etnies

Snow Team Report 08-31-04

Snow? Yeah...SNOW! You know, that white fluffy stuff. I know it's hard to imagine snow when it's Africa-hot outside, but here is some chillin news from the snow world...
After spending the entire season stressing on the perfect conditions, worrying about the sun and wondering how that switch seven turned out on film, the time has come. In less than a couple of weeks, all the hard work our team has endured will soon be featured on the big screen, and you'll get the first opportunity to check out the premiere of the Standard Films video epic, Lost In Transition. Check out the details at the end of this report for location and times.
Well, after several meetings going back and forth with negotiations, John Jackson decided to partner up with the Kass brothers in buying some real estate. They recently purchased a seven bedroom hotel at the base of June Lake. John will live in the detached three bedroom house, which I'm sure some funny stories will be shared about in the snowboard community. Later this month, he'll also have a segment in Lost in Transition with his brother Eric, so don't miss out and fall asleep during the premiere on the evening of September 11!
Markku Koski was last seen in New Zealand, chasing down Wild Roo...or something like that. He should be making his way back home for some downtime and then head off to Europe for a few contests toward the middle of September. Markku recently got the cover of TransWorld Snowboarding magazine, flipping some crazy Finnish flip in Finland. If you haven't seen it, you should. Anyway, word has it that Markku has a pretty spiffy part in Lost In Transition, so be sure to check it out and support the cause. Yeah Markku! Keetos! (Finnish for ғThanks.)
Tyler Lepore: 5Ԓ 8, light brown hair, usually doodling on napkins and talking about art. Have you seen him? Oh yeah, he's lost somewhere deep in New Zealand. Maybe he's out there chasing down Markku? Well, the last time I spoke to him, he sounded excited and thrilled to venture down South, so hopefully he's slaughtering it down unda. I'll let you know as soon as I hear from him.
Benji Ritchie recently got back from Australia. He said he had a blast down under, and wishes they could have stayed longer, but he feels good to be home chillinԒ with his girlfriend and family. Benji may head down to Chile in late September, depending on the weather conditions. The plans are still up in the air. Unfortunately, Benji's part in Lost in Transition was deleted due to the fact that he didn't have enough footage to complete a full segment. Mike Hatchet, Director and Owner of Standard Films, commented, "I felt bad taking Benji's part out of the film, because he didn't have a full segment and we didn't want to fill in gaps here and there. Everyone who has a solid part has more than a minute-and-a-half. Although I think Benji's one of the sickest riders, he'll still have the opportunity to film with Standard Films next year if he wants to." The good news is that Benji's footage will go to Positron and a few other snowboard films like the Skids and Alterna Actions.
Janna Meyen is hanging tough with her physical therapy. She's powering away everyday and getting stronger and stronger, so beware, because she'll kick your ass! She had a few setbacks due to the massive amount of scar tissue developing in her knee, but she's staying positive and keeping on track so she can take over the world next season. Janna was nominated for Rock Star of the Year in the 6th Annual TransWorld Snowboarding Riders Poll, so she'll be making her way down for the awards. Keep your fingers crossed.
Alexis Waite has also been spotted down unda in New Zealand, where sheҒs been on a photo shoot with Roxy. Lexi will be heading to Southern Cal for the all of the video premieres and then attend a photo shoot with the etnies Girl staff for the 2005 ad campaign.
Wille Yli-Luoma is chillin with his daughter in Switzerland. He'll be heading back to the States later this week to attend the trade show and the premiere of Mack DawgҒs video, Chulk Smack. The premiere will be held at Oakley headquarters on September 9 around 8:00 p.m. Be sure to check out Wille's part, I hear it is pretty impressive!
In other snow news...
Leanne Pelosi and Laura Hadar have both been nominated for Rookie of the Year by TransWorld Snowboarding, so keep your fingers crossed, people!
Also, after ASR, the ThirtyTwo team will be down at the offices for a two-day catalog photo shoot. Tentative dates are September 16-17.
September 8TransWorld Snowboarding 6th Annual Ridersג Poll / Neoprotos film premiere, San Diego, California
September 9Mack Dawgגs Chulk Smack premiere, Oakley Headquarters, Lake Forest California
September 10-12ASR trade show, San Diego, California
September 10חWhite Out Films Positron premiere, featuring Kevin Sansalone and Dionne Delesalle, Spreckles Theater, San Diego, California
September 11Standard Films Lost in Transition premiere, Spreckles Theater, San Diego California
September 18חHot Dawgs and Rail Jam ($10,000 prize purse), Bear Mountain, Big Bear California. Riders competing: John Jackson, Eric Jackson, Joe Eddy, Alexis Waite, Leanne Pelosi, Laura Hadar.
And here's a quick message from our friends at Standard Films:

Hello, everyone.
Standard Films is proud to announce the world premiere of Lost in Transition. You are invited to come check out our new snowboard movie!
Location: Spreckles Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego California
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2004
Time: Doors open @ 7:30 p.m.
Sponsors: Burton, Rossignol, Anon, Lib Tech, Nitro, etnies, Planet Earth, ThirtyTwo, Squaw Valley USA

World Premiere of Lost in Transition
24/7 action sports network Fuel TV will be on site filming the Blue Carpet Special for a behind-the-scenes special about Lost in Transition. Also, there will be a poster signing from Standard Films athletes past and present.

The Movie
Once again, Standard Films delivers the most inspiring snowboarding video of the season. Take a journey around the globe documenting snowboarding's best athletesfrom pipe walls to rails, from the steepest top-to-bottom lines to the biggest backcountry booters. Pack your bags: Lost in Transition is your passport to the soul of snowboarding.

Starring: Eero Ettala, Markku Koski, Mads Jonsson, John Jackson, Eric Jackson, Mark Landvik, Dave Downing, Jeremy Jones, Frederik Kalbermatten, The Groms, Kazuhiro Kokubo, Mikkel Bang, Frederik Austbo and Luke Mitrani.

Thanks, Standard Films

Snow Team Report 08-16-04

John Jackson has been quite the busy bee ever since he got chased out of, I mean left Government Camp two weeks ago. He'd been going back and forth quite a bit from Crowley Lake to San Diego to work on his designs for Planet Earth. Now John's back in Crowley, fishing and hanging out with his love bug, Guinney. Oh, what puppy love will do to you! Anyways, word on the street says that John and his brother Eric squeezed out some banging parts for Lost in Transition. Be sure to check out the world premiere on Saturday night, September 11 at Spreckles Theatre in San Diego, Califonia. More details coming soon.

Markku Koski just picked up another resourceful sponsor...Samsung! Back off, people! I know what you're thinking, but I beat you to it. I've already put in my order for a 50-inch plasma TV. I guess it makes sense for Samsung to sponsor Markku, since he'll most likely dominate the next Olympics. In the meantime, he'll be working on his 1440s in New Zealand while immersed in Winter wonderland for the next couple of weeks. Then it's back to Finlandia, where he'll take a short break. Unfortunately, Markku won't be making it to the world premiere of Lost in Transition, but will be there in spirit. The other hot topic on the street is that Markku's part in Lost will blow you away (literally).
Tyler Lepore has been MIA. Oh, yeah. He's in New Zealand at the moment hunting down the perfect shoot. Tyler's been out there for the last couple of weeks, getting photos with Snowboarder staff photographers and hoping to document the illest heli trip ever! Be sure to tune in next week to find out what happened.
Janna Meyen just keeps on peddling like the Energizer Bunny. I think she's addicted to the stationary bike, cuz every time I talk to her on the phone, she's peddling away! Curtes, did you have any influence on her? Oh well, Janna's doing well, and amped to ride as soon as she can. She's planning to attend the ASR trade show then hang out with her good ol' friends at etnies / ThirtyTwo for a photo shoot.
Benji Ritchie will be in Oz for the next couple of weeks, chasing down wombats and kangaroos. Good, eh, Benji? How ya going? We hope he can get his fair share of veggie mite. Mmm. Makes my mouth water!
Alexis Waite recently attended a photo shoot with Vogue magazine (yes, VOGUE). She'll be showcased in the October issue with a little interview and some photos. Lexi was really excited and honored to have the experience. She'll be taking off for New Zealand later this week to attend a Roxy photo shoot for the next couple of weeks.
Wille Yli-Luoma finally made it back home to Stockholm after spending a couple of months here in the States. Just a few months ago, his life was in shambles after having his truck broken into. The thugz took everything he travels with, including his Powerbook G4 laptop, external hard drive with all of his backup materials, Pentax medium format camera, two iPods and some very personal valuable items--all adding up to around $20,000. So, after this stressful nightmare, he ended up coming back to the States and hanging out for a couple of months, casually nabbing a Snowboarder cover, winning a $4,500 Rolex, bruising his ribs, getting a black eye and sparking a new relationship. I'll let you guess about the last one. Wille will be back home for a few weeks getting his wisdom teeth pulled and then head back out to California again for the ASR trade show. He'll have a full segment in Mack Dawg's Chulk Smack, scheduled to premiere on September 8 at the Oakley headquarters. Tickets will be limited, so don't ask me.
In other snow related news, here are the nominees for the 6th Annual TransWorld SNOWboarding Riders' Poll Awards:

Womens Rider of the Year
Janna Meyen (etnies/ThirtyTwo)
Hana Beaman
Hannah Teter

WomenҒs Rookie of the Year
Laura Hadar (etnies/ThirtyTwo)
Leanne Pelosi (etnies/ThirtyTwo)
Sylvia Mittermuller

Mens Rider of the Year
Marc Frank Montoya
David Carrier-Porcheron
Travis Rice

MenҒs Rookie of the Year
Mason Aguire
Travis Kennedy
Pat Moore

Rock Star of the Year
Ikka Backstrom
Tara Dakides
Marc Frank Montoya

Til next time, mo-halo BACK!

Etnies Snow Team Report 08-02-04

Summer shred sessions are coming to the final stages for the 2004 season. With only a few more weeks left, the coaches, pros and campers are trading in their boots for sandals and their snowboards for surfboards. Some of our team riders are planning an early Winter, while others are just starting their Summers. Here's what's going on with the rest of the team...
John Jackson finally made it out of Government Camp alive without getting arrested or beaten down by the locals. He's on his way to Tahoe, where he'll be checking in with the head honchos at Standard Films to see how much footage he's sitting on. John is planning a trip down to the Southern Hemisphere if all goes well. Other than that, he'll be heading to Southern Cali to take care of a few things with his other sponsors and to get his schralp on.
Markku Koski is getting ready to head back to Finland after visiting his girlfriend for the past few weeks. He'll be home for a few days and then get ready to head straight into Winter somewhere down South. Markuu will also be attending a Quicksilver photo shoot scheduled sometime this month.

Tyler Lepore took off this past weekend with Snowboarder magazine down to New Zealand, where he'll be spending most of his time in a helicopter over the next three weeks searching for powder. Oh, poor Ty! Life must be rough!
Benji Ritchie is getting ready to head to Australia with Billabong on a photo shoot. He'll be in Oz for a few weeks chasing down Wombats and Kangaroos.
Janna Meyen is getting so fit, she'll kick your arse! Not that she couldn't anyway. She's so focused on getting back on track with her knee, it's scary. She's been working out at least four or five hours a day. Be sure to check her steez in Love/Hate, scheduled to be released sometime during the ASR trade show in San Diego.
Alexis Waite recently made it back home after coaching at Leanne Pelosi's MGT Summer Camp in Whistler, BC. She said all the little kiddies were so stoked on the exclusive all-girl power-shred fest. They were also stoked on all the ThirtyTwo gear and support from etnies. Lexi will be getting settled into her new home for the next few weeks and domesticating.

Roberta Rodger just returned from another succesful Summer at Camp of Champions and five weeks of some of the best weather shes seen in years! Berta reports that the weather was sunny 85% of the time, a number which usually refelcts the number of rain days. The terrain was epic, with a halfpipe, quarterpipe, jumps and rails. Companies that sponsored the camp will definitely get some good coverage. There was a big increase in female campers this Summer, with the amount of girls more than doubling over last year. All the girls were amped this Summer, thanks to all of BertaҒs sponsors for flowing enough gear throughout the season so that she could hook them up with mad prizes for the Girls Jam. Roberta is heading down to Encinitas soon and should be there for at least the next few weeks.
Wille Yli-Luoma has been taking it easy since his ankle injury. He's been golfing and working on his lifestyle shots for Mack Dawg's Chulk Smack. He's still in Oregon planning on getting a few more shots and then contemplating on heading down to Bro Cal to chill out before he heads back to Sweden.
Recently added to our B team, Laura Hadar just got nominated by TransWorld Snowboarding for Rookie of the Year! Congratulations, Laura! Also, be sure to check her out in Love/Hate, scheduled to be released sometime during the ASR trade show in San Diego.
That's about it for now. Until next time, peace.