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Thursday, June 28, 2012

X Games Los Angeles 2012 | The Next Generation

When I was 11 or 12, I spent my days outside playing with my neighborhood friends, enjoying our adolescence.  Today, three young boys will be enjoying their summer vacation not by playing flashlight tag, but rather competing in the Summer X games in Los Angeles.  


As the Summer X Games begin, we’re sure to see some familiar faces taking over with their skateboards like every year, but keep your eyes on the big air competition where the youngsters are taking over.  Jagger Eaton (11 years old), Tom Schaar (12 years old) and Trey Wood (11 years old) may seem small but they are forces to be reckoned with.  Schaar was the first 12-year-old to have landed a 1080 when he did so in March 2012, a big feat that many big name skateboarders cannot master themselves.   While they skate among legends, many of them their idols, the boys only fear is the drop on to the MegaRamp.  See what they think in ESPN’s video TricksAre For Kids.

The X Games start June 28th and end July 1st. Coverage will be provided by ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC but it can also be live streamed from XGames.com or WatchESPN.com

Ride On,
        Colleen

Sunday, June 24, 2012

ASP World Tour | The Dream Tour


ASP World Championship Tour: the Dream Tour

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour pits the world's 34 best surfers in competition against one another across 10 events for the right to be crowned world surf champion.  Established in 1982 by Ian Cairns, the World Tour has developed into a global competition, featuring competitors from all over the world and competitions across continents.  Because it is the pinnacle of professional surfing, it is commonly referred to as the "Dream Tour."

Since Tom Carroll won the first ASP World Championship back in 1983, there have only been 12 different winners of the championship in 29 years.  The biggest reason there have been so few winners is because of the dominance of Kelly Slater, who has won the championship 11 times, including 5 straight championships from 1994-1998.  Other repeat winners include Tom Carroll (2x), Tom Curren (3x), Damien Hardman (2x), Andy Irons (3x), and Mick Fanning (2x).  Every year, new stars stake their claim to the championship, but Kelly Slater or Mick Fanning has won the championship every year since 2004. 

Some of the events on the tour calendar change from year-to-year so that the surfers can surf new breaks and expose different parts of the world to the "World Tour experience."  This year, the tour includes stops in Australia, Brazil, Fiji, Tahiti, the United States, France, Portugal, and Hawaii.  Other notable stops in recent years included Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Long Island, New York. 

So far this year, the tour has completed 4 events: Gold Coast and Bells Beach, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Tavarua, Fiji.  Taj Burrow took the win at the Gold Coast, Mick Fanning was first at Bells, John John Florence won at Rio, and most recently, Kelly Slater came out on top at Tavarua.  After those 4 events, Mick Fanning is number 1 in the tour standings, followed closely by Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Adriano de Souza, and Taj Burrow.  To make sure that each event maxes out the opportunity to get great waves, the time for each tour event is about a two week window.  Early on every day during those two weeks, contest organizers check the surf conditions and swell forecasts to determine whether the conditions are right to run the contest.  If it's flat, or if they see something better coming in the forecast, the organizers will call a "lay day", temporarily postponing the contest until the waves arrive.  As any surfer knows, this can be a tough decision.

The next tour event won't be for another 2 months, when the Billabong Pro Teahupoo kicks off in Teahupoo August 16 through August 27.  Notorious for having the heaviest waves and barrels around, this event is sure to produce an equal share of epic rides and massive wipeouts, both fan favorites.  Like all the events, the Billabong Pro will be streaming live online - don't forget to check it out!  In the meantime, check out the highlights from the final day of the Fiji Pro.













Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Skateboard Brands | Top Five Skateboard Deck Brands

If you’re new to the skateboarding industry, sometimes it can be hard to pick the right brand of skateboard to start your journey.  Should you pick what is most popular, or make your choice based on the style or shape of the board? Well worry no more.  StoreYourBoard has compiled our list of the five best skateboard brands out of the many awesome ones on the market.  

Zero Skateboards

With their signature Skull logo covering most decks, Zero is for those of you who have a dark side.  Created by Anthony Freiberg, the company started out in 1996 as a clothing company before becoming a full-blown skateboarding company when Jamie Thomas became Zero’s first rider.  Zero skateboards are one of the best brands for street skating, possibly because of the badass imagery on the brands decks.

Element Skateboards

Originally known as Underworld Element Skateboards, the “Underworld” portion was dropped when Johnny Schillereff absorbed the company.  These earth friendly skateboards are manufactured to result in the highest quality skateboard out there.  The Helium chambers in the certain decks make them light and firm for the perfect ride.  Contrasting with Zero skateboards, Element’s logo is simple and crisp with complementary colors.

Plan B Skateboards


Plan B’s goal is simple: to produce durable and high quality skateboards.   The brand actually disbanded in the early 90s only to resurface recently.   Now owned by Danny Way and Collin McKay, Plan B skateboards are made from high grade 7-ply skate decks to produce lighter, stronger and manageable skateboards.  Not only producing quality boards, the brand has a powerhouse skate team (riders include Ryan Sheckler, Danny Way, Collin McKay, and Jereme Rogers).

Blind Skateboards
Having been around the block since 1989, this veteran brand is obviously doing something right.  With the logo of a grim reaper, these durable skateboards often cheat death.  The brand prides themselves on indestructible boards made from aluminum, texalium and epoxy glass. 

Girl Skateboards
 
These American made 7-ply skateboard decks are made to do one job: to provide an excellent ride.  With nothing too fancy about these skateboards, they are the best for beginning skateboarders.  The brand is also philanthropic with their Girl (Product) Red decks which help to diminish AIDS by 2015.



Other quality brands include Birdhouse, Habitat, Flip, and Chocolate.
Skateboard decks are intricately designed to be eye catching and deserve to be displayed.  Check out our wall mounted skateboard racks as a way to show off your ride.

 

 

Ride On,
        Colleen 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Surfboard Stands | Store and Display your Surfboard without Drilling into the Wall

You need a place to store your surfboard?  You don't feel like getting out your tools and drilling into your nicely painted walls?  What you need is a surfboard stand!  This type of surf rack makes it easy to both store and display your surfboard.

With the size of a surfboard, it can be a hassle to hoist the board to the wall each night when returning from longs hours spent in the surf.  But StoreYourBoard has another solution: Free Standing Surf Racks.  This particular kind of rack is the perfect if your living space is limited and also leaves your walls screw-free.  Free standing surf racks can also easily be moved when it comes time to board up the beach house or rearrange the furniture.

There are generally two different types of surfboard stands:
(1) Center Fin NOT Required, and
(2) Center Fin Required

Center Fin NOT Required:

Surfboard Stand - Free Standing Surf RackSurf Display Stand

This free standing surf rack does not require a center fin to secure your surfboard.  It is cradled by the rack to allow easy removal and placement.  You can display your surfboard in this rack with or without fins. 


Center Fin Required:




This surfboard stand uses the center fin of your surfboard as a way to secure the board and firmly hold it until your next set. StoreYourBoard’s Center Fin Surfboard Stands feature a padded lip where the base of your board rests while the center fin holds it vertical. Pretty simple rack that does a nice job holding your surfboard.




StoreYourBoard also offers a special free standing rack that holds surfboards both with and without fin, the Surfboard Floor Display Stand.  However, in order for it to hold a surfboard with a center fin, the board needs to be placed in the stand with the fin facing out.  This stand has an adjustable mechanism that squeezes the sides of the board as its weight is applied to the bottom of the stand. As soon as you lift up on the surfboard the sides release and you can easily take your board out.

This rack creates a very nice visual display.  The surf rack is made from high quality wood and would be a great rack to showoff your favorite surfboard in your family room, office, or wo/man cave.

One thing to keep in mind is that these free standing racks have height limitations.  But no worries - we offer surfboard wall racks that are sturdy and allow you to hang longboards and multiple surfboards.  


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Stand Up Paddle Boarding | It’s Everywhere

A new board sport is hitting the scene and making a name for itself: Stand Up Paddle Boarding.  Though it has been around for a few years, its popularity is rising with the easy accessibility and excellent workout the sport provides.  


A well-rounded sport, stand up paddle boarding allows its rider to stand up paddleboard on lakes, rivers, and oceans—there are no limitations.  The lakes and rivers provide a calmer atmosphere and are better places to paddleboard for a beginner.  However, you don’t have to be an advanced rider to be in the ocean.  The ocean provides a rider with calm waves to coast over, along with swells to transform your paddle boarding experience in to one similar to a surfer’s.


Stand up paddle boarding can be a great way to take in the area as well.  With the rider in a standing position, paddle boarding down the windy rivers offers a great opportunity to tour the area and it’s local spots (and for free too!).


Like most sports, stand up paddle boarding is an awesome cardio workout.  It tones the rider’s arms, core, legs and butt as they try to stay balanced while paddling through the water.  It is an all over body toning workout that, surprisingly, doesn’t leave the rider sore the next day.  Though it may seem difficult to pick up, stand up paddle boarding is actually a sport that most people believe anyone can do.  


So if you’re planning your next vacation and want to stay active, try looking to rent a stand up paddleboard to learn the area.  If you’re an experienced rider, check out StoreYourBoard.com and take look at our SUP Racks to show off your board.

Ride On,
       Colleen 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Famous Surfers | Ride the Wave, Live the Wave


Few people on the planet have the privilege of saying that their office is Mother Nature’s blue ocean.  For these surf pros and legends, the water is another home where they hone their skills to be some of the best surfers in the world.  Take a look to see who made our list:

Laird Hamilton – Never feeling the need to actually compete or turn pro, Laird Hamilton is known as the best at big wave surfing.  Born March 2, 1964 Hamilton referred to surfing as a work of art rather than a way to win cash and trophies.  While out on the water in 1992 with fellow big wave riders Darrick Doerner and Buzzy Kerbox, the group created tow-in surfing as a way to reach giant waves that would be difficult for a surfer paddling to reach.  Though some surf buffs thought this new creation was cheating and took away from the sport, many accepted it as a necessary way to seize outrageous sized waves.  Hamilton’s adventurous fire burned on in 2000 when he rode one of the “heaviest waves” in Teahupo‘o, Tahiti, a place known for its dangerous coral under layer.  The ride made the cover of 
                                                                                      Surfer Magazine, exposing Laird Hamilton in his element of 
                                                                                      big wave riding.  

Kelly Slater – Born February 11, 1972 Kelly Slater was, and still is, the inspiration for surfers to pick up a surfboard and ride the waves for the first time.  Though he won championships and appeared in surfshorts in the 1980s, Slater started a new revelation in the 1990s when he went pro.  His appearance in Quicksilver’s 30-minute video titled Black and White exposed a new style of surfing that challenged the way of riding a wave and inspired many of the young pro surfers out there today.  His accomplishments include being the youngest and oldest surfer to claim the world title, which he won 11 times, along with 30 other victories spread throughout World Title events and other Tour events.  Still competing 20 years after being officially sponsored, Slater is an icon for surfers everywhere.

Andy Irons – A full-blooded Hawaiian, Andy Irons, born on July 24, 1978, used his backyard to hone his surfing skills along side of his brother Bruce.   His claim to fame came in 1996 at the HIC Pipeline Pro, when he shocked judges and onlookers as he surpassed his competitors on a 12’ Pipeline.   Throughout his pro career, Irons succeeded in winning four Vans Triple Crown Titles and three World Professional Surfing Championships.  His battle with surf rival Kelly Slater was present throughout his surfing career as he came up through the ranks to steal a World Professional Surfing Championship title from the now 11-time winner.  Sadly, the surfer’s life was cut short when he unexpectedly passed away November 2, 2010.  However, his passion for the sport and 
                                                                                      determination while competing will never be forgotten.

Mick Fanning – Nicknamed “White Lightening,” this Aussie native, born June 13, 1981, began surfing at the age of five.  His career launched in 1996 when he won three Australian National Titles.  Going pro in 2002, he won the Rookie of the Year at the Billabong Pro event.  Completely tearing his hamstring in 2004 didn’t stop him from competing and placing in tournaments as soon as his rehabilitation finished.  Then in 2007, Fanning knocked Kelly Slater off the head of the podium when he placed first in the ASP World tour.    He made his presence known when he took the crown for the second time in 2009.

Taj Burrow – Picking up a surfboard at the age of seven, this other Aussie native, born June 2, 1978, didn’t have his rookie year until 1999 when he won the Rookie of the Year title.  Making a name for himself, that same year Burrows was the runner up for the ASP World Tour event.  At the time, he was the youngest to do so at the ripe age of 18.  Landing in the runner up position again in 2007, and 13 other event wins under his belt, this Australian Surfing Hall of Fame inductee is a force to be reckoned with.






Dayne Reynolds – Born September 7, 1985, Dayne Reynolds is a surfer known widely for his “go broke style” of surfing.  Sharpening his skills on local Cali beaches, Reynolds experimented with many aerial maneuvers that helped him win during the 2003 and 2004 X Games.  His attacking of waves head on and time spent in the air while surfing gets him noticed in ASP events, pushing the boundaries of the sport.  However, that aggressiveness is getting him inducted into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame in August 2012.


And now for the soulful shredding ladies…

Layne Beachley – Diving head first into the pro level of surfing, Layne Beachley, born May 24, 1972, was the best of her generation before retiring in 2008.  Ranked #6 in the world at the age of 20, Beachley pushed herself, successfully riding big waves like no other woman.  Her skill and soul of surfing played out as she became the ASP World Tour Champion in 1998 and maintained the title until 2004, only to win it again in 2006.  



 

Stephanie Gilmore – Born January 29, 1988, this Gold Coast native entered the surfing scene at the age of 17 when she won the Roxy Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard.  She shocked fellow surfers even more when she won first place in the 2007 ASP World Tour event—her rookie season.  Gilmore went on to the claim the title for three more years, only to lose it to newcomer Carissa Moore in 2011.  Riding waves that can be classified as wimpy to explosive, Stephanie Gilmore is one of surfing’s best.

Sally Fitzgibbons – This young surfer is making a name for herself throughout the ASP.  Born December 19, 1990 she qualified for the ASP World Tour in 2008 faster than most surfers before her did.  A well-rounded athlete (participating in cross-country, touch football, and soccer along with surfing) Fitzgibbons followed the call of the wave winning junior-pro titles one after the other.  Adding pressure to experienced athletes, she placed second two years in a row for the ASP World Title. 





Each of these surfers has the heart and drive to be successful in riding waves.  Determination and drive, while mixing his or her own style to the mix, makes each of these surfers an individual.  Here at StoreYourBoard we keep that in mind with our various surf racks, making sure each is designed to fit your various riding needs.

Ride On,
        Colleen 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Father’s Day Gifts | StoreYourBoard Display Racks Make the Perfect Gift

Just a reminder that Father’s Day is right around the corner (Sunday June 17th in case you forgot) and for all of the board sport loving dads out there a wall rack would be a great way for them to display their board of choice.   

Not to mention, it may put you in good standing with your mom, too, if she’s tired of his things cluttering the garage! Speaking of garages, StoreYourBoard has racks that not only store boards, but racks that are capable of storing all of dad’s tools/rakes as well.  

 


Better order now so it arrives on time!

Ride On,
        Colleen

Monday, June 4, 2012

Store Your Board on Twitter | Follow All Your Favorite Board Sports


Did you know…




Follow us at @StoreYourBoard for the latest scoop about not only our racks, but the latest news in board sports and why we love them.

Here’s an awesome shot of a tweet from us that made it to the live stream of the ASP World Tour Event going on in Fiji this week!