple one cup with 6 rounds in the chamber.  Most were on point, but it was apparent that those days were long gone for some!

* Click the full-screen mode and select "Show Info" for captions.

The Dirtball Crew headed  to Berlin last week for the Bread and Butter apparel show, Europe's largest and most exclusive fashion event.  The 3 day show marked the brands launch into Europe with it Spring Summer 2011 collection consisting of 100% eco-friendly apparel focused around action sports and urban lifestyle.  The collection includes hats, knits, socks, jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, shells, pants, shorts and shirts, totaling almost 300 SKUs, making it the largest collection of sustainable apparel from one brand.  All of the Dirtball line is made from recycled cotton and recycled post consumer polyester i.e. water bottles. As an example each t-shirt contains between six and seven 16oz. recycled water bottles.  Each year in the United States alone some 51 billion water bottles find their way into landfills.

"A sustainable product is what we strive for with Dirtball and it is what more and more consumers want as evident by the response we had from European based retailers.  Over the 3 days we had retailers from 20 countries stop by our booth.  Needless to say we were very pleased with the response and likewise everyone who walked away was surprised at the quality, fit and style of our 2011 collection," stated Joe Fox, president, Dirtball.  "There's no reason not to ‘go green'.

About Dirtball

Founded in 2008 by Joe Fox, former race car driver, entrepreneur and North Carolina native, Dirtball is an U.S. apparel brand that makes fashionable, 100% eco-friendly apparel for action sports and youth culture and only uses recycled and eco-friendly materials in all of their products make up.  For dealer inquiries or to request a catalog for Spring Summer 2011 Contact:

* Each Dirtball T-shirt contains 6-7 16oz. water bottles.
* Dirtball's current short "The Dirt Short" - is made out of 20 16-ounce bottles, which have been repurposed to create a high-quality polyester fabric. The shorts are not only recycled, but recyclable
* 2 million plastic bottles are used in the U.S. every 10 minutes.
* 51 billion plastic bottles go into U.S. landfills every year.
* 3 billion plastic bottles recycled is the equivalent of saving over half a million barrels of oil and eliminating 400,000 tons of harmful air emissions which contribute to acid rain, global warming and smog.
* Recycling pre-consumer cotton helps to keep 5 billion pounds of waste from going into landfills.
* Buy buying fabric made with recycled cotton, you are helping to reduce the effects of insecticides and other chemicals have on our soil, air and water tables. 
* It takes 1/3 lb of agricultural chemicals to produce 1 cotton t-shirt.
* Cotton requires 22,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of cotton lint making it the most fresh water intensive crop in the world.
* Cotton uses some 25% of the world's insecticides, even though it is grown on 2.4% of the world's land.  Cotton consumes 60% of the insecticides applied in the U.S.
* Recycled cotton doesn't take the manual labor or land use that is required for conventionally grown cotton.  It takes twice as much land usage to produce the same amount of organic cotton as conventionally grown cotton.
* The majority of the organic cotton is produced in Asia and shipped to the U.S. offsetting any environmental benefits due to the transportation resulting carbon footprint.

Victoria based contract manufacturer, Swell Source, has announce today that it's newest brand, "Cascadia Board Co," has hit the racks of local shops. The surf brand is the first of its kind north of the border and although they offer a variety of different water sport products their focus will be on hand shaped surf and stand up paddleboards.

"We're building products specific to the Canadian and the Pacific Northwest conditions. We've developed special manufacturing methods that make our boards more durable in our conditions as well as using shapes for our unique conditions," explains company founder Jeff Zamluk.

Cascadia Board Co utilizes different construction techniques used in other board sports to help make their products stronger and perform better in local conditions. Zamluk hopes that this will give them a competitive advantage when competing with the large companies south of the border. "Our main shaper has over 10,000 boards under his belt and we are always looking for new ways to innovate traditional construction methods which shows in this year's line". The company is looking forward to pushing new ways of building water sports and hopes to support the local industry and culture in the future.

Local surf shops are also excited to see a local brand that can service them. Mike Bray from Relic Surf Shop in Ucluelet see's value in having a home grown brand in his back yard and has chosen to support Cascadia Board Co. in it's first year. "This means we won't have to make buying trips to the states. It much nicer to have local brands to buy from makes getting and checking the product out that much easier".

In their first year Cascadia Board Co. will be focusing on hand shaped surfboards, stand up paddle boards, body boards, and their XRF rental specific soft top surfboards and will be selling exclusively to North American core shops.

Cascadia is now available at Relic Surf Shop, Second Wave Surf and Snow, Storm Surf Shop, Longbeach Surf Shop, Alternative Groove, Red Nik Surf Shop, Switch, North Beach Surf Shop, Wave Hounds, Rossignol Surf Shop, Sitka Surfboards, Cove Board Shop, and other leading retailers.

Swell Source, established in 1998 on Vancouver Island is a private label manufacturer specializing in the action sports industry. They proudly manufacture, sell and distribute two brands, Zed Skimboards and the newest surf brand in Canada, Cascadia Board Co.

SWELL SOURCE
"Manufacturer of Everything"
www.swellsourceonline.com

+1.250.830.3825

X Games, Rachel McAdams/Channing Tatum Feature Film,  Drydek & ISX, "Fastest" MotoGP Film, Monster and More

A wide-ranging slate of projects are unfolding this summer for Media X International, Inc. (MXi) and company principal, Paul Taublieb.

MXi returns to serve as official Sport Organizer of all Moto X Competitions at the ESPN X Games, taking place July 29-Aug.1 at Staples Center and the Los Angeles Coliseum.  Disciplines including Freestyle, Best Trick Best Whip, Super X Racing, Step Up and Speed & Style will be overseen by MXi, under the direction of the X Games.  For more information, schedules and tickets, go to www.espn.com/action.

Principle photography has begun on "Fastest," a feature documentary about the world of MotoGP racing and star Valentino Rossi, with Taublieb serving as Producer and Media X International as production company.   The sequel to the critical and commercial success to 2004's "Faster," "Fastest" puts director Mark Neale back behind the camera and is slated to debut at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, with Ewan McGregor returning as narrator.
Rob Dyrdek's Street League Skateboarding, which recently announced a global distribution deal with ESPN, kicks off this summer, and a key element of the series is "ISX - The Instant Scoring eXperience," a live, real-time scoring system for action sports, created by Taublieb and is a partnership between Dyrdek, MXi and Dialsmith.  Details forthcoming and more information available at www.isxscoring.com and www.streetleague.com.
 
Hollywood's entertainment bible, Variety, recently announced that Taublieb will be serving as Producer for Spyglass Entertainment's "The Vow," a feature film starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, and directed by Michael Sucsy, with filming slated to begin in September.  For further details click here: www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1118020769&categoryid=13
 
MXi and Taublieb also continues working with Monster Energy developing original content, live events, branded entertainment and providing media consulting services.  Recent efforts include the critically-acclaimed big wave documentary  "The Billabong Global Big Wave Awards, fueled by Monster Energy," which aired last month on ESPN2, produced by MXi with Taublieb serving as Producer and Co-Directorl, as well as producing short-form viral videos about Monster athletes and events.
 
For further information contact: paul@mediax.tv or go to www.mediax.tv