PATAGONIA LAUNCHES “$20 MILLION & CHANGE” AND PATAGONIA WORKS – A HOLDING COMPANY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Letter from Patagonia Works founder, Yvon Chouinard, announces the launch of an internal fund to help responsiblestart-up companies; reorganizes Patagonia into a new kind of holding company.

VENTURA, California (May 6, 2013)

I don’t like to think of myself as a businessman. I’ve made no secret that I hold a fairly skeptical view of the business world. That said, Patagonia, the company my wife and I founded four decades ago, has grown up to be — by global standards — a medium-size business. And that bestows on our family a serious responsibility. The last line of Patagonia’s mission statement is “… use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” We’ve always taken that seriously.

Three examples: Every year for 30 years, Patagonia has donated one percent of its sales to grassroots environmental organizations. We helped initiate the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, an organization of companies that produces more than a third of the clothing and footwear on the planet. In a very short time, the Coalition has launched an index of social and environmental performance that designers (and eventually consumers) can use to make better decisions when developing products or choosing materials. And last year we became one of California’s first B Corps (benefit corporations), which means that the values that helped make our company successful are now etched into our legal charter.
Now is the time for Patagonia to take the next logical step: to reach out beyond the framework of the apparel and outdoor industries. Today, my family and I are happy to launch $20 Million & Change, an internal fund to help like-minded, responsible start-up companies bring about positive benefit to the environment.

With the launch of this fund, we have reorganized Patagonia and our other businesses within a new holding company called Patagonia Works. While most holding companies are about diversification, Patagonia Works is dedicated to a single cause: using business to help solve the environmental crisis. Rose Marcario, who has been COO and CFO of Patagonia’s apparel company, will now take on a new role as President and CEO of Patagonia Works. Rose has been instrumental in tripling profits for our company. We now want to apply her business acumen and keen sense of social and environmental responsibility to new companies in five critical areas: clothing, yes, but also food, water, energy and waste. Rose has been responsible for the launch of Patagonia Provisions, which will soon expand beyond our Wild Salmon Jerky (wild-caught in natal waters by First Nations tribes) to other foods that, like our jerky, are more thoughtfully sourced. The food business is, as much as the apparel or energy industries, environmentally broken. It takes more from the planet than it gives back. We aim to find ways to get what we want to eat by working with nature rather than against it.

Casey Sheahan will continue to serve as President and CEO of Patagonia, Inc., the clothing company at the heart of Patagonia Works.

Others might see Patagonia Works and $20 Million & Change as revolutionary business ventures; we think both are just next logical steps to doing business more responsibly. Economic growth for the past two centuries has been tied to an ever-spiraling carbon bonfire. Business – and human – success in the next 100 years will have to come from working with nature rather than using it up. That is a necessity, not a luxury as it’s seen now in most business quarters. We invite and encourage all companies to start to work with us in that direction.

To apply for funding or seek information regarding the $20 Million & Change program, please email: info@patagoniaworks.com or call (805) 667-2300.

The Kelly Slater Wavepool’s dream set-up, bang in the middle of Madison Gardens.

KELLY SLATER WAVE COMPANY DEALT BLOW AS INVESTMENT FALTERS
Kelly Slater dealt blow as investment company falters

The Kelly Slater Wave Company has been dealt a blow with today’s announcement that LM Investments has been placed into voluntary administration. LM Investments is being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for multiple breaches of corporation law.

LM Investments is a fund manager that reportedly holds $3 billion worth of investors funds and operates in 70 countries. In a recent ABC investigation LM Investments were found to be making misleading claims about its operations and were involved in a dubious property development called Maddison Gardens at Pimpana, north of the Gold Coast. 62.5% of LM Investments entire portfolio is invested in Maddison Estate.

Read the full story here.

Somewhere, there are lawyers are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a showdown.

Robert A. Denike, CEO and President, NHS, Inc. / Santa Cruz Skateboards

Hello,

We are having a problem with this person ripping off Phillips and Santa Cruz artwork. Please help us spread the word. You can use the information below.

This is the image that kicked it all off, we did not produce this link or the attached image of it, we are not sure who did produce it:

We had never heard of Jeremy Scott until it was brought to our attention. This is not a collaboration or under license, nor did we or the Phillips family approve the use of this artwork on his apparel designs in any way.

It’s obvious to us, the Phillips family, the fans of Jim Phillips Sr. and Jimbo Phillips, and fans of the brand Santa Cruz Skateboards, as well as many in the global skateboard and skate art community that there is clear and obvious infringement by Mr. Scott. We are discussing this with our legal team to determine our next steps.

These two artists and this brand are iconic. Any true fan of skateboarding will tell you how the Phillips artwork style, this brand and the activity of skateboarding has positively influenced their lives. It may just be artwork to Mr. Scott, to be used and thrown away by next season, but these artists and brand mean a lot to many people around the world. And by the looks of the outcry on social media, skateboarders and non-skater’s alike are angry to have two of their most favored artists and one of the original true skateboard brands violated in such a way.

Many people have concluded that Jeremy Scott must have obtained a copy of Jim Phillips Sr. book “The Skateboard Art of Jim Phillips” published in 2007.

There is some obscure art in the book that Jeremy Scott lifted and it could only have come from that book.

Thanks for helping expose this. Let me know if you need anything else.

Robert A. Denike
CEO & President
NHS, Inc.

Finisterre Announces Winter Workshop Sale

With a steady stream of low pressures lighting up the cold, dark dawns, awakening the beaches, reefs and elusive points of the southwest, this season has been a magical time to be a surfer. To celebrate, this Saturday16^th February from 10am – 5pm iconic cold water surf company Finisterre will be throwing open the doors of their Cornish HQ to host a much anticipated workshop sale.

Taking place exclusively at their Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes, the event is a great opportunity to meet the Finisterre team, check out their award-winning men’s and women’s wear collections and – with great discounts of up to 50% on their celebrated range of Merino base layers, insulated jackets and technical waterproofs – bag some seriously covetable bargains to boot. The sale will also offer exclusive end of the line deals and special sample rail clearance offers, delivering a last chance to buy on selected products. With February’s chill winds blowing and the water temperature hovering around 9°C, this is the perfect time to grab some much needed warmth.

Finisterre has been built on a lifetime chasing frigid waves and a decade of award winning ethical and technical design innovation. Working with a band of cold water pioneers and explorers who are driven by a desire to seek out empty waves, uncharted spots and the road less travelled, their range is constantly pushed to its limits. “In everything we do, we believe in looking at things differently,” says Finisterre Marketing Director Ernie Capbert. “We believe in challenging convention, supporting the rogues and designing beautiful, functional products – the kind that last.”

Saturday 16^th February 2013

Open 10 am to 5 pm

Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes, Cornwall TR5 0RD

www.finisterreuk.com

Here’s Ramon on what some claim as one of the best barrels ever, anywhere – at Cloudbreak in Fiji in 2012:

About Patagonia
Patagonia, Inc., based in Ventura, California, is a leading designer of core outdoor, surf and sport-related apparel, equipment, footwear and accessories. With sales last year of $540M, the company is noted internationally for its commitment to authentic product quality and environmental activism, contributing over $47.5M in cash and in-kind donations to date. Incorporating environmental responsibility into product development, the company has, since 1996, used only organically grown cotton in its clothing line. Committed to making its products landfill-free, the company’s entire product line is recyclable thorough its Common Threads Initiative. The company also advocates corporate transparency through its interactive website, The Footprint Chronicles, which outlines the environmental and social footprint of individual products. Patagonia was featured as The Coolest Company on the Planet on Fortune Magazine’s April 2007 cover.

Surftime Magazine Announces 2012 Internship Program

Bali, Indonesia, March, 2012

Surftime Magazine, Indonesia’s new leading Surf magazine, is accepting applications for internships at their offices in Kuta, Bali for 2012 and beyond. Surf absolutely perfect waves while learning the ins and outs of the Surf Media business through writing, photography and design of Surftime magazine. Under the Editorship of Former SURFER Magazine Senior contributing Editor, Matt George, live the surfing dream while earning a fully accredited Internship, enhancing your education and developing essential tools for survival in the new print and digital media age. Duties include writing feature stories, photography, profiles of pro surfers, covering the social scene, managing the Facebook, web and all other digital mediums. English Language and writing skills a must. Cultural interest a must. Imagination imperative. Unlike other internships where you basically serve coffee, at Surftime you will become a valued member of the team, contributing ideas, expressing creativity on every level and becoming a vital member of the Indonesian surfing community. Internships available immediately from one month to six months. Work visa and all official paperwork included.
The perfect waves are complimentary.
For more information please forward CV or resume and a short YouTube presentation of you surfing to Surftime Magazine at Surftimemagazine@gmail.com
If you love surfing and are interested in surf media, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.
http://on.surf-time.net/

NEW £5MILLION LEISURE DEVELOPMENT SET TO MAKE WAVES IN BRISTOL

(Click the pic to get a better view)

It is hoped that construction of Wavegarden will start in 2012. More information about Wavegarden and the public consultation can be found at www.wavegarden.me.uk.

Update 17/01/12:
Because of increasing and significant public demand, and to fully support the fantastic reception to the announcement of Wavegarden UK’s project in Bristol, Wavegarden (the creators of the technology) have decided to allow limited public access to their new, larger, state of the art development facility near San Sebastian, in the north of Spain.

This will not only allow continued refinement of their exciting wave technology but will also allow Wavegarden partners across the world to demonstrate elements such as energy consumption, capacity and queuing systems before the first full commercial launch.

Co-founder of Wavegarden UK, Nick Hounsfield, said: “We are working closely with Wavegarden and the fact that they will allow limited public access to their test facility this spring is very exciting. The facility in Spain is the showroom of the Wavegarden technology and differs from the UK project in a number of areas including facilities, ride time, lake size etc. For us, the surrounding gardens will be equally important as the wave and will be specifically designed to provide a healthy, educational and sensory experience. “I’m sure there will be a lot we can continue to learn from Wavegarden and we are sure it will be a great success, I can’t wait to go and visit it!”

Wavegarden invites pro surfers and kids to test the wavepool from wavegarden on Vimeo.

C-SKINS would like to congratulate team rider Kieren Perrow who has won the most prestigious WCT event of the year, The Pipeline Masters. Mark Brown, from C-SKINS says, “We re so stoked for K.P and so proud that he is on the C-SKINS Team and able take us along for the ride! Not only is this a great moment for K.P but also for C-SKINS; you couldn’t of picked a better event for K.P’s first tour win and its the first time in history that a European Wetsuit Company has had a team rider win the most coveted event on the WCT tour. This is such a great achievement for all involved. We re stoked!”
C -SKINS founder Carey Brown has been in the wetsuit industry since the very beginning, he was one of the co founders of Gul and next year will have been in the wetsuit business for 40 years. Carey started C-SKINS with one mission in mind – to make the best surfing wetsuits on the planet specifically designed for guys and girls that are passionate about riding waves. C-SKINS Wetsuits – proud sponsor of the 2011 Pipeline Masters champion – Kieren Perrow. Yeaaahh!

www.c-skins.com

Here’s the Final:

“Recently an article was published on SwellNet that called into question the inspiration and development of our Wave Company, and I thought I’d share my perspective on things. The timing works out pretty well given that the United States Patent and Trademark Office accepted eighteen out of our twenty-one claims filed yesterday. There are still some corrections to be made, but we’re well on our way.

Greg and I spoke at lengths probably 5-6 yrs ago in Coolangatta about wave pools but didn’t catch on to the fact that we were both actually making our own, probably because we were both being tight-lipped or maybe didn’t realize the other was serious. I’m sure we were both unaware the other was in motion to make them. At one point about two years ago we could possibly have joined forces, but we were both too far down the road on what we’d worked separately on for years. I obviously knew he was surfing behind boats (and to tell you the truth I’d love to do that with them cause it looks like a blast) but to be honest, it is a boat wake combined with a displacement of water as opposed to surfing a proper wave.”

Read the full article here.

This excellent story by Stu Nettle appears on swellnet.com. Since we didn’t research or write it we haven’t run the whole piece here, just the first 3rd to get you into it, so you’ll have to head to swellnet.com for the whole article. We also recommend a quick browse through their Comments section at the end, where Greg Webber chips in with some interesting insights.

Inspiration can arrive at any moment, while sitting under an apple tree or standing on a shoreline. It can also take many forms. Everyone knows the story of Isaac Newton and the falling apple, but for surfer and inventor, Greg Webber, inspiration arrived in the shape of a small wave breaking along a riverbank. His eureka moment led him to make an award-winning film and also design a wave pool that he says will presage a surfing revolution. First, however, he must stave off a challenge by the most famous person in surfing.

Recently Slater leveraged his celebrity with a six minute video on America’s CBS News that included discussion about his wave pools as a post-career business venture. The Kelly Slater Wave Company also released a promotional video just prior to his latest world title win.

Read the full article here.