Bum Toning Technology

It was scorching on saturday. Everyone was out in shorts and sandals, and I couldn’t help but notice that lots of women are wearing fitflops. As a man who has already worked hard for his ‘buns of steel’, a toning sandal that works your butt when you walk is rather pointless. But women can’t get enough of these things to tone their flabby bits. Personally, I belive that it’s nothing an active lifestyle can’t cure.

Turns out that they’re putting this toning technology, which makes your feet roll more and activates the supporting muscles further up the body, into all sorts of things from sandals and Converse style trainers to boots. I suppose it’s only a matter of time until lady skiers demand this type of feature in their ski boots.

Wetsuit Fashion – Board shorts or not

Wetsuits, not exactly high fashion, but for UK surfers & wakeboarders a must have to protect us from the cold British seas and lakes. As a wakeboarder and somebody new to surfing I have come across a bit of a fashion dilemma.

When I’m wakeboarding I always wear board shorts, even if I’m wearing a full wetsuit I wear them over the top. I always have because at the place I learnt to wakeboard everybody else did it. At first it seems stupid but then after a while it just became the norm. The next thing I knew I was telling other people to do it, infact I mocked people whole didn’t do it. Maybe wakeboarders do it as an identity thing, it’s the difference between us and kite boards.

I haven’t given it a second thought until I started learning how to surf. In surfing board shorts over a full suit is a big no no. Infact if you turned up at your local beach in a full suit with board shorts over the top you’d be laughed off the beach. In surfers eyes it’s the equivalent of wearing socks and sandals.

The no board shorts style makes sense, because what is the point of wearing board shorts over a wetsuit? It’s like wearing a tie, totally pointless. As a wakeboarder it’s tough to say, but we are wrong. Board shorts over a full wetsuit is wrong.

The solution, get a spring wetsuit with no legs, that way it just looks like you’re wearing a wetsuit top and not a full suit. If you’re going to ride with a full suit, no board shorts guys. Suck it up!

Nixon Magnacon – Field Agent

If the Nixon Regent was fit for James Bond in the casino, then the Nixon Magnacon is definately the watch for the field. The all black styling with red detail gives it the air of a cockpit dial in an SAS fighter jet, and with a scratch resistant, titanium carbide coated stainless steel case, waterproof to 200m, this is one dark, foreboding, rugged beast that will go anywhere, do anything.

With a 6 hand Swiss made chronograph movement, and a custom developed ballistic nylon strap, The Nixon Magnacon definately wouldn’t look out of place on the wrist of Jack Bauer…..you’d certainly know when your 24 hours is up anyway.

Nixon Regent Watch – Elite Class

You may have guessed by now that I am a fan of Nixon watches somewhat. Guilty. Well here’s the latest discovery, part of the elite class, and this one really is pure class – The Regent.  It oozes sophistication, style, panache, finesse,  refinement, …..a certain je ne sais quoi.

And it doesn’t just look like quality, it backs up the James bond appearance with high caliber mechanics too. Powering The Regent is  a 3 hand swiss made mechanical, automatic winding movement with day, date and 25 jewels. That means you’ll never have to worry about The Regent stopping on you when you need it most. Add to that a stainless steel case made with scratch resistant sapphire crystal, and a genuine Italian Crocodile leather strap with stainless steel buckle, and you know that some real man hours have been put in to create this magical timepiece.

Salomon Shogun – can you tame the master?

I don’t think I’ve been quite so excited about a new ski since…..well, ever. Salomon skis have brought out some corkers this year, and brand new, the Salomon Shogun is unique on so many levels. A 100mm freeride ski that will still excel on the groomers, the Shogun is the first ever fully bamboo cored ski making it float like a feather through the powder, but with armour reinforced edges and a layer of volcanic basalt stone for the “special stiffness” characteristics. Developed by Mark Abma of Whistler fame, the Salomon Shogun features 325mm rocker technology giving it huge float in soft snow, but don’t be fooled beacuse this beast will charge down the groomers back to the lift and holds a solid edge in the hard stuff and on the crud.

Add to this the incredible japanese style graphics and part see-through top sheet, and I might have to start putting a few extra pounds from the payslip to one side for this beauty.

Red Bull X-Fighters Hit London Town

For the first time ever, on the 22nd August, the Red Bull X-Fighters will be touching down on the British dirt. The ultimate kings of freestyle motocross will battle it out in front of a 17,000 strong crowd at the iconic Battersea Power Station, performing death and gravity dfying tricks to be crowned the ultimate champion. The Power station will be brought to life with a surge of Red Bull energy, as twelve of the best freestyle motocross riders from around the world entertain the capacity crowd in this World Tour Finale.

Having already touched down in Mexico, Canada, the US, Spain, this is Britain’s debut hosting such a dynamic event, and what better setting than in front of the the famous white chimneys. Red Bull X-Fighters is a high-energy spectacle in which riders on motorbikes combine power, skill, showmanship and bravery to excite fans. The World Tour has garnered a huge international following since its conception in 2001 with jumps and tricks getting harder, higher and longer every year – often reaching heights of 40 feet. I saw a cheeky trailer on TV last night, and it certainly looks like a one-off show that you wouldn’t forget. If there are tickets left, they should be available on www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Here’s what you can expect:

Skullcandy Snoop Dogg Skullcrusher

The height of hip hop has teamed up with the height of the headphone world to bring us the hottest collaboration of 2009: The Skullcandy Snoop Dogg Skullcrushers. A reworking of the the orginal skullcrusher, Snoop has given it the Dogg treatment with his trademark bandana design all over in blue and black, and if this fails to get you noticed on the bus, then nothing will. Not exactly what I’d go for, but then I’m no Snoop Dogg.

So much for the asthetics, what about the tech. Well the Snoop Crusher has two 30mm neodynium magnetic speakers along with what Skull Candy claim are the only in-ear sub woofers of any headphone, so you can take the Snoop Dogg baseline whereever you go. Certainly sounds impressive….just don’t get caught listening to any Girls Aloud under them or that could be your street cred gone.

Element ‘Make It Count’ Release

Whilst I’m on the subject of brand video’s and trailers, it is definately worth mentioning the full release of one of the most anticipated short films of the year: The Element ‘Make It Count’ video. After its premiere on the 28th July on Newport Beach in California (yeah, i know, cool place for a premiere), it will be released on their website www.elementskateboards.com from tomorrow, August 1st, for you the viewing public to check out.

Charting the history of the brand from its humble beginnings back in 1992, it features interviews with all their top riders such as Bam Margera, Chad Muska and Mike Vallely. Element has been a big promoter of all things environmental for a long time now, and ‘Make It Count’ might just make you want to buy something with the tree logo on. For the full video check out www.elementskateboards.com, otherwise here’s a trailer for you.

Burton ‘The B’ backward teaser

Burton have just released this teaser trailer from their big 09/10 season film, supposedly simply called ’The B’ . Inventively made up from all backwards clips, this is one of the more original trailers I’ve seen for films, but it is not known whether this is a running theme for the film or just a tool for these teasers. Either way, the footage looks amazing, and with shots taken all over the world of the likes of Shaun White, Nicolas Müller, Natasza Zurek and Kevin Pearce, it’s already got me salivating at the thought of strapping on my board this winter. Yes it really is that time again.

Skateboard king immortalised

 

 

 

 

 

You be excused for seeing double if you happened to be loitering around the Hollywood Madame Tussauds yesterday, as the Mac daddy of the skateboard world, Mr Tony Hawk, was on site to unveil his slightly more poker faced couterpart at the famous waxwork museum.

There is always something a little bit creepy (if not self-indulgent) about seeing real people unveil waxwork copies of themselves, but nonetheless, few can argue the skateboard legend deserves it.