If you’re in Honolulu, HI, head over to the Surfrider Foundation Fundraiser this Saturday, Nov. 26, at Tiki’s Grill & Bar. Don’t miss out on good grub, drawings for SPY prizes every half hour, and a chance to win an Alana Blanchard prize pack complete with Channel Islands surfboard and Sticky Bumps leash, wax and travel board bag in the silent auction. All donations go to Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter.
SPY family and friends made the short trip up to Mountain High, Nov. 19, to kick-off the 2011-2012 winter season and its new partnership with the mountain. With the SPY tents stacked next to the lift and a prize wheel and demo goggles on offer, the SPY line quickly became the hottest spot on the mountain. Winners or not, everyone was amped to test out the new oversized Platoon snow goggles that have been popping up on billboards and mountains everywhere.
Despite blustery pockets of wind and weather throughout the day, the crew that came out to ride was unfazed by the ever changing conditions and stoked with the clarity and comfort of the Platoon goggle. A few lucky winners even walked away with some fresh goggles to start out the season. Be on the lookout for SPY’s custom feature coming soon to the Mountain High terrain park.
This past weekend marked Mammoth Mountain’s annual opening festivities complete with powder, parties and SPY Platoon goggles. Professional snowboarders Louie Vito and Eero Niemela made the trek up the hill with SPY friends and family for some early season shredding and visits to local shops. SPY’s Platoon billboards spackled the stretch of Highway 395, giving everyone a face full of oversized pleasure on the pilgrimage.
Under overcast skies and snow showers, it was the perfect opportunity to put the big, technical, spherical, Platoon goggles with the new pink Contact lens to the test. They passed with flying colors in Mammoth’s flat light conditions.
The next day saw clear, blue skies. As the clouds passed and God’s light shone through, Eero and Louie were ready to pop-off some runs in the sun, christening their signature goggles on this inaugural weekend. Eero opened up with ollies down the slopes and into the terrain park, rolled up to the large jump and put down a frontside 540 nose grab off the kicker. Louie was popping 360’s all over the mountain and carving lines through the park showing he’s world-class and a class act, even outside the halfpipe.
SPY Professional Surfer Cody Thompson answered the call of the night, out-boosting five top east coast surfers to claim first place and $5,000 at the 2nd Annual Red Bull Night Riders tow-at event in Flagler Beach, Florida, Nov. 12. More than 6,000 spectators gathered after sundown to cheer on the competitors as jet skis launched riders at waves and into the air where an expression session of aerial proportions exploded in combat against the illuminated night sky.
Cody Thompson’s lofty alley-oop earned him a score of 8.17 out of a possible 10 points from the judges, a standing ovation from the crowd and the win over 2001 ASP World Champion CJ Hobgood.
The Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki team swept the podium at Round 3 of the 2012 AMA Arenacross series at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., Nov. 12. Tyler Bowers worked his way through the pack, pulling away with a convincing 8-second lead and the win, while teammates Chad Johnson and Josh Demuth finished a respective 2nd and 3rd to round-out the trifecta. The previous weekend in Baltimore saw the same result, with Demuth and Johnson flip-flopping 2nd and 3rd, making Round 3 the second sweep of the season for “Team Green.”
The Team heads to Round 4 of the Series at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pa. Dec. 9-11. Bowers looks to keep his lead on the season and defend his 2011 AMA Arenacross title, while Johnson and Demuth hope to move up a step.
Arenacross Class Results (Madison, Wis.)
1.Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
2.Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
3.Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki
Nate is a classic original, a surfer with timeless West Coast style and a knack for lofty front-side punts and blowing minds in the water. The Foundation line is coming out in ‘12, taking the SPY brand back to its roots at the beach through core shops nationwide, and a team of undeniably authentic, talented personalities is championing the cause. Perfect timing. Nate rips, he has incredible depth of character, his style is his unparalleled, and there’s not a better ambassador for The Foundation line as SPY reaffirms its heritage.
Tyler joins the current elite SPY surf roster that includes Wade Goodall, Parker Coffin, Mike Losness and John John Florence. Between road trips and boat odysseys, the Central Coaster will be updating fans on his weblog, www.simonsmoothballs.com, administered from his off-the-grid yurt in Templeton, Calif. To see Nate, stop by Encinitas, CA and check-out his billboard at the intersection of Encinitas Blvd and the PCH.
While you’re on your way to Mammoth’s opening weekend festivities, Nov. 10-13, make sure to take a good, long look at those enormous… Platoons! SPY’s “Oversized For Your Pleasure” Platoon goggle campaign can now be seen on Highway 395, South of Campground Entrance in Independence, facing south; and on Highway 395, North of Inyo/Kern, facing south.
With SPY billboards popping out everywhere, you’ll no longer have to rubberneck to see the Platoon snow goggles. Snow is falling, pulses are racing and eyebrows are raising…
Louie Vito signed with Red Bull, making him the team’s marquee halfpipe snowboarder. In his interview with ESPN.com, Louie talks about the elite Red Bull team, secret training facilities and branding his noggin.
When asked ‘Why Red Bull,’ he states, “I wanted to take a risk and see what was out there. Whether people like it or not, snowboarding is getting more intense. The tricks are harder and tougher to learn. And if you don’t want to do it, there are kids who want to take your position.”
With the winter contest season a month away, we expect to see Louie getting a little higher than usual out of the pipe with his newfound wings.
SPY amateur riders Blake Green, Mitchell Falk and Derek Drake knocked out the competition taking wins in their respective classes at the second round of the Triple Crown held at Cahuilla Creek on November 6th. The near-perfect conditions at the track resulted in a great turnout with SPY MX Team Manager Kyle Krause on hand offering SPY MX goggles up for demo, beer for drinking, and shelter from the occasional rain shower.
Future star Blake Green had his first race in the Schoolboy class and battled back from 4th to take the lead and win, while Mitchell Falk and Derek Drake looked solid earning top spots in their classes in the 85 division. Krause eventually took a break from the goggle demo to go out and win the Vet class but was quickly back at the SPY tent handing out stickers, discount cards and signed Jeremy McGrath and Tony Cairoli posters.
The last two events of the Triple Crown series will be held on Nov. 20th at Milestone MX and Dec. 11th at Lake Elsinore where SPY will be on hand offering the new line of MX goggles for demo. Come on out and test the new Klutch goggle or take a crack at the new SPY Whip.
