Outside Magazine is a mixed bag of outdoorsiness and yuppiness, all packaged in a publication aimed for middle-aged men trying to hold on to whatever remnants of youth they still encompass. I don’t want to completely bag on them – their writers do produce quality content from time to time, and fans of Jon Krakauer will forever owe their gratitude for exposing the talent behind the writer. Unfortunately, they miss the mark nine times out of ten, and that one time when they do come up with something worthwhile, it never involves surfing. Case in point: Their selection of Tofino, British Columbia as “The best surf town in North America.”

Famed sports writer Rick Reilly decided to do a lot research about Shaun White’s career accomplishments, comparing him to current and former great athletes like Rod Laver, Joe Namath, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and Tom Brady. Reilly even went so far as to say that White, “…might be the most exciting American Winter Olympics athlete we'll ever see.” Within all the fascinating statistical and historical comparisons was an interesting point brought up only by Reilly: That Shaun White could theoretically be the first Olympian since American Eddie Eagan in 1932 to win Olympic Gold Medals in both the winter and summer games.

Stab Magazine, the Australian surf publication who has built a rather large readership over the years due to their immensely popular website, usually hits the mark with their witty commentary on professional surfing and the surf industry. However, their recent story on Jamaican pro surfer Icah Wilmot may have crossed the line of racism.

Bobby Martinez is no stranger to controversy.  In the last two years, Martinez first left his surfboard sponsor Channel Islands because of what he called “equipment needs” (more on that below), then left his clothing sponsor, Reef, citing a lack of support and poor treatment.  While Martinez called his split with Channel Islands amicable, he made no secret that he was extremely unhappy with the way Reef treated him, to the point where Martinez left his contract with two years remaining.  Martinez now has a new clothing sponsor, recently signing with O’Neill, and says he’s very happy with his new surfboard sponsor, DHD.  There remains plenty that Martinez is unhappy about, and he revealed these things in a very candid fashion with ESPN’s sh*tty surfing website.

The theme of this past year, since I began my stint as an unemployed traveler and freelance journalist, has been road trips. Following The Great KL&C Northwest Odyssey, the winds of adventure this time were blowing south, leading me to the great and vast southern extension of California that is Baja.

The past week has seen an unbelievable variety of surfing accomplishments by the greatest surfers of the modern era. And with the word ‘Greatest’ included in the title, one cannot exclude the greatest surfer ever, Kelly Slater, from being a part of the excitement. In this case, he was involved in two of the occasions, along with the new King of Big Wave surfing, Greg Long, and the former King, Laird Hamilton, with a lot of the action taking place on the mythical islands of Hawaii.

While we’re still working on getting The Extreme Scene back on the air (and believe me, I’m trying), I wanted to let everyone know I’m back on the San Francisco Bay Area radio airwaves this week for the first time since T.E.S. was taken off the air.  Tuesday Wednesday through Friday evening, from 10 pm through Midnight on XTRA 860 AM, I’ll be filling in as host of The Chris Townsend Show.

This is the question Bron asked himself and some of his friends during a recent visit to ASR representing Sanuk.

Video of Bron's soul searching ASR adventure after the jump.

When one thinks of Great Whites Sharks breaching the water, one normally references such frightful images of the Great Whites that reside in the waters off South Africa. Aggressive, mean Great Whites that breach the water to catch seals and other prey. Either one of said Great Whites decided to meander all the way to the Pacific Ocean waters off the coast of Santa Monica, CA, or said Great Whites are evolving.

Photo sequence of Great White breaching after the jump.

An interesting scuffle has erupted over the past few days in the snowboarding community that involves a unique set of characters.  In one corner you have former T.E.S. guest Brooke Geery, founder of the somewhat-interesting snowboarding website YoBeat.com.  In the other corner, you have former T.E.S. guest Jake Burton Carpenter’s mega-snowboard company Burton.  The issue stems from Burton’s annual employee party, and Geery’s recount of the affair.