BRA's "B.I.G." Events Raises More The $20,000 For Charity.

Board Retailers Association, the action sports industry’s preeminent voice for independent retailers, held its first annual Boarders In Giving (B.I.G.) Art Show and Auction, raising over $20,000 on January 7th at the Surf Expo kick-off party. The B.I.G. event featured nearly 50 surf, skate and snow boards and other items donated by over 25 major manufacturers, independent artists and collectors.

The highest bid of the evening was $3,000 for a surfboard donated by Billabong and signed by three-time world surfing champion, Andy Irons. Hurley International donated 19 artistic skateboards raising $3,400 for the event.

Proceeds benefited amateur surfing through Surfing America and children with special needs through Florida’s Space Coast Early Intervention Center. Special items were also auctioned off to contribute to Surf Aid International’s tsunami disaster relief fund.

Amy Botts Joins DC Girls

Amy Botts has joined the DC Shoes staff in a newly created position as Girls’ Marketing Manager for DC Shoes. Amy will be responsible for developing and executing brand strategies to include advertising, web, athlete/celebrity endorsements, and promotions, while strategically positioning the DC Girls’ division globally. She will work closely with female team riders and develop DC’s presence at action sports and related lifestyle events.

Honolua Surf Co Adds Gavin Sutherland To The Watermen Team

Honolua Surf Co. is pleased to announce Gavin Sutherland, Kahuku, Hawaii, to its family of watermen. The son of surfing legend and North Shore pioneer Jock Sutherland, Gavin brings an inspiring blend of generational surfing experience and creative spirit to Honolua Surf Co.’s prestigious watermen team.

Gavin is sponsored by Honolua Surf Co., VonZipper, Aloha Surfboards, 50/50 Wave Skates and cfafilm.com.

Bluetorch Inc. Announces Sponsorship of Exhibit at Orange County Museum of Art

Bluetorch Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BTOR - News), announced that one of its portfolio companies, Total Sports Distribution Inc. has signed an agreement with the Orange County Museum of Art for TSABrand (True Skate Apparel®) to sponsor Beautiful Losers, an exhibition that celebrates contemporary art and street culture. The exhibition will run from February 6, 2005 through May 15, 2005.

Orange County Museum of Art Director Dennis Szakacs stated, "This exhibition celebrates the extraordinary creative and cultural influence of underground youth subcultures. Skateboarding, graffiti, and punk have had an amazing impact on everything from fashion and music, to literature and film, and have inspired an important generation of young artists. We are delighted that an authentic skate brand like TSABrand is sponsoring the Orange County presentation of this exhibition."

Juliette Lewis and DVS Girls Partner Up

DVS Shoe Company has partnered up with singer, actress Juliette Lewis to fuel its ever-growing women's business. This marks the first major marketing initiative for DVS Girls in 2005. The partnership entails cross-promotion of DVS Girls, Juliette Lewis and her band Juliette and The Licks, a signature shoe - the Juliette - and a full marketing campaign.

"DVS is a perfect fit for me. It's unpretentious, it doesn't try and be what it's not,” said Juliette Lewis. She added, “I can feel sexy, original and comfortable in DVS."

The DVS Girls / Juliette campaign will be featured in upcoming print ads in Vice, Elle Girl, SG and other magazines, along with in-store merchandising, catalogs, promotions, online and more.

Juliette and The Licks debut EP '…Like a Bolt of Lightning' is out now on Fiddler Records. Currently the band is preparing to head into the studio to record a full length, due May 3, followed by a jaunt to the UK for some tour dates. No strangers to the road, Juliette and The Licks have toured consistently, even garnering a slot on the Warped Tour 2004. And that was just a warm up for the year to come. For more information on Juliette and The Licks, visit their website at www.julietteandthelicks.com.

NORTHSTAR AND SIERRA HOST TSUNAMI RELIEF DAY

Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe want to extend our heartfelt condolences and many thoughts to all those affected by the tsunami that devastated East Asia. In an endeavor to aid in the relief efforts, both resorts will host a Tsunami Relief Day Mon., Jan. 17, 2005 and donate $2 from every adult, young adult and child lift ticket to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.

The American Red Cross International Response Fund provides tsunami survivors with nutritious food, basic supplies such as tents and hygiene items, basic healthcare and disease prevention and the support that they need to cope with the unbelievable trauma they have experienced.

Salesforce, a respected web hosted CRM (customer relationship manager) used by both Sierra and Northstar, has offered to match contributions up to $250,00 from customers and partners. With this said, Salesforce will match both resort’s donations accordingly. In addition to donating a significant portion of Monday’s lift ticket sales, employees from both Sierra-at-Tahoe and Northstar-at-Tahoe will donate funds to SurfAid International.

“This is the least we can do to help those that have been so dramatically effected by this natural disaster,” said Tim Silva, Northstar-at-Tahoe general manager. “Our hearts go out to all those effected by this traumatic event.”

For more information about Tsunami Relief Day visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com or www.SierraAtTahoe.com.

Santa Cruz surfing community hosting benefit for Tsunami victims

Concerned members of the Santa Cruz surfing community will be hosting a benefit showing of Thomas Campbell's recent surf movie "Sprout" on Thursday, February 3, 7:30pm at The Rio Theater 1207 Soquel Ave.(at Seabright) Santa Cruz.

Much of Sprout was filmed in the hard hit areas of Sumatra and Sri Lanka. Also featured will be recent footage of tsunami damage to the islands near Sumatra. All funds raised will be split between Doctor's Without Borders and a project that is bringing direct material aid to the areas affected.

There will also be a HUGE raffle and surfboard auction. Please join us in helping to raise money and express our concern for the survivors of this tragedy.

For more information or to donate;-
please call Jonathan Steinberg 831 247-2323
email sockmonkey@cruzio.com

To learn more about Sprout go to www.trimyourlifeaway.com

ASR Wristband Sales to Help Fund SurfAid's Tsunami Relief Effort

The entire action sports industry is mobilizing a massive fundraiser for the tsunami victims as they converge at ASR in San Diego, January 14-16th. Giving back through SurfAid International, a non-profit organization that is already established with doctors and boats in the region and currently engaging in relief efforts, the entire campaign is expected to raise significant funds for the cause.

ASR, in conjunction with Board Retailer Association (BRA), Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA), International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) and SurfAid International, will raise funds by selling black tsunami relief wristbands stating "Band Together" at $5 each. The bands will be available at ASR to all retailers, manufacturers and industry affiliates in the surf, skate, swim, and snow markets throughout the San Diego Convention Center. With over 20,000 industry professionals attending the 3-day show, organizers expect the action sports community to rise to the occasion supporting SurfAid International's current efforts in Southeast Asia. One hundred percent of the funds will be utilized to support SurfAid's efforts.

In addition, ASR and Outdoor Retailer parent company, VNU, contributed 200,000 euros to Cooperating Relief Organizations, an international organization to coordinate relief efforts among such groups as the International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, and UNICEF, among others. Additionally, VNU is establishing a fund to provide long-term aid to the victims by matching contributions from its staff of 35,000 employees worldwide.

Spy Hires Laybourne As New Art Director

Laybourne comes to Spy from his most recent position as Art and Marketing Director for Giant Skateboard Distribution. Laybourne is also known for his freelance designs for clients such as Sole Technology, The Skateboard Magazine, Red Bull, and True Meaning Clothing.

Laybourne will work with Spy’s marketing, sales, and product development departments to lead the creation of progressive printed collateral pieces and website design to compliment Spy’s diverse products and distribution channels.

SIMA Hires Development Director

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) has hired David Bentley to serve as development director.

Bentley brings a strong background in small business operations to SIMA, as well as experience in the surf community. An avid surfer, Bentley served as the managing district director of the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), Central Florida region, where he planned and operated all district level ESA competitions and membership expansion efforts.

January ASR Show

Covering the spectrum of music, art, skate, snow, surf, style and, above all, business, ASR is where action sports converge in San Diego this January 14-16th. Look for our Lines / Reps Wanted Booth as you enter the show. For more info visit the ASR Website.

Sapient Snowboards Hires New International Distributors

Sapient Snowboards makes new additions to their International Sales Team. Sapient is pleased to announce the new partnerships it has formed with a myriad of global distribution agencies. After a first successful year, Sapient continues to grow exponentially. Broadening its’ world-wide representation to include France, Poland, Russia, Greece, Korea, Japan, Benelux, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand/Australia, and the UK.