Did you surf this weekend? damn it was fun. Anyhow, Leanne Milliken from ASR sent an email a little bit back saying that Simple Shoes had a few things going on. They had a couple categories that will be launched at ASR in a few weeks.

Their PR guru Danielle Diblasio sent some shoes for us to check out. I haven’t heard about Simple Shoes in a while but I remember a nice dude named Eric Myers in the early nineties at ASR pushing some shoes that at the time seemed to do well. He was a rad guy and had a business card that was made of wood. I tripped out and never forgot that. Not sure what he’s up to but his baby lives on.

Anyhow the shoes came in and I am very particular with my shoes but had a good look and the next day did the trestles trail with them.. Not bad.. I researched these guys a bit and was pumped on the environmental efforts they were working on. 100% sustainable with a bit of hipsteeze.

Anyhow nice job Simple. You made me also use your 100% sustainable box for my receipts from 08.. loved it. I wouldn’t dare throw that thing away..

Most other shoes take up to 1000 years to disappear from landfills where a pair of these BIO-D’s will vanish and turn to dirt in about 20.

They will also show their bio degradable flip flops at the ASR show as well. Make an appointment to see them at booth # 1705 at ASR. While you’re there take a look at their bags. I have see them in a couple spots and really liked them. check out Simpleshoes.com.

Anyhow we’ll see you in Vegas at the shows. Good Luck and talk soon.  Get ready for ASR and CLASS at ASR. We’re excited for you to see what we’ve worked on for Septembers show.

One last thing. I am sorry for the loss of Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein. I had the pleasure of working with him a few times in the past at a few events. It is a horrible loss. Regards to his family and close ones.

Thank You,
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
CLASSatASR.com

Check out Simple’s new boot.. Carry On.

Here’s a little pick of one pair sent over from Simple. If you take a close look you will notice the tire tread on the sole.

This is the pair that took the Lowers trip. Comfy. I will kick a terrorist in the nuts with these..

This is Tom Kabash from Pleasure Ground Eyewear. I ran into him at CLASS Santa Monica and he was flossing a pair of Simple Shoes. You’ll find Tom and Pleasure Ground Eyewear at CLASS at ASR in booth # CL633

RANDOM Pic - Nielsen gave ASR and CLASS at ASR the chance to fly in key retailers and distributors. I have talked to some of the distributors that I have worked with in the past. most of them are coming to the show in Sept. This is one of them.. His name is Matt Law. He owns a distribution company in the UK called Jett 26. He is on point. Well most of the time. This evening he was beat up by stickers.. See you in SD Matt. Fly safe..

This week I took a redeye to the south east. Reason for the trip was to go on behalf of ASR / Class at ASR and support a couple of tradeshows in Florida.

Usually I can handle redeye flights with ease. This one kicked my ass however the trip was a great one. I landed in Tampa grabbed the rental car and headed to SPoT. They we’re throwing a tradeshow called the Moat Show. Let me tell you, it was WARM. Very warm. There was an eyeball named Bill spinning in the Atlantic that didn’t hit land while I was there which couldv’e added to the fun but people we’re amped on the surf about to pound the east coast.

So the boys at SPoT had a good turnout. Skate companies came out and set up their 10×10 easy-ups. The people I talked to seemed to be satisfied with the retail turnout and the crowds of the general public cruising the show. Immediately after the show a best trick contest began so as the show closed we headed inside where people were skating all day. Torey Pudwill from Dwindle / Podium manhandled the best trick. Congrats sir!

Czar in Ybor City once again to end the evening was good times as always.   Woke up the next morning and started my drive to Orlando for Surf Expo. I was greeted in the front by Sean Smith and a good game that almost made me shit myself. Anyhow, I met up with Surf Expo Captain and 1st mate Roy Turner and Sean O’Brien for a badge and chat. Those guys are really rad guys. Thanks for letting me in misters. need I say more?

The show was good. Volcom did there thing and themed it up. Pretty funny booth set up.. love them.. RVCA, Atwater, Sector 9 and Vans seemed to be killing it in my short time there. I went by to visit John Gothard in the Sanuk booth and they were crushing it with their new Tube Flop. Wow! they are going to sell a grip of those.. Nice job guys!

Got to visit with many friends at the show I haven’t seen in a while. Some of them were there to skate the set up Surf Expo did for their demos during the show. Enjoyed that as well. Others like the Eastern Skateboard and Surf Supply crew were there doing their thing.

Thank you both SPoT and Surf Expo for your hospitality.

The Moat. I have seen people swim in this for free product during Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contests in the past.

The Moat Show!!!! The show was set up out side behind the park. It was balmy but you can head inside the snack shack to cool off and check out some art.

SPoTs Barak Wise with Jose from Dwindle. Barak is an idea man but it wasn’t his idea to have those two dude in the backround.

Surf Expo’s Roy Turner and Sean O’Brien. they rule.

Eastern Skate Supply main man Reggie Barns on left. I surfed with him in North Carolina. He surfs well. middle is Bruce Walker of Ocean Avenue, and  Abraham Paskowitz was good to catch up with as well.. Abe’s running Mavericks Surf Clothing now and we wish him the best.

Autograph signing in front of Eastern Skate Supply booth. Creager got me good this very night..

RANDOM Pic. Okay .. Usually I go through a few of my pics from the past and when I laugh I post the “Random Pic” Well this pic was actually taken at my hotel in Orlando. I wanted to meet up with Josh Hunter from Transworld Business and a few others and jump in the pool.  Here’s the story.. SOMEONE POOOOOOOOOOhed in the pool. We asked to see the person who committed such and act on this warm post tradeshow evening. I figured if the person looked pretty normal we can still jump in. No such luck. Security surrounded the pool. It was probably a little tike,  so we found some of the Volcom crew in the kiddie pool / fountain and we splashed about in that for a bit.   that was cool and all but have a look at the guy in the pic behind the security guard. He is setting up to hook something big in the pool. How big was that thing?

Hey maams and misters. Hope all is well. Things are kicking into high gear for ASR and CLASS at ASR. A couple days ago was SIMA’s Waterman’s Weekend and I had a chance to go thanks to ASR. I was pretty slammed on Thursday but had a chance to see the golf tourney. It was at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point.  Amazing place. check it out when you get a chance. Or just sign up and play for the 21st.   Make sure you dial in a good kit for your foursome because people didn’t really hold back. I won’t even say who my favorite was but I will say that there was NO recession on the coarse that day. At least not in the team’s outfits. I will say that one gentleman tried tackling me with a Kilt on and once he ended up on my front porch I lifted his “skirt” for “someone’s” photo op. I will keep this rated PG 13. Just a solid turnout of companies and people supporting, good times, and SIMA killed it. Good Job.. More details in the Rated PG pics. I might have some t-shirt ideas though John. did I just say that out loud??  Onto Friday.. LA was kicking me straight in the balls that day and not letting me get to the Ritz in Dana Point but once there I parked my 94 piece of work and rolled in with some borrowed duds. I was floored at  how nice it was. Yes its the Ritz DP but I’ve always rolled by on the trail and surfed creek down below. Once registered and given my sheet of barcodes that I need to do the silent auction with I walked right back outside and stuck one on the front door of the Ritz and one in the men’s on the urinal. So I own both of those now.. If any of yous need to saddle up for a weekend there do so. Just say “its all good. Jim got me”.   So again I was a bit late but made it outside for a little of the silent auction. Really good stuff to bid on. Maybe 2010 - 21st Waterman’s Auction I’ll get that trip to Hawaii with all my friends and yes maybe I’ll call you John Gothard if there’s a cancellation.   Swept into the main ballroom. Dinner was sooo good. GES people we’re kind and gentle. GT killed the mic like Erasure on a comeback tour. over 400K was raised in an incredibly funky economic silly year. That shows how strong it is when we all get together and make it happen. Like the late 2009, 21st Waterman’s Ball “SIMA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mr Dick Baker always said. “Its about growing the Pond” The industry came together and did just that Friday night.. It was incredible..   Rob Machado - Waterman of the Year and Dave Rastovich took the award for Environmentalist of the Year both deservedly so. Congratulations to all three of you guys and Dick, we really miss you sir. Thank Yous came from everyone on stage that night to him (Baker) and his family who gave 3 amazing acceptance speeches that evening. With them and Dicks great friend Shaheen Sadheghi (founder of the Lab and Camp in Costa Mesa) a huge standing ovation took place with hundreds of people showing their gratitude to such a blessing of a person we all miss.   Thank you SIMA. Sean, didn’t I win you in the silent auction. See you Monday. Bring a paintbrush Holmes.   Again 400k raised. more than last year. In a crap recession. Pretty rad!   Oh and Gerry Lopez was there.. Gerry Lopez. hear me? I think he came in on the Sea Shepard.
Thanks again.
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
Classatasr.com

This was my first stop at the SIMA Waterman’s golf tourney. It was the ASR sponsored hole. I think it was # 2. the crew and a dude with a steel drum making us feel tropical. pretty neato. Leanne Milliken, Ginger Conrad, Darren Bridges, Nisa Meineke, and crew.

WOW. so Vans went all out. I sure they won a prize. If not Ima getem one. Notice the bookends. I don’t know the “politically correct” way of explaining besides just throwing out I saw dudes that looked like my son but older than me manning their fort. I love that..

Transworld Surf Pub Charlie Anderson lubing up as always.

I think its hole # 3. Surfline’s sponsored hole. You have to get one of your foursome to get a ride down to the water and get a few turns in on a Lost Surfboard and your score gets deducted from your golf score. If your foursome turns down the surf at hole three you donate $50. ha! love it!!. I got a pic of Charlie on a little one but the pic sucked. This pic is the setup on the beach. Tony Perez from Surfing / Skateboarder mag and friends set up a side charity to make things interesting. If you hit a tennis ball off the bluff and hit a surfboard you win it.. they raised some extra scrilla for SIMA.. nice!

Gerrrrrrrrrry LOPEZ. nothing funny about that. well he was in Conan the Barbarian. He’s the man.

Another cool moment I remember was Electric Sunglasses Bruce Beach’s son Max. 6 years old focusing on every moment of the evening. Hey max I’ll pay you to hang out with my son. wait. I’ll pay you to hang out with me homeslice. Rob made a smoooooth acceptance speech.

MAX BEACH saying “remember me later” !!

Standing Ovation… Dick, we’ll meet you in the clouds and be with the Lord forever.

Shop eat Surfs Liberace of the keyboard Tiffany Montgomery along with Ginger Conrad from ASR marketing team lookin zippy.

RANDOM Photo- someone just reminded me of this.. This was mid May a couple years ago at Jack’s Corona Del Mar. All I have to say is Santa and a Bear showed up for a few hours in the shop to hang with this kids. Well and the cougars came out as well.

This blog is a long one so saddle up. Lots of stuff going on.  Summer has been non-stop action. Today we’ll touch a couple of things that have gone down the past couple weeks. So a quick snapshot of July.  Right after the 4th of July weekend I grabbed a flight to Salt Lake City, Utah for the weekend. A few friends we’re getting together for the weekend at Andy Bells house.  We gathered a few bikes from OGIO, and a few of his Nitro Circus & Thrill Billies friends. Andy works with OGIO as well as busting himself for Nitro Circus. Check the shows out on MTV and Thrill Billies on Fuel TV. It was a great weekend and I really enjoyed meeting some new friends Andy is surrounded by. Thanks Andy for a great weekend.   HB was getting geared up for the US Open of Surfing. Nike /Hurley did a solid job branding and with a solid NW swell do to hit it was going to be quite a show at the pier.  Another thing that sticks out in July was an event at Motel No tell in San Clemente. I met Adam Warren from Surfing at Lowers to grab a “few” waves. an a few was all I got so I got out and on my walk back decided to grab a couple at Upper Trestles. I had fun and couldn’t wait to see what this swell was going to do for us for the weekend. Anyhow once dark I ran over to Motel No Tell on El Camino Real. The reason for the event was to launch a shoe that Madsteez did for Nike 6.0. The place was amazing. Steez did an incredible job dialing in the place and the event went well.. Nice job guys.. Can’t wait to go back.   Then a little surf to ease the pain of not having solid surf for a while. Everyone scored and it felt so good to recharge the batteries. Felt like a week long surf trip even though most of us would have to hit HB for events, meetings, and or just to network at the contest site. The final was fun watching local schralper Brett Simpson take the top off anything pulsing from the south.. Thank You to Braden from New Era and Transworld for the food and shade. New Era VIP Gold Club provided plenty of room to chill, eat, drink and watch some of the best contest action in HB in a lonnnng time.   Last week was a busy one as well. With X-Games 15 in town and a few things to attend people we’re again buzzing around getting it done. Prior to the X-Games craze La Jolla Group had a nice grand opening of their new facility. Really solid turnout of people coming to wish them a house-warming hello. Metal Mulisha did a jump demo just behind their enormous warehouse to get people fired up.Then it was back inside to meet, greet, and tour the incredible new home of O’Neill, Lost, Metal Mulisha, and Rusty.   Woke up got some work done and headed to Home Depot Center for the Group Y / Action Sports Conference. With over 250 people in attendance people came from all walks to talk shop. From core participants in Action Sports to Non-endemic industry leaders blending for the day to grow the pond. They had an amazing line up and hit home with the food. Thx ASR for paying my entry..  I love you.. Mark Sperling and Liz Randall founders of Group Y should be proud. high-five guys. Then went to meet up with a few friends at Staples for the X-Games. DC had a couple suites to watch the action. Once we left there we all met up at Standard Hotel for the DC Gold Standard in LA. In a nutshell DC takes over the Standard in Downtown LA for the weekend of X-Games 15 to hold events, house staff, athletes in town to compete, a couple celebs and key industry folks. We met up with Mike and Jen West and hung with them for a bit. Jens a blast. her husband Mike is big man at 686. We wet up to the rooftop to catch up with a few friends. Thank You DC. Really nice job. Oh ya, I went to see Pastrana attempt a 720 at best trick. It was incredible. just before the moto best-trick kicked off BMX i witnessed a Double Front-Flip on the Mega Ramp and somehow he didn’t win the gold. Check it on you tube. His name is Anthony Napolitan. it was insane.. PRod took gold in street, and Rune took another gold as well. X-Games was neato. Good job Tim and Caroline good job. Didn’t see you this weekend but your hard work paid off.   My wife is back in town so I’m going home. Maybe she can explain to me why that kid Anthony didn’t win the gold on the double front flip.   also look at the exhibitor list for both ASR and Class at ASR , for more on the events I touched on. Rob Campbell Transworld Business Publisher was at EVERYTHING. Get some rest Rob.  have a nice week!!
Thank you,
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
Classatasr.com

This is from my Utah trip to visit Andy Bell. It is a pic from the Thrill Billies Compound. pretty cool place. DANGER.

The OGIO headquarters. Amazing spot. I checked out their skatepark and we picked up a few dirt bikes so we can ride that day.

This was Andy showing Kurt Nichol’s (KTM Manager / Super Moto) wife and Mark Fiore (Transworld Moto Mag Publisher) the bike stand made from OGIO. its insane. you don’t have to lift a 250 lb bike anymore.

We rinsed ourselves off with a 3 hour river tube ride. Andy has a great group of friends. about 50 people came out from the area to join us for the body scaring white-trash fest.

this is Motel No Tell. Madsteez themed it up for the event. this was the candy room. The Motel looked insane. Not to mention there was a Delorean right in the middle of the event punching me in the vision. loved it.

Here’s Mark - Madsteez. he was giving me the tour and had to show me the kitchen. check the “Do the Urkel” board game on the fridge. I will take you down in that game. check Mark link for a good time.  http://www.madsteez.com . also buy a pair of his kicks.

My favorite swell of silly ole 09. Carlsbad getting zippy on July 24th.

New Era / Transworld Surf VIP Gold Club at the contest.

La Jolla house warming. from L to R. Erin Barajas (California Apparel News Editor) , Jessica Rush (Ezekiel Girl’s Brand Manager) , Lindsay Henkles (Lost Girl’s head of Sales)

La Jolla Group board of director / Lakers Assistant Coach and my girl Sofia. I wanted her to kiss him for locking Odom for next season.. yaaaaa!

This pic is from the Group Y meeting at Home Depot Center. his name is Ron Semiao. if you see him hug him. because this mister is not only Senior VP of ESPN Films he also created the X-Games. Thank you sir!!!!

At Gold Standard LA. DC had their Rally cars displayed in front of the hotel. This is Travis Pastrana’s rig.  You can see Ken Blocks car in the pic as well. Next year I want these two in the Rally final battling for the Gold..

Random Pic- I love this shot of Dan Moylan (Director of ASR Tradeshow) I surf with him now and then. This pic was one he showed me from a few years back. He was a boatman on Namotu Island in Fiji. Dan and I heckle each other pretty bad. balls in my court now. This is Dan Moylan on a right off Namotu Island. Girl in the photo is looking at him saying “man I haven’t seen Bud Llamas in a while” but I find myself looking at the photo saying “man Dan, this photo doesn’t quite show the clear Hula Hoop you’re whipping about on this little turn”. Once you all are done with ASR and need a little water time. hit up Scotty and Mandy for a week in paradise. the link.   Just make sure to look out for Danimal the one armed animal and his clear Wonder Woman Jet hula hoop in the line up.

I headed south for a little visit with Dave Boehne at Infinity Surfboards in Dana Point. My mission was to pick up a board I ordered and talk about a little gift they will be giving us for Class At ASR coming up in September. Have a look at what a certain picked retailer will be leaving with from San Diego. Check their link infinitysurf.com check out the 5F board. pretty neato. It will be customized for someone at the show that will walk home with it on the 12th of September.   Anyhow, Dave’s family owns Infinity Surfboards and Dave is the buyer / marketing / TM / one of the shapers / e-commerce / you get the picture guy at the shop.. He has a solid backround as well. If you don’t believe me just ask him. ha. They have a solid collection of shortboards to SUPs. His apparel backround comes out in his buying. Nice solid softgoods upstairs. Make sure you tackle him at the show and make him buy from your booth in September.   Thanks Dave and fam ahead of time for the board. Oh ya. Also Dave and his wife Mary (lost designer) will be having a little one in a few weeks.. the little one will be a looker..   Pay them a visit today.. the shop is really good.
24382 Del Prado
Dana Point, California 92629
United States of America
thank you,
Jim Shubin
Classatasr.com
ASRbiz.com

Boehne and his precision leash rope design skills. MacGyver of 09. 

Check out Dave selling these groms the dream. “hey buy a bar of wax for $400 and you get a surfboard thrown in for free.!” 

This is what one of you lucky people will be shredding after the shows in San Diego. people meet the “5F” … 5F meet the people that want you for free. check out the Russ Pope wall in Infinity. 

RANDOM PIC - I was up in Oregon on a ZUMIEZ / Ezekiel Surf Trip a few years back with Jimbob, Yasmin, Andy, Mike (now from Elwood)  and a group of others . I was pretty fired up when we rolled up to this rock.. Its the rock from Goonies!!!!!! I was pretty fired up..

Technology has presented us with so many ways to enjoy skateboarding – you can control your favorite skater in a video game, you can watch your favorite riders on a DVD or discover new ones on YouTube, and you can cheer on top pros thanks to televised contests or laugh at their crazy lives on reality TV shows. With all this at our fingertips, the makers of the Go SK8 iPhone application have brought us back to reality and reminded us that nothing beats actually riding your skateboard and playing a game of “S-K-A-T-E” with your friends.

The application, $1.99 on the iTunes store, serves as a moderator for a game of “SKATE” (or “GOSK8” as the app calls it) between you and a friend. The first element of the app is to select which type of game you are playing. There is the traditional Flatground mode, but you can also select between Manual, Ledges, or Transition depending on what mood you are in or what type of environment you are skating. You then select from Basic, Medium, or Advanced difficulty and you’re ready to go.

By tapping “Spin,” the app randomly cycles through a list of tricks (over 100 in each category) and stops on the one you have to perform. As you and your friend miss or make tricks, you track your game of “GOSK8” right on your iPhone.

The greatest strengths of the app are the extensive (and challenging) trick lists and the slick, easy-to-use design. It not only adds a fun twist to a familiar game but actually helps skaters of all abilities progress by challenging them to land new and unfamiliar tricks. In a world where most iPhone apps present us with innovative (and sometimes awesome) ways to waste our time, it’s refreshing to see that there is now an alternative for those of us who just want to go skate.

Visit this website for more information: www.gosk8app.com

to buy the app for the I-phone

Screen Shots from the Application:

Just got to the Ocean Institute in South Orange County. We were there for SIMA’s “Sales & Marketing”Boot Camp.  It was a pretty day out, so parking my pirate ship was tough but I squeezed into a spot. Hope I don’t get a ticket.   Anyhow Doug Palladini from Vans and now pres. of SIMA delivered the opening address.

Next up, Michael Wood from TRU. TRU is a market research and consulting firm for the youth. He did a great job and reading the little bio on him I saw he has been quoted in NY Times, Business Week, CNN, Wall Street Journal and much more.. Now he made this busted blog… Nice one Michael and thank you for the solid info… Check them out at tru-insight.com.

Then Transworld Biz boss, Rob Campbell came up to moderate our four panelists. Tom Holbrook from Quiksilver, Jeff Moore from Vans, Greg “GO” Osthus of Atwater, and some handsome youngbuck from Hurley by the name of Mark Weber. All to talk about navigating our current changing climate. I would say this was a very inspiring panel. These guys have a wide array of industry knowledge. A couple tidbits I’ll share are as follows:

• You’re reps are feeling isolated out there so provide them with support and motivation to keep momentum.
• Build and or focus on product that best represents the DNA of the brand and sell items to retailers that will properly follow suit.
• Retailers are focusing on margin more than ever.

Mark mentioned the consumer’s mindset is to look for a deal out there right now. So true.  We can all agree we are in the same game. I have never looked at the price of eggs and milk until end of last year. EL Prez Palladini came back up for a bit to share the 2008 SIMA Retail Distribution Study Results. If you are not yet a SIMA member sign up. Then email http://www.jennifer@SIMA.com for some solid info.

Some good news from this though. There are 4900 Surf / Skate shops. Of the shops surveyed footwear is up from 06 to 08 and softgoods are just about flat. Not bad!! Another thing that stuck out for me was the importance of Skateboards within these shops. food for thought…

One thing I want to get off my chest. The new dates are locked for SIMA in Cabo. Send/ fax or drive your registrations to SIMA like today. I want us all to come off the tradeshow craze and just shy of the holidays, we go down and celebrate the good life of Baker and just posse up for a good end of the year goodbye to a silly 09. DO IT!! Lets surf…  See you at ASR then Cabo.  Thank you ASR for getting me there.  Thank you SIMA for a great job and solid insight to chew on for a bit.  Thank you Flanny for your duck-tail.

-Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
ClassAtASR.com

Check out live tweets from boot camp via ASR’s Leanne Milliken aka @HurricaneLeezy

The Posse. Love, live, learning.

During the break. Is this where they filmed night at the museum?

Flanny’s new thong ishh. love it.

The Panelists killing it..

SIMA’s Executive Director Sean Smith (wow what a year he’s had) and Leanne Milliken, Nielsen Group / ASR’s retail group marketing manager post Boot Camp. Hey guys this girl is rad. FYI.

Shit.. i got a parking ticket! sticking out from the curb again..

random pic- This is a pic from 5 or 6 years ago at the ooolllld SIMA offices. I was at Ezekiel at the time and for Cinco De Mayo I paid for a 6 person Mariachi Band to roll with me around town. A few mags, and few companies , etc. Well, this is when we blasted through the doors of SIMA. I was never reimbursed for these expenses.. ha.

I went to grab lunch with my friend Ryan Rush from O’Neill. Ryan and I worked together with Drawls and Dawls from a garage up when we were young guns. He is now VP of Design for O’Neill. He sucks at surfing but I wont hold that against him as he kills it in skating and designing. ha!   We went to grab lunch after a quick tour of the new La Jolla Group’s home. It’s pretty nice. They just moved in a couple days before my trip but people looked pretty damn settled in. We all know moving can temporarily paralyze work flow for days if not weeks but this was not the case here at La Jolla. It was a great environment with a beehive of activity.   In one hallway before you reach the design area you are in the middle of a mini skatepark you can session on the way to a little power meeting.   I have to say most “dialed office award” would have to go to their sales guru Snowy. I didn’t get to see him as he was out to lunch or visiting their new little baby but his office should get MTV Cribbed. Snowy sorry I missed you but I hid a little surprise in there for you. sorry. Congrats to you and Cody!  I won’t give away any more secrets as I know we’ll see a formal look soon. Go visit them and see their new spot yourself.  Also come see La Jolla Groups companies at ASR in September. Their product is on fire..   I surfed a new pair of their Hyperfreaks he gave me yesterday. Those boardshorts are insane. Are you kidding me?  Sorry RJs that must’ve hurt.  Oh ya, and speaking of Jordy he was on the front page of Yahoo last week, check the link.  he’s pretty good! Anyhow check the Hyperfreaks and the rest of their gear at ASR in SD.   Nice new home guys! looking forward to my next visit.   Hey, also I want to start a new thing with my pics. the last photo will always be a random that I pick out and post after the story pics. word..

Thank you, Jim Shubin
Classatasr.com
Asrbiz.com

The Lobby. look at Parnell on monitor in the backround. Easy Pat, you look fine.

Ryan Rush going to give me a tour of their new Taj Mahal.

This is a sneak peak of their B-Ball court. This is the direct route to parking so on way to lunch you can fire off a game of horse or whatever floats your boat.

Goodbye from Rush. oh ya, if any of you are planning on toilet papering the building. don’t do it. thats Toby’s office and he’ll kick your ass.

Todays “random pic” - post TW Awards. Cullen, myself with Jen West. We were going to fire her in the pool if we didn’t get new 686 jackets. didn’t work.

I got a call from ASR telling me IN4MATION will be coming to ASR in San Diego in September. This fired me up. Not only because of the solid brand the boys have put on the map but the buying power Todd and Justin bring to ASR and Class At ASR.   Here is a little information on IN4MATION I want to share with you as I need a pick-me-up after seeing USA get a beat down from Brazil in the Finals. So saddle up and read on.

I’m excited to share what I know of the foursome’s passion.   Their catch phrase they’ve adopted is “I Shall Proceed…And Continue”.  IN4MATION was built on the rock of Hawaii. Started in 2001. Four key people planted the seed and grew the label and their retail business with proper TLC.  The four co-founders are Todd Shimabuku who is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, does some buying and shares the sales operations with Ryan Arakaki. Rhandy Tambio bounces back and forth from his homeland of Hawaii to NYC to direct creative and design with help of a few key people in NY.  Last but not least Jun Jo. Jun is a solid guy born in Japan. I believe he and a couple other key people helped put RVCA and Volcom on the radar in Japan. If I’m wrong about that sorry but don’t tell me.  I want to continue believing it. I might be lying my ass off but I also am pretty sure he has a hand in the Vertra Sunscreen project too.  If you don’t know what that is buy it tomorrow if you don’t want to have skin grafts of your ass on your grill in 10 years… It works well.

Anyhow, I got to spend a week on Tavarua with Jun on one of Lilard’s weeks. Jun exudes such class in and out of the water and this was about 6 years ago prior to IN4MATION’s solid growth spirt. He KILLS Cloudbreak by the way as he is a pro surfer just to rub it in. He works in Hawaii to make sure the retail run’s smoothy while directing marketing and PR efforts for the brand.   IN4MATION has done a stellar job of collaborating with key brands to gain momentum and legitimacy in our market. A few of the key labels they’ve done projects with are: LODOWN Magazine, RVCA, STUSSY, Brixton, The Skateboard Mag, DVS, Gravis, DC, Diamond Supply, most recently G-Shock Watches, and more…  I know this is a blog and I need to keep it short but there’s so much crafty info on these guys.

I just want to touch their retail business as well here before I get back to my fam. IN4MATION has a few stores.  They worked with a store in the past and decided to dial in a solid retail location on their own and I believe kind of sway from the gray market craze of the late 90’s. That was in 02 but they moved from the middle of the rock to a key spot in the hub in 2005 and that was when the momentum started.   Now they have IN4MATION Clothing / Ward Warehouse which is their spot that shares reality space their brand and just less than half of their inventory is influential brands like RVCA, Vans, DVS, Stussy and so on.

I love their store and spent some cash in their a few times. I don’t shop much either. Stussy actually opened a store in town but was smart enough to muster up special SMU’s for IN4MATION and their IN4MANTS so have a look.  -Aloha Army is their location that would cater to surf culture with a very stylish flare.  You can also find Aloha Army branded gear in there as well.  IN4MATION Boardshop you will find key hardgoods companies offering their latest and greatest from skate as well as IN4MATION goodies if you’re heading to country to Chollo or just staying in town and rolling around A’ala skatepark.   Saturday morning was their latest collab release at their stores.  It was with G-Shock. check out the salmon timepiece below in the pics.   Spend the time now and learn more about their whole deal. take a gander at these following links.

www.in4mationbrand.com
www.alohaarmy.com
www.in4mants.com
www.in4mboardshop.com

Good job guys.

Thank You,  Jim Shubin Classatasr.com ASRbiz.com

IN4MATION’s store. When on Oahu head straight there and look for the guy in the pic below.

Todd Shimabuku - retailer, sales guru, he makes sure b2b and b2c is on point. If you see him waling by your booth @ ASR take good care of him. You want to be in his shop.

If you didn’t see Todd in the shop and you are hot now and want to paddle out but forgot your Vertra front porch saver cream head to this shop. Aloha Army.

after you get out of the water and you realize you forgot your baggage @ HNL go back to pic 1 / IN4MATION and grab a tee that looks something like this. You’ll feel neat in it.

Their latest collaboration. Just was just released Sat Morn. Get it now. its a Salmon GLX IN4MATION X G-Shock and stuff. I’d grab one of those with that tee in the pic above.

RANDOM PIC!!! like I said in my last blog. The last pic will have a random pic to cap it off.. This a pic from a tour I did in Hawaii for a company I worked for. It was moments after I met Stu Graham. I had just put him on the team and this was his first time in Hawaii and probably his first time in boardshorts. He is now stuck back in Scotland his homeland because of visa craze but a I am trying my best to get him back here again to US soil. Miss you Stu..

ASR sends out props to one of our favorite sons, Matt Ramirez, now part of the Quiksilver family.  Matt is doing some incredible work in the digital arena as you can see from Quik’s latest collaboration ‘The Spot’.  Matt may not be able to ollie like Reese Forbes, but we like what we see anyway – keep up the good work Matt!