Getting stuck in L.A. rush-hour traffic was a sacrifice Tranworld Business was willing to make in exchange for spending the day at FUEL TV. After the magazine covered the state of Skate TV in it’s February issue, we were long overdue for a visit. The professional production crew of The Daily Habit happened to be taping an episode on Tuesday staring eight-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater when we rolled in. Our tour guide, Fuel’s PR Director John Stouffer, gave Transworld the play-by-play on exactly what goes into putting together one of the station’s most popular series as he showed us around the set and control room. The studio building, which FUEL shares with a Los Angeles news network, is located just down the street from FUEL’s main headquarters and it’s pretty high tech.

After that, it was on to the Captain and Casey Show. A make-shift studio with a heaping pile of gag props, a break room with a fully stocked refrigerator of Bud Light and Modelo and a drum set was what Transworld found there - and to be honest, the laid-back atmosphere was a little more our style.

Spending the day in the world of television is enough to leave anyone wanting a job in front of the camera. Just ask Transworld’s Adam Sullivan and Rob Campbell. By the end of the day, it became evident that they may be in the wrong line of work.

Adam interviews Rob for a segment on the new Transworld Biz show “This Just In.” Stay tuned for more details.

Kelly chats with host and NBC Olympic commentator Pat Parnall and Camille, the show’s associate producer,
before filming begins.

It’s all glitz and glamor in show biz.

The control room staff, among a myriad of responsibilities, is in charge of keeping Pat on topic by sending him visual and audio cues and ensuring that each clip stays within the alloted time.

Back in the studio, some of the camera crew are caught in action.

Kelly and Pat after filming wrapped up. Staff had a hardout of 2 p.m., but Kelly had to leave by 1 p.m.

Later, on the other side of town: Casey’s pointing to where he’s headed. That’s right, space. Might wanna save some of that Astronaut Ice Cream for later, buddy.

The crew is hard at work doing some of their own traveling - time travel, that is. The Captain and company were getting medieval for an episode.

Instead of hanging around, Transworld Business ventured to the Seven Seas. Pictured: Adam, Adam’s Clam Beer (that’s an official term).

The Captain tears through the set on a borrowed bicycle as producers from a control room and the audience hoot and holler in approval.

They couldn’t seem to get this scene right in one take. Or two. Or ten.

The behind-the-scenes guys like to get attention sometimes, too. Although, it’s hard to tell whether he’s euphoric or slightly terrified here.

While the inside of the building still resembles a creepy abandoned preschool/strip club, outside is where the guys from Captain and Casey have made the set home. We couldn’t help snapping a photo of this apparent shrine for Transworld SKATE’s Blair Alley on our way out.

It was a long, hard day’s work, but somebody had to do it and luckily for Transworld Business, Adam Sullivan stepped up. Then passed out.

As promised, Transworld Business caught up with Bob McKnight to hear a little bit more about the court case between Quiksilver Inc. and Kymsta Corp. Here’s some of what we talked about.

This case has been going on for a long time. How did this whole thing get started?

There was this confusion that started a while ago in 2000, so we contacted them and said ‘hey look, we have a problem here. We have this brand called Roxy and you have this thing called Roxywear, and you’re obviously moving out of the space you used to be in and moving into our space. We need to talk.’

And they said ‘screw you.’

You can talk to anybody who has brands or trademarks and these kinds of skirmishes happen all the time. You’re always trying to avoid confusion. Usually both parties of business people have a meeting of the minds, they sort the thing out, and they move on without going into any kinds of threats, or eventually into lawsuits. And court, for Heaven’s sakes, that’s the last thing you want to do. But these people have always been in the mode of threatening us either verbally to our face, through their lawyers, or in the press.

All they wanted was money—money to go way, money to buy their trademark. We even sat down to try and negotiate that. We handed them a figure we thought was reasonable just to avoid court costs, and they put a ten-times-multiple on it, and we said ‘forget it guys. We’ll go to court then.’

So this whole thing has been real unfortunate.

How do you feel now that it’s finally over?

We beat them the first time around, and the judge took it away from the jury because the evidence was so overwhelmingly compelling in our favor. We proved all the facts, and all the merits on trademark law: prior use, first use, continued use. We proved we had our registrations all done legally and properly.

Their whole case was about trying to prove that we are bad people, that we lied, that we lied about when we started Roxy, and that we fraudulently registered the trademarks. The whole thing was a scam. It was just unbelievable what these people were putting in front of the juries in these two cases!

So when this thing finally finished and we got the jury judgement—which took them about ten minutes to deliberate, by the way—and then the judge spent three weeks to draft that thing you saw [court-findings.pdf]. I mean I think it’s pretty compelling that both the first Judge and the second Judge made it clear that Roxy is the trademark that prevails and these people need to stop using Roxywear, because it’s confusing.

It feels really good! […] We have stayed quiet and steady and gone through the whole process of court and now it feels really good to get vindicated.

Do you have an estimate of how much this cost Quiksilver in legal fees?

I would say it’s over 2 million dollars.

As the prevailing party, will Quiksilver seek to collect damages?

Only if they operate outside the ruling of the court. They have 18 months to wind it down. If they were to do something in those 18 months or after, then we’d definitely go after them and get damages. But that is not our intent.
We just want to stop the confusion.

Having been through this process, what have you learned?

In trademark law, the second there is confusion you have to get on it and protect your trademarks.

The other thing we learned was how irresponsible and wacko lawyers can be in courtroom tricks. […] These people took every trick out of the bag to try and sway the jury to make them think we are bad people. And to me it’s absolutely repulsive, some of the stuff they did!

I don’t want to get into it, but talk about Perry Mason moments and courtroom theatrics!

Click Here for the entire Transworld Business Web exclusive, which includes comments from the chief lawyers on both sides and a complete time line of the case.

Click Here for an exclusive interview with Kymsta Corp Owner Roxanne Heptner conducted on Fri. April 18.

Make Sure To Check Out The May Issue Of Transworld Business For The Full Story.

The second round of the Ultimate Boarder contest wound up today with the results as follows:
1st - Eric McHenry
2nd - Kyle Knox
3rd - Robert Curtis

Snow champion Todd Richards got an interference call in the first heat of the Ventura surf contest today and didn’t make it to the finals.
Stay tuned for full results.

The Top Ten Overall standing after surf are as follows:

1st Shayne Pospisil
2nd Clint Allan
3rd Kyle Knox
4th Aaron Astorga
5th Todd Richards
6th Jonathan Warren
7th Mitch Allan
8th Kristian Philipp
9th Andy Finch
10th Robert Curtis

OFFICIAL PRESS RELELASE – Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and the Town of Mammoth Lakes remain committed to conservation of the Inyo National Forest and surrounding areas.  To increase awareness of the importance of reducing environmental impact, Mammoth Mountain’s Department of Environmental Affairs has worked with community partners to bring a special Earth Day celebration to the Town of Mammoth Lakes starting on Friday, April 18, 2008 and leading up to Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

Mammoth Mountain will kick off Earth Day festivities with naturalist-led, scenic snowshoe tours from Main Lodge to Minaret Vista.  The scenic trips will feature discussion of Mammoth Mountain’s earth friendly initiatives and the importance of each individual’s impact on the environment.  Snowshoe tours will run daily from Friday, April 18 to Tuesday, April 22, leaving from the Mammoth Mountain Inn at 2 p.m.

Directly following the scenic snowshoe tours, Mammoth Mountain’s Dry Creek Bar and Mountainside Grill will feature a selection of special menu items, including seasonal, organic appetizers, beverages and happy hour specials.

Mammoth Mountain’s ongoing initiatives include:

Mammoth has implemented the use of biodiesel fuel in its entire diesel fleet of buses and snowcats in order to reduce harmful air emissions.

Mammoth has taken conservation measures such as installing motion sensors on light switches and automated heating which have resulted in a 10% reduction in energy consumption and reduced propane use by over 100,000 gallons annually.

Mammoth has set the bar for future development projects with a new 3-bedroom LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified cabin at Tamarack Lodge, set to open in June 2008.  This cabin, built in a way that minimizes impact on the surrounding environment, will utilize automated and high efficiency fixtures in addition to meeting ENERGY STAR home standards.

For a complete schedule of events, including all participating businesses and organizations, check HERE.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area’s Department of Environmental Programs was established in 2000 to help ensure sustainability. To be sustainable Mammoth Mountain must simultaneously fulfill environmental responsibilities, economic requirements and social needs. Mammoth strives to become a better steward, committed to the enhancement of our ecosystem through resource conservation, habitat preservation, biosphere protection and strategic alliances. For more information on Mammoth Mountain’s Department of Environmental Programs, visit MammothMountain.com.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.6 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village at Mammoth and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., (April 16, 2008) - Freestyle, the original action sports watch manufacturer, would like to congratulate pro team rider Shane Dorian on his win for “Billabong XXL Ride of the Year” at the 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy.

The 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, held April 11, 2008, was host to a crowd of 2,000 including surfers, their family and friends, industry insiders and fans. Top big wave surfers vied for a first place win in one of the six award categories of the night including “Billabong XXL Ride of the Year Award”, “Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award”, “Monster Paddle Award”, “Monster Tube Photo Award”, “Surfline Best Overall Performance Award” and “Billabong Girls Best Performance Award”.

The coveted “Billabong XXL Ride of the Year” award was won by Freestyle’s Shane Dorian. The epic day he had on November 1, 2007 at the legendary Teahupoo, Tahiti break secured his win of the title and a generous prize purse of $50,000. The wave was caught on video by Gustavo Camarao, who won a prize of $5,000.

The 35-year-old Kona, Hawaii native has been on Freestyle’s team since 2000. “Shane’s been the cornerstone of Freestyle’s athlete program for years,” said Freestyle Marketing Director, Chad Labass. “Shane’s ride was really just par for course; year after year he just steps up and thrives in the heaviest surfing situations in the world.”

Be sure to watch the 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards on ESPN2 airing at 9:30pm, Friday May 29, 2008.
To check out Dorian’s Freestyle profile log on to www.FreestyleUSA.com.

Founded in 1981, Freestyle is a leading action sports watch manufacturer. The Freestyle watch collection includes a full line of performance and lifestyle choices for men, women and youth, all styles are water resistant to 100 meters or more and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. With roots firmly planted in surf, Freestyle proudly sponsors a team of highly respected surfers including Shane Dorian, Cory Lopez, Sage Erickson and 2006 ASP World Women’s Longboard Champion Schuyler McFerran. For more information, visit www.freestyleusa.com.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - MCLEAN, Va. (April 16, 2008) — Snow sports sales surpassed $2.75 billion in February with $768 million in equipment sales, $1.1 billion in apparel sales, and $895 million in accessories sales. While apparel and accessories sales have increased in both units and dollars through all channels this season, equipment sales have remained relatively flat overall.

“Apparel and accessories have sold very well this year in all channels, in fact, apparel and accessories are primarily responsible for the 11% gain in dollars sold across the snow sports market so far this season,” said Kelly Davis, Director of Research for SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the not-for-profit industry trade group that represents manufacturers and distributors of snow sports products.

Equipment sales in snow sports specialty shops increased less than 2% in dollars over last season with slight decreases in the number of alpine skis and in the number of snowboards sold. Chain stores sold less equipment than they did in 2005.06, but dollars spent on equipment were up slightly. Although equipment sales on the Internet are quite strong, the channel is still too narrow to make a significant difference overall.

The marketplace is made up of three primary sales channels; the Internet, Specialty shops, and chain stores. Specialty shops sell the largest share of equipment, apparel and accessories but the Internet and chain store channels have a significant share of the market; and the Internet channel grew by close to fifty percent this season.

Specialty Shops

Snow sports consumers have spent more than $1.7 billion dollars in specialty shops so far this season. Apparel sales lead the way with $609 million followed closely by accessories with $579 million in sales. Apparel sales have increased 6% in dollars over the August to February period last season and accessories are up more than 7% in dollars. Curt Geiger, Vice President at Descente reported, “Leisure Trends and Descente/DNA dealers report to us that we performed very well this past season at specialty retail. Most dealers reported that the two brands were nearly completely sold through.” “The upper end of Descente/DNA products led the way in consumer demand, he added. Only equipment sales have remained flat this season. This time last season, 436,133 pairs of skis had been sold in specialty shops compared to 429,621 this season. Snowboard sales weren’t much brighter in specialty with an overall decrease of about 1% in units so far this season. Nordic propped the equipment category up with increases of 26% in units and more than 28% in dollars.

Chain Stores

Consumers have spent almost $574 million on snow sports equipment, apparel and accessories in chain stores so far this season. Equipment sales in chain stores are down from 2005.06 totals for the August to February time period by 7% in units and 1% in dollars. Equipment declined by 11% in units with integrated ski systems leading the decline with a 40% decrease in unit sales. In fact, of the 645,000 pairs of skis sold across the market, chain stores sold just 18% (117,838). Snowboards were down 13% in units and 6% in dollars since the 05.06 season. On the bright side, apparel is selling well in the chain stores channel; apparel sales have increased 19% in dollars since 2005.06.

Internet

The Internet channel continues to become both wider and deeper with vast increases in sales of equipment, apparel and accessories. Overall, the Internet channel for snow sports goods has increased 42% in units and by 47% in dollars. Clicking consumers have spent $453 million this season online for snow sports goods. Keep in mind that currently, Internet sales account for less than one fifth of all sales in the snow sports marketplace. However, at the current growth rate, Internet sales will reach more than $650 million and account for 25% of all snow sports sales by the end of the 2008.09 snow sports season.

Customers appear to be increasingly more comfortable clicking to buy skis, snowboards, parkas, goggles, helmets, and pants online. Snow sports equipment sales over the Internet increased by 60% in units and by 79% in dollars. Compare that to the flat or decreasing sales of equipment in specialty shops and in chain stores. Equipment is the fastest growing category in the Internet channel this season. For example, online sales of adult twintip skis have increased from 7,500 pairs last season to more than 22,000 this season.

SIA partners with Leisure Trends Group to provide reliable data about the snow sports market, and about the people who work and play in the snow. The data contained in this press release and in the SIA Executive Market Summary for August to February snow sports sales is collected by Leisure Trends Group for the SIA. If you need additional information, contact Alicia Allen, Associate Director of PR, at aallen@snowsports.org.

SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is Your Intelligent Partner.365 of the snow sports industry. SIA annually produces the SIA SnowSports Show, the largest industry trade show and networking environment, and delivers invaluable data, support and marketing products. SIA serves as the national, not-for-profit, member-owned trade association representing snow and winter sports companies. For more information, check out www.snowsports.org. SnowSports Industries America, 8377-B Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102-3587. Phone: (703) 556-9020, Fax: (703) 821-8276, E-mail: siamail@snowsports.org.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Oceanside, CA April 15, 2008 - Come spend an enchanted evening and help create a beautiful museum for the world to enjoy! The California Surf Museum Inaugural Paddle Out Fundraiser dinner and auction is on Thursday, May 8, 2008 from 5-10pm, at the elegant Ocean House Restaurant in Carlsbad, CA. Music with SuperWave will fill the air as you mingle with friends and surfing celebrities. A fabulous Hawaiian-style Buffet and live and silent auction will make for a memorable night. A sneak peek into the auction items vault reveals:

Rare Herbie Fletcher hand shaped and painted longboard
Craig Hollingsworth custom shaped surfboard painted by Wade Koniakowsky
Gorgeous jewelry by K Brunini Jewels
Surftech Dale Velzy Paddleboard
Original artwork by Nathan Gibbs, Sally Taylor and Wade Koniakowsky
Tom Keck Photo Shoot
Items from Hurley, Billabong, Island Influence and K-Five
Too many to list!

Purchase your tickets HERE now - Space is limited! Tickets for the event will be $55 per person for members and $65 for non-members. Tickets at the door will be $75, if available. The funds generated from the Inaugural Paddle Out Fundraiser will help CSM provide interior improvements to its new facility to showcase surfing for decades to come. The new facility will allow CSM to expand the exhibit space, provide additional educational opportunities and increase its needed archival space. Come be a part of making surfing history!

The California Surf Museum serves as an international repository and resource center on the lifestyle sport of surfing through capturing, preserving and chronicling its art, culture and heritage for the education and enjoyment of future generations.

The California Surf Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located at 223 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELASE - ESPN will debut three new disciplines at X Games 14 this summer in Los Angeles’ Skateboard and BMX SuperPark and BMX Street. SuperPark will be a 100 percent transition-focused design, blending a variety of terrain and obstacles into one seamless course. The SuperPark disciplines will highlight the all-around abilities of the world’s best transition skaters and BMX riders. This will mark the first time ever that X Games will not have a stand-alone vert ramp. In addition to Skateboard and BMX SuperPark, BMX Street will be added to X Games where it will follow the same template as X Games mainstay Skateboard Street. The concept is simple, raw street features such as stairs, rails and ledges replicated in an arena setting.

For X Games 14 at The Home Depot Center and STAPLES Center, these new disciplines will join the other Skateboard and BMX competitions of Skateboard Street and Skateboard and BMX Big Air. Fourteen hours of live X Games programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC ˆ all showcased in high definition will be aired July 31, August 3, as well as on ESPN International, EXPN.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.

“We are constantly striving to present new sports and disciplines at the X Games that accurately reflect the state of action sports and participants,” said Chris Stiepock, X Games General Manager. “Skateboarders and BMX riders still enjoy vert features, but most are doing so at skateparks rather than on stand-alone vert halfpipes. The proliferation of public skateparks has fostered new athletes who excel on large park features, leading us to develop the SuperPark discipline.”

BMX legend Mat Hoffman, the sport organizer for X Games BMX events, said: “The very core of BMX is to explore and be creative. This new format will promote this progression, providing the opportunity for the best riders to
expand Park and Vert to new dimensions.”

In addition to the currently-named discipline of SuperPark, X Games 14, thepremier action sports event in the world, will feature athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard, Surfing and Rally Car Racing.

Tickets for X Games 14 will be available for purchase June 6 at all Ticketmaster locations and the box offices at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center.

Aspen/Snowmass, CO – Aspen Skiing Company announced that a new lift will be built this summer to replace the Sheer Bliss lift at Snowmass. The new lift will be a high speed quad and will be realigned to provide easy access to the entire Big Burn and Sheer Bliss areas. This region of Snowmass encompasses nearly 700 acres of spectacular terrain that is the most popular of all aspects of Snowmass Mountain.

The new lift will carry riders 2,212 vertical feet, 155 feet more than the old Sheer Bliss chair and will have a ride time of just over nine minutes. The lift can carry 2,000 people per hour. The old lift is an attached double with a ride time of 16 minutes and capacity of 1,010 and was built in 1975. The new lift’s lower terminal lift will be downhill and on the opposite side of Cabin trail situated to reduce congestion. The new upper terminal will be on the west side and above the Cirque Lift bottom terminal providing convenient repeat use of the Cirque Terrain as well as direct access to Sneaky’s trail.

“The overall renewal of Snowmass has now seen on-mountain investment of more than $50 million over just the past three years since the approval of the new base village project. The lift infrastructure of Snowmass has been dramatically overhauled, with new lifts at Village Express, Skycab, Elk Camp Gondola, Elk Camp Meadows, Assay Hill, Campground and now Sheer Bliss,” said David Perry, Senior VP, Mountain Division.

“We have been looking at replacing the Sheer Bliss lift for sometime,” said Rich Burkley, vice president mountain operations, Aspen Skiing Company. “It seems that sometime has finally arrived,” he joked. “This new lift will open up the mid mountain and give people increased access to the Big Burn from either side of the mountain.”

With the new lift and the new restaurant at the top of the Sam’s Knob lift, over $16 million of on-mountain improvements this summer alone will greet skiers and riders next December in Snowmass.

In addition, Aspen Skiing Company will open a new restaurant in the base village at Snowmass. The restaurant will be in Capital Peak “A” Lodge (Building 2A) directly on the plaza at the base of Fanny Hill. Specifics are still being finalized at this time, but the restaurant will feature a lively après scene, outdoor seating and a family-friendly menu. As of next winter season ASC will no longer operate The Cirque Bar and Grill location.
With additional new commercial, residential and restaurant space also slated to be open next winter at base village, Snowmass will have more improvements to offer than any resort in North America.

About Aspen

Aspen Skiing Company operates four destination mountains – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – and is the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010. Aspen/Snowmass also offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well as four award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen/Snowmass, please call 800/525-6200 or 970/925-1220, or visit the company’s website at aspensnowmass.com.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - New York, NY – April 16, 2008 – The Zoo York Institute is proud to announce an exclusive collaboration with NYC’s unbreakable hip-hop collective, the Lordz of Brooklyn.

This limited edition collab features a co-branded ZY skateboard deck and T-shirt with custom graphics that chronicle the band’s gritty Bay Ridge upbringing, graffiti roots, blue collar pride, and deep family ties.  Slated to drop in late April, only 500 decks and tees will be available at select retailers worldwide.

“I’m excited to team up with the Lordz because they’re a very New York band that in many ways is the musical equivalent of Zoo York,” says ZY Senior Art Director Christian Acker.  “Just like Zoo, the Lordz fully embrace the clash of cultures that make NYC such an amazing place to live and work.  We’re immensely proud to support our brothers from across the East River.”

Led by siblings Mike “Mr. Kaves” and Adam “ADM” McLeer, the Lordz of Brooklyn have been grinding it out for the past fifteen years, overcoming hardship and heartache along the way.  But 2008 looks to be a defining year for the hard-hitting Brooklynites as their reality show, “The Brooklyn Way,” will make its highly-anticipated Fuse TV debut on April 17th, and this summer they’ll play the Warped Tour’s main stage.

“2008 will definitely be the Year of the Lordz,” says Kaves.  “We’re hyped on all the opportunities in front of us, especially our involvement with Zoo because it’s a unique partnership that authentically unites two respected New York originals.”

Find out more at www.lordzofbrooklyn.com,  www.thelordz.com and www.zooyork.com.