Manufacturing Stoke documentary

Manufacturing Stoke is a brand new documentary that examines one of surfing’s greatest paradox: no other sport is so intrinsically linked to nature, and yet a majority of the materials used are environmentally toxic.

misfit pictures presents…

For more information, www.manufacturingstoke.com

contact: misfitpic at hotmail dot com
PMK

Snowboarding Slopestyle Added To 2014 Olympics

While most of the fireworks going off last night were for the Fourth of July holiday, there were a few select ones getting lit following the announcement yesterday by the International Olympic Committe (IOC) that men’s and women’s slopestyle snowboarding and skiing will be included in the 2014 Socchi Winter Olympic Games. Also added were snowboard parallel special slalom (men and women).

 

Despite the ratings of snowboarding halfpipe in the 2010 Vancouver Games and a statement by media-wunderkind Shaun White that he would compete if the event were added,the IOC originally tabled the decision to include slopestyle in 2014 this April, saying it needed to further study the feasibility of adding the events.

But that all was set aside yesterday in Durban, South Africa with the following proclamation by IOC President Jacques Rogge: “We are very pleased with the addition of ski and snowboard slopestyle and snowboard special slalom in the Olympic Winter Games programme. Such events provide great entertainment for the spectators and add further youthful appeal to our already action-packed lineup of Olympic winter sports. We look forward to welcoming all the athletes to Sochi in 2014.”

Members of the USSA see this as a huge opportunity to grow the sport in the more accessible category of slopestyle: “The IOC’s decision to add slopestyle to the Olympics recognizes the millions of youth who are already participating in the sport in terrain parks around the world,” said USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt. “It will have a very positive impact on the sport including our U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing programs.”

“Slopestyle skiing and snowboarding are already bringing scale to our industry worldwide,” adds USSA’s Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Andrew Judelson. “The IOC’s recognition of slopestyle is great for our sport and partners like The North Face in freeskiing and Burton in snowboarding who have also seen the youthful interest in the sports. We look forward to leveraging these new Olympic disciplines to engage consumers, drive growth and fund our athletes Olympic dreams.”

While snowboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics has had a controversial history within the core community since halfpipe was first added to the 1998 Nagano Games for the way it presents riding to the world at large, efforts by theTTR to work with the FIS on scoring should mitigate some of this and contest organizers are already expressing their excitement: “It’s great news for the sport and for the athletes, who will have the chance to enjoy more limelight,” explained Patrick Bernier, one of the founders and organizers of the Ride Shakedown. “Year after year, slopestyle attracts a growing fan following. We see it in the amateur round of our competition and in the snow parks.”

However, the nuts and bolts of the task force being organized between the two organizations leave a lot of questions open about how much say TTR will have in the actual regulation at day’s end. In an article by Matt Barr on TWSNOWhe calls into serious question whether the task force will be anything more than lip service and that events outside the FIS’s scope will be included in the Olympic qualification process: An even less generous interpretation is that, if the decision to include, say, a TTR event is to be made by a FIS committee (and not the collaborative Task Force) at the essential expense of a FIS event, this is extremely unlikely to happen. After all, I’m pretty sure no turkey ever willingly voted for Thanksgiving.

Regardless, slopestyle riders see this as a positive move in general at first blush: “I think it will do a lot for the sport. It’s a great opportunity for me and other riders,” said pro Sébastien Toutant, one of the world’s best slopestyle riders. Chas Guldemond, who was recently added to the TTR board of directors and has been instrumental in founding We Are Snowboarding, an organization dedicated to supporting pros and the image of the sport says: “It is so great to finally hear that slopestyle will be included in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. It is an honor that the IOC feels our sport is worthy and I cannot wait to be able to try my best to bring home a medal for my country. The Olympic Games are the ultimate dream for any athlete. I know that the viewers will not be disappointed with the show that we will put on for them in 2014. This is history in the making for our sport and I am stoked to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The IOC also announced that it is considering adding wakeboarding for the 2020 Games.

 

Surfboard shaper goes global

He’s always loved the water, but Sydney surfboard shaper Hayden Cox has pulled off a global deal that might just afford him an endless summer.

Cox has recently signed a deal with the world’s largest distributor of surfboards, Global Surf Industries, which will see his innovative surfboard technology sold in 58 countries around the world.

The founder of Haydenshapes Surfboards on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is also the inventor of the FiberFlex technology currently making waves in the global surfing industry.

It’s hard to overestimate the way FiberFlex is changing surfboards, the design for which has long been dominated by foam ‘blanks’ with a wooden core known as a stringer that provides the board’s integrity.

Although FiberFlex boards are also made of foam, their strength comes from a parabolic carbon fibre frame that hugs the rail of the board and its epoxy laminate. The result is a stronger, faster, more responsive board.

The global deal is not a bad result for someone who started his career as a 15-year-old work experience shaper in a surfboard factory in Sydney beachside suburb Mona Vale.

Cox got his first break when the owner of the factory he was doing work experience with realised he wasn’t there as part of an organised work experience program. “He was blown away I was working for free in my school holidays, and he helped me shape my first [surfboard] blank – he did one side and I did the other”.

After renting a shaping bay in high school to make boards for mates, and a stint in Bali shaping boards for tourists, Cox took the leap and borrowed $20,000 from a friend to set up his own surfboard factory.

This was the first step in establishing his Haydenshapes brand. But Cox soon realised focusing solely on that path wouldn’t allow him to sell to every surfer, so he came up with the FiberFlex concept so he could market his technology more widely.

“The brand and the technology can be custom-made locally or mass produced offshore, offering a high quality product and good margins,” he explains.

Cox laughs when compared to Simon Anderson, the shaper who pioneered the three-fin thruster design that now dominates the surfboard market. “Simon pushed the boundaries when designing and surfing the thruster, and I’m trying to do the same with FiberFlex,” he says. Anderson is famous for not patenting his design, which is now used by almost every other surfboard maker in the world.

Although Cox says he has a “zero dollar marketing budget,” he has been able to create a buzz around his brands in magazines, with world-class surfers such as Josh Kerr, Dane Reynolds and Craig Anderson pictured riding boards made with his technology, helping to create consumer demand.

“I shaped the first-ever FiberFlex board for Tom Carroll. He is an amazing person to work with when it comes to surfboard design,” Cox says.

“But it’s really all about plugging away, speaking to retailers and getting boards to shapers for their team riders. There’s also really good word of mouth around our boards,” he says.

He was able to start building a profile in the US market thanks to a well-connected contact who introduced him to the major players in the US.

Cox concedes the financial crisis was a tough period, but he has developed ways to bring cash into the business quickly. For example, customers pay upfront for custom-made surfboards, rather than when they are finished, in return for guaranteed manufacturing in two weeks.

Cox’s boards are manufactured in Australia, Japan, the US and Thailand. The partnership with Global Surf Industries has enabled Cox to manufacture in Thailand and supply the global economy from one manufacturing source. “We also offer locally-made custom boards through shapers around the world”.

His ability to sell the FibreFlex technology to shapers means that Cox can target all surfers in the marketplace. “But really, it’s all about having fun – there’s just something about being in the salt water that makes you happy. I make surfboards that are fun to ride,” he says.

Cox is featured in a new online book released by Nokia, In Hindsight, explores the stories of people building businesses.

Tips

• Try to have a number of different business strategies to increase revenue streams.
• If you can, ask contacts with a public profile to use your product or service to create a buzz for your business in the consumer space.
• Focus on developing products that ‘change the game’ in your market segment.
• Don’t give up. If you have a vision for your business, keep chipping away because dreams don’t come true overnight – they take time to come to fruition.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/entrepreneur/surfboard-shaper-goes-global-20110630-1gs8f.html#ixzz1Qu048dDu

 

 

Dane Reynolds Signs with Vans

VENTURA, California/USA (Tuesday, June 21, 2011) – Dane Reynolds (USA), 25, progressive surfing innovator and stalwart member of the ASP Top 34, has been out this season, rehabilitating a knee injury sustained last season in Hawaii. While the surfing world awaits his return to competition, Reynolds has been re-familiarizing himself with the sport via trips to Central and South America. Amidst the rehab and training, Reynolds recently signed with ASP’s Hawaiian Triple Crown sponsor Vans for all his footwear needs. This…is their story…

We are extremely excited to announce the addition of Dane Reynolds to the Vans Surf Team. Dane is one of the most exciting and unique surfers to date and brings a quiet sort of revolution with him. His approach is completely different to what’s been done and his reach touches every facet of surfing. For decades Vans has been home for people choosing their own path and it’s a pleasure to be able to uphold that principle to this day and have Dane become a part of it.

The 25 year-old from Ventura, CA has already made his mark on the ASP World Tour with Top 10 final rankings in both 2009 (10th) and 2010 (4th) – just his second and third years on tour, but Dane is much more than a contest surfer. When a surfer is described as straddling the demands of the pro tour while simultaneously establishing himself as a top free surf talent, perhaps no one reaches such heights in both worlds as the ultra-talented and creative Dane Reynolds.

In addition to Vans, Dane is sponsored by Quiksilver wetsuits and clothing, Channel Islands surfboards and accessories and Ventura Surf Shop.

Quiksilver & Roxy jump into Apple accessories pond

Mobile gadget accessories manufacturer, Proporta, has some fresh new Apple accessories styled by Australian born surf label, Quiksilver, and its sister label, Roxy. As a collection it incorporates, bright colours and materials such as neoprene, which reflects the lifestyle led by surfing devotees everywhere.

This new range of Apple accessories blend Proporta’s protective know-how with inspiration from classic Quiksilver and Roxy designs. There are Silicone Cases and Hard Shells for both the iPhone 4 and 4G iPod touch, and an “Echo Beach” design Neoprene sleeve for the MacBook and MacBook Pro 13 and 15 inch versions.

The Quiksilver and Roxy brands have mass appeal worldwide as it represents the dream, held by many of living a more relaxed lifestyle by the ocean. Guy Monson, Co-Director of Proporta commented, “Although our home town of Brighton on the south coast of England, is rarely considered a top surf spot – it has given us all a love of the sea.”  Apple stores will have the MacBook cases from the 5th January 2011 whilst the complete collection will be available at Quiksilver shops and proporta.com.

Quiksilver and Roxy Silicone Cases  £24.95
Available for both Apple iPhone 4 and 4G iPod touch, these stylish and lightweight cases not only prevent scratching, but also limit impact damage, as well as complimenting your device in a stylish blue or embossed neon pink silicone. Cut outs give access to ports and controls so that the device is fully usable whilst it’s in the case, and features Quiksilver or Roxy branding.

Quiksilver and Roxy Hard Shell Cases   £29.95
These Hard Shell Cases are super tough, robust and protect against knocks and impact damage. Available in both Quiksilver “Echo Beach” and Roxy designs they have cut outs, which allow the user to charge their iPhone 4, or iPod touch whilst in its case, and give access to all volume and hold controls.

Quiksilver Neoprene Sleeve  £34.95
The Quiksilver Neoprene Sleeves are suitable for the 13” or 15” MacBook or MacBook Pro, and are designed to add almost no bulk. The tough exterior will protect your Macbook from bumps, scratching and impact damage, whilst a secure double zip keeps everything where it should be. Finished in the stylish “Echo Beach” design with Quiksilver logo, this is an elegant little product that will fit your device like a second skin, and keep it as safe as houses.

 

Quiksilver partners with JBL on new audio line…

Quiksilver and JBL have partnered up to create a sleek line of audio products where style meets sound. The new audio line consists of headphones, ear buds, portable speakers and loudspeaker music docks (all weighing in at less than a pound!). Listen to your favorite music in style and share it in the premium high definition sound quality of JBL

Available now online at: Quiksilver X JBL

www.quiksilver.com

 

New Marketing Manager for Roxy and Quiksilver

New Marketing Manager for Roxy and Quiksilver

Kat Fahey
New position: Marketing Manager ROXY & QUIKSILVER NZ
Past position: Comes to the NZ side of the business after working in the Australian Marketing team for 5 years in roles such as PR manager and more recently Marketing Operations Manager for ROXY. Previously based in Sydney, Kat will now be based in Auckland
Quote: ‘I’m really looking forward to working with Maz and the dynamic team that is Quiksilver New Zealand on some exciting initiatives in the near future’

 

 

 

Hurley launches Phantom boardshort

Youth lifestyle brand Hurley announced today that they are taking the 3-time SIMA award-winning Phantom Boardshorts to the next level with the all-new Phantom 4D. Championship athletes inform innovation at Hurley. The Phantom 4D is an adaptive response to the increasing performance demands of surfers like Rob Machado, Evan Geiselman and Brett Simpson.

“The level is so high now that these guys are constantly pushing us to challenge the status quo,” says Hurley VP of Design and elite-level surfer Ryan Hurley. “We spent a lot of time with our athletes – in Bali, Hawaii and in Oregon with the Nike Innovation teams – and really focused on the dynamics of the waistband. We knew there was so much potential to come up with something special.”

Incorporating Nike Flywire technology, Phantom 4D features a first-of-its kind “biomimic” waistband that moves with the body. The modified Nike Flywire cables provide stability and engineered compression zones to keep the shorts in place while the body is in motion. The 4D waistband is welded, providing minimal bulk and water absorption, and includes the EZ Fly closure.

Phantom 4D also features Phantom technology, including 4-way superstretch fabric made from 100-percent recycled polyester and performance water repellency for minimal absorption and reduced weight. It contours to the body and has seamless welded construction, making the Phantom 4D the most comfortable high-performance boardshort to date.

Artist James “Dalek” Marshall created a striking visual language for the product inspired by the waistband innovation. “We wanted to articulate the technology,” says Marshall. “If the idea is to create a boardshort that moves as you move, then the graphic needs to reflect that connection to the body.”

Phantom 4D is now available at specialty retailers. Look for a full expression of the boardshort at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, July 30-August 7.

“TWEAK”in’ Designs

Social networks are beginning to do more than merely create connections. They are now responsible for creating skateboard shoes.

TWEAK footwear, a brand that was created “for people,” uses social networks to connect with fans and learn what they want in a product. After being around for only a year, TWEAK has more than 10,000 Facebook fans and more than 150,000 YouTube views.

“We create products for a community of people,” said TWEAK founder and CEO Ric Long. “‘It’s your brand’ is really what TWEAK is all about.”

TWEAK allows for fan input for its shoes by creating YouTube videos with Internet celebrities includingOlga Kay, Penny Arcade, Timothy DeLaGhetto, Keep The Heat,DeStorm Power, Wheezy Waiter, and Rhett & Link. This crew has helped create seven shoes using YouTube videos, asking their fans to describe what they want in the design.

TWEAK is a startup consisting of four “deckheads,” or those who make sure that the ship runs smoothly, and has gained significant popularity, with thousands of shoes sold on the brand’s website for $58-$85. Its ability to design shoes for fans is creating a model that could pose serious competition as well as ignite ideas amongst competitors. With 22 branded stores in Asia, and an eye towards expansion in the States, this is a model to watch.

Rhett & Link announce the Mythical Shoe & explain its design process:

“We’ve had a crazy response since the first [shoe],” Long said. “People have the opportunity to send in a video, photo, or blog post about what they want. We take responses all three ways. People have unique responses about what they want [in a shoe]. If we can do it, we will.”

We caught up with Ric Long, and TWEAK’s head of marketing, Andrew Long, to learn more about exactly how a community creates a pair of shoes.

Can you explain how TWEAK creates a community?

Ric: We find Internet celebrities, anyone with a following on Facebook and a community, and we work with these people. They work with their community and go out and ask them what type of shoes they want to build. [Starting out] we approached YouTube celebrities, Rhett and Link [comedians] with a half a million following, and said we were going to build a Rhett and Link Mythical Shoe. Then, 30,000 people responded on what they wanted for the mythical shoe.  We took the comments and gave them to a designer.

Besides asking for online feedback, you have an open door policy asking fans to stop in your Hermosa Beach, California offices. How has that worked out?

Andrew: The majority of our business is in California. Some people just stop in and ask what it is all about. A family was in LA for vacation and thought they would go in and buy shoes, and we ran them through everything. We got to know them, in person. We are not this business machine, we are real people.

What else do you do to connect to fans?

Andrew: We sit down for an hour on Wednesdays and talk to them [through video streaming], not always just about shoes. We will mess around with the shoes and with fans. We will ask: what music are you listening to? Movies? Music? It’s a good way to connect with fans. It’s been rather fun. Kids are latching on. They talk to us, know us by name.

We also have “Free Shoe Friday.” We run through and each week [fans] pick their favorite [shoes]. They make YouTube videos. It encourages them to make videos, and we reward them with shoes. You don’t need to be a professional video editor. It’s so easy to make a video. It’s more about participation and getting the community talking. We give out one pair every Friday.

Who is your target demographic?

Andrew: It’s mostly male, and it depends on what community we are tapping into. The [Penny] Arcade shoe has a broad audience and is popular til age 30. Olga Kay is popular among females ages 13 to 17. We take pre-existing communities from the Internet celebrities and share their communities.

I notice that customizing shoes to fit the fan’s wants and needs is a major part of your brand. Have you thought about having fans customize their own pair?

Andrew: Not really, it becomes difficult. It’s a possibility, but not what we are looking to get into.

How successful has crowd sourcing been among the skateboard audience?

Andrew: It’s been pretty awesome, a lot of kids have been asking for sponsorships. We aren’t in the position do that yet, but kids wear [the shoes] for competitions and take pictures.

Do you plan to expand beyond being a self-distributing company and into shops?

Ric: We are, when we grow up. Right now we need to develop our concept to a larger degree and once we have the right volume of shoes, we will look for retail possibilities. Every shoe has a story behind it, how it was created, the video behind it of how it was created. We are looking forward to it. We are maybe a year and a half to two years away [from outsourcing into shops].

We do have retail shops in Asia. We have 22 TWEAK stores in China and are expanding into Taiwan and Korea. We are doing quite well in China.

Any last thoughts?

Ric: “It’s fun.”

 

 

 

Global surfboard rental company re-launches website

 

9 months after its launch, discover the new rentasurfboard.com with plenty of extra features to serve you better such as :

- 2 times faster
- Possibility to book boards directly from the destination pages
- Live chat support
- Paypal payment now enabled
- More than 70 destinations now available. (Lately added : Panama, Cadix, Cape Hatteras, India, Japan, Pavones, Philippines…)
- 1500 boards to choose from : Thrusters, longboards, mini malibus, stand up paddle boards… You name it, we have it.

www.rentasurfboard.com

 

Liquid Image – Impact Series HD Camera MX Goggle

Liquid Image has integrated an HD camera into their goggle designs to allow riders to get full POV footage while they ride without having to wear extra equipment. Read below for a description of the Impact Series HD MX Goggle, as well as a general product overview highlighting some key aspects of the products.

 

MPACT SERIES HD – VIDEO CAMERA MX GOGGLE

The Liquid Image Impact Series HD is a motocross/off-road goggle with an integrated HD camera for True POV™ footage. The goggle contains a 136 degree (full field of view) wide angle lens to capture all the action while riding Motocross, ATV or Downhill Biking. The hands free unit has a 5.0 MP (2560 x 1920) camera mode and a video mode that records HD720P video (1280×720) at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio. The Impact Series HD can hold a Micro SD/SDHC Card up to 32 GB. Product includes a 4GB Micro SDHC card.  With the use of a micro SD/SDHC card, the camera is capable of recording thousands of photos or hours of HD video. Files may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB/RCA cable provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card.

Video Goggle – Product Overview

Liquid Image Video Goggles have an integrated camera set just above the eyes to record True POV™ video hands free on the go. They are amazingly easy to use. A simple two button system switches the camera between Video Mode and Photo Mode. The Shutter button records a file. There are no mounts, tools or set up time required. Just load the batteries and memory card, adjust the head strap to fit and go. Capturing high speed adventures in HD has never been easier. Liquid Image Video Goggles are available for Snow Sports, Off-road Sports and Scuba Diving.

The line began in 2008 with the Explorer Series Camera Mask; a model designed for snorkeling and free diving to 15 feet. The concept was to create a hands free camera for use while in the water. Strapping a camera to the wrist or to a wet suit was not a great solution, but it was the only option available at the time. Embedding a camera into a mask, resulted in a camera that was in place ready to record when a fish came into view. This made it easier to get the shot as it happened in the water. Positioning the camera just above the eyes made the field of view similar to a person’s field of view. This meant a Camera Mask user could stop looking at the back of the camera and start to enjoy the adventure again. The functions were limited in the camera to Video or Photo Mode so that less time was spent making adjustments and fewer mistakes could be made on the go.

The initial product was such a success worldwide, that the concept was expanded to other sports including Scuba Diving, Snow Sports, and Off-road sports. The quality of the camera components has also been improved to record HD video with audio. Accessories for lighting and color correction were added to meet the demands of a more professional market. The customer base of Liquid Image now ranges from amateur athlete and photographer to professional level. Due to consumer demand future camera models are in development for paintball, skydiving and more.

Model 365 Impact Series Black Shadow

KEY FEATURES

Key product features and how Liquid Image Video Goggles and Camera masks are different from other Action Cameras and Helmet cameras.

1. We have an internal LED light positioned just above the eye inside the goggle to indicate the product is in video mode and recording. (see video below). Most people report that it is hard to know when a Helmet Camera is on or recording.

 

2. Our Video Goggles capture line of sight footage. The wide angle lens utilized in our latest models is positioned just above the eyes and in the center. The lens angle is wider than your eyes, so it captures everything you see plus a little more. There is no need to specially position the product or guess where you are aiming. Our product is True POV™, because it records what you are seeing from your point of view, as opposed to other action cameras which are mounted on the top or on the side of a helmet, on the chest, a pole or a handle bar.

3. Our goggle can’t get knocked off by trees or shake loose and fall off while riding (both of which many people have reported with the helmet cameras).

4. Ready to go when you buy it. The HD Video Goggles comes with a 4GB micro SD Card, and the battery is 3/4 charged. Our Scuba Masks come with 4xAAA batteries and a 4GB micro SD Card. You just have to insert the card and the batteries, and then adjust the strap to your head or to your helmet and go!

PRIMARY CUSTOMER BASE

Consumers use the goggles to capture memories and to share videos and photos with friends from vacation activities and off-road adventures.

Athletes post videos and photos of competitions and tricks online. The goggles are great for promoting an athlete to their fan base.

Coaches and instructors use them for training purposes; Record footage of a track before a race, and then review before a competition. Show a student how to perform a skill or point out what they did incorrectly.

 

A new women’s surf community

A new women’s surf community, CetoSurf.com, was recently launched on World Ocean Day by New England surfer and environmentalist Courtney Hayes as an outlet for promoting healthy oceans and a sustainable surf industry.

The site is a place where women can connect and learn about ocean-related issues, as well as find surf product reviews, equipment classifieds, and women-specific events and contests. CetoSurf.com also features interviews with women surfers, shapers, innovators, artists and environmentalists.

 

VonZipper’s new eyewear lens technology, Meloptics

VonZipper’s new eyewear lens technology, Meloptics, hit retail earlier this month in an array of the brand’s top frames, including the Drydock, Gatti, and Elmore.  Ten years in the making, Meloptics technology utilizes synthetic melanin to create lenses that offer an increased level of protection from the sun’s rays. Although they don’t have a patent, VZ is leading the charge for Meloptics in an effort to make the technology synonymous with the brand.  We were lucky enough to catch up with Marketing Director Greg “GT” Tomlinson, who filled us in on how Meloptics was developed, what it does,  what sets it apart, and why he “can’t be more positive that every eyewear company is going to run with this technology.”

What makes Meloptics technology different?

Melanin is what our body uses to protect itself from the sun, and gives our skin, hair, and eyes color. It protects the skin around your eyes, so any area of skin that is covered by the lens its like SPF 150. The rad thing is that it protects your skin from crows feet, that’s something quite frankly that—as a vain human being—I must admit I’d like to protect myself against.

Besides that, it also protects against the other evil things that the sun does like causing cataracts, and also against AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), which can eventually result in blindness and is caused by losing melanin in your retina. All sunglasses cut down the amount of UV light that enters the eye, but melanin filters out the rays within the visible spectrum of light that are the most damaging—the violets and the blues–also known as high energy rays.

High energy rays connect to the scattered light and the water vapors in the air, which is what causes haze. The melanin lenses knock out that haze, and it’s super noticeable. That is truly the big “holy shit” moment—you can really see more detail and get better definition. It’s similar to blue blockers, but the problem with blue blockers is they take out all the blues, so when you look through them you lose color perception. With melanin you get the full color range; that’s the benefit beyond the AMD and crows feet. They are also polarized, so not only do you kill haze, you also kill glare.

What’s the difference between Meloptics and polarized?

Polarization only allows light to enter in from certain directions and that’s how it cuts down glare. Let’s say you are standing at the beach— you have light coming in directly and indirectly bouncing off the water, sand, and all different directions. What polarization does is only lets light enter in from one direction. That’s the strength of polarized.

In contrast, melanin eliminates the majority of blue and violet, concealing scattered light that is attached to water vapor and that kills haze. So you get glare reduction and haze reduction, and that’s when you get maximum protection.

How was the Meloptics technology developed?

At the end of the day, melanin is part of our DNA as humans, but we have worked closely with one of the lens makers,BNL Eurolens, and have been developing it over the course of ten years. It’s not necessarily a new technology, but it is relatively new to the eyewear market—although it has been around, no one has applied it successfully to eyewear.

What other brands does BNL Eurolens work with?

BNL is the sun lens division of Essilor, the worlds leader in ophthalmic lenses. They won’t divulge who else they are working with on the Melanin lens program, but they are the number one lens supplier in the eyewear industry.

Does VonZipper have a patent pending on this technology?

Because it’s a lens maker who developed it, we do not have one. There are really only two or three lens makers that supply for everyone. The majority of people who make eyewear use those two or three companies; they get about 80 percent of the eyewear business. Although they have not given it exclusively to us, we have been the first to get the technology and the first to step up and market it.

 

 

Latest Industry News

 

Slob air vs. Floater: Owen/Adriano debate flares

, 23 May, 2011 : – - It seems the ASP are getting given a hard time over this Adriano and Owen quarter final and they are certainly copping some serious heat from fans and the media over the whole criteria and scoring system. They have just released a write up of how they saw things unfold from a judges perspective and they are sticking by their guns.

Below is the story which they released justifying their scoring for Adriano’s wave and Owens wave. In this article they seem to be focusing on only the how critical Adriano’s floater was but not how hard a slob grab air is.

I would be confident to say that when Adriano had completed that floater he would never in his wildest dreams expected to get an 8.23. He would have been thinking to himself maybe a high 6 or max a 7.5. When they announced that score he would have been rubbing his hands together thinking “give me another closeout and I’ve got this heat wrapped up”. I think everyone on the beach was surprised with the score as well (especially in the competitors area). Even a lot of the fans of Adriano and his followers are saying that Owen won that heat and Owen should have got the score on his last wave.

It should really come down to how many airs were getting done on that left over the last couple of days and how many floaters were getting down. In every heat held on the last few days of that left bank, would have a number of floaters performed by every surfer. Granted that Adriano’s was a big floater on a big “3 foot” wave but to give a 8.23 out of 10 for a floater is incomprehensible.

I know I could do floaters all day long even on sucky sections, but it would take me months to make a clean slob grab air even on a 1 foot wave. A normal air is hard enough but to reach across your board and grab the opposing rail makes it that much harder.

Lets break down the criteria from both the waves perspectives:

“Innovative and progressive Maneuvers” – A floater is not “innovative” nor is it “progressive”. A slob grab air on the other hand is both of them.

“Commitment and Degree of Difficulty” – Adriano’s floater showed some serious commitment and was difficult, but, you can go down to any beach and see local surfers pulling off floaters like that on any given day. Do you see other surfers punting slob grabs regularly, i know i certainly don’t.

“Combination of Major Maneuvers and Variety of Maneuvers” – Once again, Adriano performed one floater on a close-out set, one move, no variety. Owen performed a vertical forehand re-entry, followed it up with a snap to get him back into the sucky part of the wave then punted a clean slob air on a small but sucky part of the wave. Leaving him with 3 moves which were all different. He had a combination of variety and major moves.

“Speed, Power and Flow” – Now here’s were Adriano’s floater wins a few points. He performed his floater with speed and flow. There was not much power involved cause everyone knows that you don’t really need much power to do a floater. Now for Owens wave, his first vertical reo could have been more powerful but it all flowed together. He maintained speed and flow through all his turns and showed his speed by launching an impressive slob air at the end of the wave.

We all know the bigger the wave the better the score you are going to get. And for some time now Slater has been debating this with the ASP. He believes that it is often harder to do certain moves on smaller waves, as opposed to larger waves, because you have to create your own speed and power which makes it harder. But the size of the wave ridden is not anywhere to be seen in the judging criteria.

The ASP stated that “Owens airs were executed on the easy parts of the wave”. I’m confused because on the final day the only person that was doing airs on the lefts was Owen. Now if these airs were on easy parts of the waves, why wasn’t all the guys doing airs on the lefts. Instead Adriano and Kerrsy were hunting down rights to do airs on.

I think the ASP judges were influenced by the crowd and were worried about a riot breaking loose if Owen got the score. The criteria says that a wave scored in the 8-10 point range is an excellent wave, can you say that one close-out floater is an excellent wave, I certainly cannot. And if this is true I’m going back on the QS, and in every heat I’m going select the two biggest close-out set waves in every heat and perform a floater on them and that should allow me to qualify.

I find it funny that the ASP released this article in their defense but they do not enable the “Leave a comment” feature on their site. I am pretty sure they know what type of backlash they would receive from the public.

Nothing that I have written shows no disrespect to Adriano, he deserves to be were he is right now I believe. I think he would have been as shocked as everyone else when they read the score out for that wave but its all the past now. I bet if the ASP had to do it all over again they would probably change their view on the whole situation.

 

 

Next Page »