LOCAL LAD WINS BIG
Belgian hero Seppe Smits claimed the FIS World Cup Big Air title in Antwerp earlier this week in front of his hometown crowd. In claiming his spot on top of the podium, Smits outclassed rising stars Clemens Schattschneider and Pat Burgener. The 21-year-old, who is regarded as the first professional snowboarder to come out of Belgium, had ironically helped the organisers develop the 39-metre ramp for the competition.
MARG GETS EVENT
While the surf world eagerly awaits details of a new and very different version of the ASP World Tour, there has been one new announcement made: Western Australian surf destination Margaret River will get a Dream Tour stop next year and be part of the men’s tour in 2014. Perth’s Taj Burrow was one to endorse the news. ‘‘I get jealous of Mick [Fanning] and Joel [Parkinson] every year for having an event at their home and the advantage of getting to sleep in their beds and surf their local spots," Burrow, of Western Australia, said after it was announced the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro in Western Australia was being upgraded from an ASP Prime event to a Women’s World Tour stop next year and Men’s in 2014.
REAL AIMS UP FOR CAUSE
Real Skateboards, a company founded in 1990 by skaters Jim Thiebaud and Tommy Guerrero, will donate a portion of sales of its REALief deck, T-shirts and hats to help Americans get back on their feet after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. ‘‘The Actions REALized programme has always been an extension of the simple philosophy that skateboarding can be a positive force for change,’’ Thiebaud said.