According to the people at Laureus in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Flying Tomato out-action-sportsed everyone this year, winning the Action Sports Person Of The Year award. White joins the ranks of anti-doping campaigner Dick Pound, and Ukranian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka.

For people outside the action-sports bubble, Laureus did alright. One of the two photos on the site are actually of White, and they definitely referred to his Xgames performance as “video game moves.” No mention of the Birdhouse video, though. I’m kinda pissed about that.

From White’s profile: “In the vert event, White exhibited video-game moves: Backside 540 to heelflip body varial to McTwist to air to fakie to 720 to frontside 540 stalefish to frontside 540 to nose grind to lipslide to blunt to fakie to fakie air to frontside 540 to backside 540 to frontside gay twist. Suddenly, a summer X Gold was his.”

Jesus, that’s one hell of a trick. Up-up-down-down-circle-circle-square, indeed.

Transworld Business erroneously printed in our March issue that Terje Haakonsen was involved in the co-creation of the noboard, the bindingless snowboard. We would like to thank John Gerndt from Burton for setting the record straight on this. Apparently Terje has never even set foot on a noboard, which was actually created by Cholo Burns and Greg Todds, who unfortunately passed away in an avalanche on January 13, 2005.

According to Cholo Burns, “In the beginning, the snow was so deep we couldn’t even find our binding straps, So Geets(Greg Todds) decided to shed them. That was 1998 and he hasn’t used binders since. First boards and prototypes were garage pours of our homemade molds. Once we knew that we wanted to spread the love of noboarding, a company was formed and true professionals were brought on to further the equipment.”

For more information on the noboard, visit www.noboard.ca.

PRESS RELEASE: The Dave Rastovich/Sea Shepherd Vector Keel fin, which is a classic template brought back and modernized with Futures high tech Vector foil and space aged RTM material, has been nominated as product of the year.

Future Fins set the standard in collaboration between athlete (RASTA) and company to fight together for a noble cause and for all ocean enthusiasts.

Future Fins recognizes that the ocean and all of its inhabitants need to be protected and that surfers should be the most evolved people when it comes to their ocean.

As a surfer, Dave Rastovich knows the importance of the ocean and all its inhabitants. Knowing this, Rasta is donating 100% of his signature Vector Rasta Keel royalties to the Sea Shepard Conservation Society and Future Fins is matching it.

Future Fins won the category in 07 with the VECTOR TECH FOILS” that are now a standard in surfboard manufacturing.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Blank pioneer Harold Walker may have turned out the lights at Walker Foam, but he wasn’t ready to pack it in. Moments later, he joined up with foam innovator Ice-9 to help them develop supercharged versions of the TDI foams that he formulated at his famous shop starting nearly 50 years ago. Walker helped spearhead the foam blank industry and now is aiding and abetting the foam vanguard as they create new, successful products for the high-performance surfboard market.Walker Foam - Clark Foam’s historical predecessor - enjoyed a very loyal clientele throughout the decades. This kind of loyalty is a thing that is difficult to inspire and important to pass on, in the view of Ice-9 founder and self-declared Lonely Tyrant Jon Stillman. And Walker’s deep knowledge and experience is not something to be thrown overboard just because that’s what’s going on these days.

“I have great respect for Walker’s contributions to surfing,” Stillman says, “especially when it comes to the manufacture of commercially viable foam formulations and the fact that he helped usher in the Foam Age. The way I see it, by marrying Harold’s incredible experience and knowledge with our updated processing and engineering, we can create the ultimate shaper’s foam. Wouldn’t it be cool to see the traditional formulas that served surfing for decades intensified by 21st century technology?”

Walker concurs. “I’m pleased to announce that Ice-Nine has contracted with me to supply them and consult on production of the Walker Foam blank formulas,” he says. “These are the Original formula, the New formula, the Colored Foam formula, and the High Density Foam formula. I very much admire Ice-Nine’s aggressive pursuit of advanced technology in Eco-friendly foam, molding and gluing techniques, and foam mixing procedures.”

Those who have followed Ice-9 since its inception may note that the partnership is a departure from the company’s original “MDI-only” path. But it plans to implement chemical industry “best practices” and engineering controls to assure that the TDI poses no threat to shapers, surfers, or its employees. And, adds Stillman, “by including one of the historic foam formulations in our line-up, we are creating a bridge between surfing’s past and future.”

For more information on Ice-Nine Foam Works, please visit IceNineFoamWorks.com.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – Nice Footwear (NSS), an industry leader in performance skateboard shoes, proudly announced Monday, March 24, the additions of Brian Sumner, Chad Knight and Tom Knox to its pro team. The additions come as part of a brand re-launch which includes a renewed focus on developing footwear that stands up to the standards of hard core skateboarders in both quality and style.

As part of their sponsorship deals, both Sumner and Knight will help conceptualize and design signature shoe models.

“We are stoked to welcome Brian, Chad and Tom to the team,” Dan Doherety, NSS general manager, said. “Attracting skaters of this magnitude is a testament to the direction of the brand and the reputation NSS has for producing quality skate shoes.”

Hailing from Liverpool, England, Sumner has been an avid skater since he was 13. He currently resides in Huntington Beach, Calif., and also rides for Birdhouse, Analog and Independent Trucks.

Originally from Ohio, Knight moved to San Diego after graduating high school in 1995. On the west coast he has flourished as a professional skateboarder for more than a decade. Recent highlights include, featured spots on popular FUEL TV programs, a spot on Tony Hawk’s “Boom Boom Huck Jam” tour and a guest spot on NBC’s revamped version of American Gladiators, where he was selected as one of 24 contestants from a pool of more than 10,000.

A skateboarding icon since the 1980’s, Tom Knox, is a master of all terrains of the sport and is considered a pioneer of many modern tricks. Knox resides in Visalia, Calif.

Founded on the streets of New York City in 1993, NSS is dedicated to producing durable and stylish footwear for high-performance skateboarding. The company is now part of the American Sporting Goods family based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. For more information on NSS, visit the company’s official Web site HERE.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Last week, Miss Transworld SURF 2008 did a one-on-one interview with Fox Sports.net.  With over 15 million impressions, Foxsports.net is the number one sports website.  Heather’s interview will remain on FSN through the summer.

View Heather’s interview HERE by clicking on the video thumbnail.

On April 1, Transworld SURF’s Chris Cote and Heather will be filming another interview with FUEL TV’s “The Daily Habit.” Stay tuned to Transworld for more information.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - With abundant snowfall during the 2007-2008 ski season, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort announced Monday, March 24, the extension of its season through the month of April, weather and conditions permitting. To celebrate the season, the resort has created a line up of special events, coupled with great lift ticket and lodging discounts, to make it easy for skiers and snowboarders to stay and play at Northstar® Resort this April.

To commemorate the resort’s 35th Anniversary, a special $35 lift ticket rate will be offered April 14 through closing day. A special $15 tax relief lift ticket also will be offered for tax day April 15, and must be pre-purchased online (available in limited quantities on a first-come, first-serve basis). With great lift ticket offers throughout April, guests have easy access to more than 2,400 acres of terrain at Northstar Resort, as well as numerous special events that celebrate sun, snow and springtime.

Pinball Rally - April 6. Northstar Resort’s Pinball Rally amateur freestyle event series is open to all ages with a $10 participation fee. April 6 will feature the grand finale event, with divisions including men/women, skiers/riders, 14 and under, and 15 and over, all with the chance to win medals and raffle prizes donated by event sponsors. Registration will take place 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the day of the event, and will be located at the top of the Big Springs Gondola in the Main Street Expo area.

The Launch - April 7-10. Thirty of the world’s top mini-shredders will converge on Northstar Resort for the inaugural Superpark Launch event. Snowboarder magazine is creating an extension of its World Famous Superpark gathering. Superpark Launch will be a three-day photo and video shoot for the magazine’s January 2009 issue. In addition to the main feature, Snowboarder also will use the photos from Superpark Launch for its monthly Minor Threat Trick Tip column.

Retro Tuesday - April 8, 15 and 22. Retro Tuesdays are back on the skating rink at Northstar Resort through April. Guests are bound to see roller skaters donning bell bottoms, psychedelic shirts and retro wear for this weekly showcase of skill and style on the skating rink.

Red Bull Snow Warz - April 12. The 3rd Annual Red Bull Snow Warz competition is an infusion of skiing and snowboarding on a slopestyle course as collegiate skiers and snowboarders convene at Northstar Resort for this annual contest of skills. Teams of four to six riders will compete on an innovative slopestyle course and receive points based on style, magnitude and overall difficulty of tricks performed. Additional awards are given for Best Trick, Best Rail Rider, The Charger (someone who is charging everything), Innovation, Best Yard Sale and other surprise categories. There is no entry fee and schools can enter more than one team. Registration begins on April 11 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The competition begins on April 12 at 10 a.m.

Spring It On - April 19. A day-long event filled with excitement and on-mountain activities including a pond skimming competition, barrel jumping, long jump contest, infinity box contest and much more. Guests can enjoy the view of all of these crazy competitions from the Day Lodge at the top of the gondola. The activities continue in the Village at Northstar ™ with live music, a barbecue on the Overlook, drink specials and roller skating.

Earth Day - April 20. Hybrid vehicles park for free at Northstar Resort on Earth Day. The resort also will match an optional $2 Green Tag contribution by the guest for a total donation of $4, which would offset the carbon emissions to and from the Bay Area.

Jeremy Jones Harley Ride - April 25. Pro-rider, and Northstar Resort team athlete, Jeremy Jones will be on hand to showcase last year’s Harley Ride video. Watch the show while enjoying a barbecue on the Overlook, skateboard demonstrations will take place on the skating rink and there will be live music, giveaways, drink specials and Jones will be signing autographs.

Snow Golf Tournament - April 26. Some days you can have it all and on April 26 snow sport enthusiasts can make a few turns and then swing the clubs at Northstar Resort’s Snow Golf Tournament. In addition to taking a few swings and walking the links in April, each guest who purchases a lift ticket on April 26 will receive a bounce back coupon valid for a discount on summer golf at Northstar Resort’s 18-hole golf course, restrictions apply.

Spring Lodging Packages from $79 Per Person
Special spring lodging offers begin at $79 per person, per night. Guests also receive two lift tickets (per bedroom, per day), a $10 breakfast coupon valid at The Lodge at Big Springs (two per bedroom, per stay) and $5 off demo equipment (two per bedroom, per stay). Lift tickets also can be exchanged for a $25 gift card. The offer is based on quad occupancy in a two bedroom, one bathroom condominium with a two night minimum stay mid-week. This special offer is valid daily from March 30 through the end of the ski season.

For reservations or more information on special lift ticket offers, special events or lodging specials at Northstar Resort this spring, please call 1.800.GO.NORTH™ (466.6784) or visit the official site HERE.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - CenterStone Technologies, Inc.,
an international developer of Web-based B2B e-commerce software for
manufacturers selling through specialty retail channels, today announced
that The Quiksilver Rossignol Group is now “live” on the company’s iVendix
software application. iVendix provides The Quiksilver Rossignol Group with a
business-to-business (B2B) online ordering solution for their retail dealers
and sales reps. Dealers and sales reps are now able to view automated
catalogs, check on the availability of product, place orders, and track and
monitor the status of those orders using iVendix because it is accessible
24/7 via the Web.

“CenterStone provides a worldwide B2B e-commerce solution that is being used by thousands of specialty retailers, sales reps and industry professionals in the snow sports and outdoor recreation industries,” Peter Leffler, director of Customer Relations at The Quiksilver Rossignol Group, said. “In order to continue to provide a superior level of customer service in today’s business environment we felt that our Mountain Center brands — including Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Mervin Manufacturing and Roxy — needed a proven solution that would be quickly adopted by users, and CenterStone’s iVendix solution has rapidly become the industry standard for B2B. With more than 10,000 users of their Web-based application, we are confident that our customers will also be quick to embrace CenterStone’s iVendix solution. Our customers will be able to conduct business with all our brands, see product availability and place orders 24/7, at their convenience. Having the best products has always been an important tradition at The Quiksilver Rossignol Group, but being easy to do business with will also help us continue to set our brands apart. By adopting iVendix, with this new B2B solution, The Quiksilver Rossignol Group expects to take a leadership role by setting a new standard for customer service for hard goods and apparel in the snow sports industry.”

“The Quiksilver Rossignol Group is now ‘live’ on iVendix, and CenterStone is already processing pre-season orders for Rossignol, Dynastar, Roxy and their other brands for the ’08-’09 season, which means that these brands are
already getting a head start on their profitability for next season,” said Tom Detmer, CEO of CenterStone Technologies. “The Quiksilver Rossignol Group has many sought-after brands for a large percentage of specialty retailers
that currently use our B2B solution, so CenterStone’s dealer community is very pleased that they selected iVendix for their B2B e-commerce needs. iVendix delivers an extensive user community in the snow sports industry that is continuing to grow at a very rapid pace. And, it is the adoption rate by this user community that will drive the ROI for The Quiksilver
Rossignol Group. Based upon our success with other leading consumer brands that sell through specialty retail, we have no doubt that CenterStone will contribute to the ongoing growth and success of The Quiksilver Rossignol Group,” Detmer added.

Brands that currently use CenterStone’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and that make the company’s other solutions available to retail customers and sales reps include: The North Face, JanSport, Vans, Reef and
VF Imagewear, part of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC); Pearl Izumi; Marmot Mountain, Ex Officio and Marker Apparel, brands of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH); Under Armour (NYSE: UA); Helly Hansen; Perry Ellis Intl. (NASDAQ:
PERY); Geneva Watch Group; Cleveland Golf and Fidra Golf; SmartWool, a division of Timberland (NYSE: TBL); RipCurl; Billabong; Sport Obermeyer; Smith Optics; KHS Bicycles; Dale of Norway; O’Neill Clothing; Hot Chillys;
Petzl; Sole Technology; Icebreaker; Four Star Distribution (C1RCA); Buck Knives; Fresh Produce Sportswear; Yakima Products; Patagonia Europe; 180s, The Orvis Company, Life is good® and others.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Standard Films’ “Catch the Vapors” and “Draw the Line” are now on iTunes. Standard Films has partnered with VAS Entertainment on this venture and over the past year to develop and perfect an offering of multiple Standard Films titles for iTunes.

“Standard Films is very excited to get our latest Films available on iTunes Store,” Standard Films Founder and Owner Mike Hatchett said. “Now on the chairlift, you can check out the latest tricks on your iPod or in transit to your favorite backcountry location.”

Click HERE to visit Standard Films store on iTunes and for more info visit standardfilms.com.

An unobstructed view of easy-to-change lenses headline the latest goggle news. Check out the newest products for the mountain right here.

[Show as slideshow]