Jack Freestone’s Got A New Jon, Sage Ain’t Stinky, And Beeg Lands With Banks!

Hello, lovers.

Have you picked something snazzy for your New Years affair? We’ve got a black number well-pressed and hanging in the hotel room’s dark corner, ice rattling around in our drink and in need of a refresher.

Oh, a New Year is upon us, and with it some juicy gossip coming out of the Marketing Departments of many a major Industry Player.

While the Rich List’s One-Percenters are sitting pretty, there’s a lot of, shall we say, insecurity in many a Brand-Surfer relationship, currently.

Jack Freestone Has A New John

After drafting a truly incredible 2nd Place off his baby momma’s big win at Surfer Poll, it looks like Jack Freestone strutted his stuff over to Haleiwa, to talk brass tacks and World Tour boards with two-time Stab in the Dark winner, Jon Pyzel.

After years flying the Darren Handley flag loud and proud, Just today Jack took to Instagram to announce his new fiberglass allegiance: “So happy to join team @pyzelsurfboards and be apart of the family!”

 

While Jack’s departure surely leaves a void on DH’s star-studded squad, he’s surely got more than enough customs to fill each Tour stop, for everyone from Owen Wright to Steph Gilmore. As for Pyzel, Jack joins a largely local, though internationally recognized and reputable, crew: John, Nathan, and Ivan Florence, Koa Rothman, Koa Smith, etc.

With Jack requalifying for the World Tour next year, we’ll look forward to seeing what difference a new set of steeds can do for the Top-10 talent.

Like Kobe Bryant, Sage Erickson Knows A Good Investment When She Sees It

During our month-long residency here in Hawaii, we’ve enjoyed the close proximity of one of the surf world’s true darlings, Miss Sage Erickson, the better half to our beloved Jacob Wooden.

Sage is a bright, enterprising young lady, and her most recent venture took us by surprise: as of this fall, Sage is involved with Kobe Bryant’s new line of grooming products, The Art of Sport, plugs for which you can click in to up top, and below. 

According to GQ, the brand’s future success depends on a few key factors. and “on the idea that sports-geared grooming products are more about marketing than performance. “When we started to work this idea,” Metternich says, “we literally walked the aisles of every major retailer and saw sunscreen that said ‘sport.’ We saw body wash and deodorant that said ‘sport’ on it. When we turned those products around and looked at the formula, we didn’t see anything that was particularly innovative.”

Having sampled the line for the last week, we can attest to its deodorizing effectiveness and it’s delightful, natural, subtle scent. The shampoo/body wash makes each hot rinse a dreamy, steamy affair, while the bar soap is a traveler’s dream.

When Metternich first approached Bryant, the two met and commenced sampling Metternich’s wares, Bryant interestind in discovering “what energizing properties does this have? What are scent families and which ones sell best? What notes was this fragrance supposed to have?” etc.

Jack Robinson’s And Bong Remain Loyal ‘Til 2024

While we’ve certainly heard our fair share of maoning and groaning from people close to the Billabong camp, over the difficulties around the brand’s relationship with one of its brightest young stars, Jack Robinson, and his, um, management, we’ve heard the two parties have found some common ground the last year.

If our intel is true, Robo is now sitting pretty for another five years, having inked a deal with Bong that will occupy his nose til 2024.

Banks Just Grabbed South African Beauty Brendan Gibbons

Despite a Vimeo Staff Pick and a Surfer Poll nomination for his truly radical, loose-limbed annual salvo, “Homebody,” the “Creators and Innovators” over at Vissla didn’t see the bang they were hoping to get for their sponsorship buck from South African sweetheart, Brendan Gibbens.

Yet the stylish regularfoot need not worry. The aesthetically inclined and stylistically modern gents at Banks jumped at the opportunity to add such a truly world class talent, and handsome as hell guy to build a brand around.

While the details of the agreement remain hazy, we’re hoping Banks will simply push Beeg to be a little productive and prolific once he’s back from his Stab High-sidelining knee injury. However, having gotten a sneak peak at some of the images Los Angeles style icon and Banks’ staff lensman, Dane Peterson shot of Beeg just last week, the partnership is sure to be absolutely gorg.

How To Stoke Out A Loyal Sponsor, With Cam Richards

Speaking of Vissla, unlike whatever they were paying Brendan Gibbons, we’re sure the boys in Orange County are quite pleased with their reinvestment in East Coast hearthrob, Cam Richards.

Just a day or so after inking his second Creators and Innovators contract, Cam packed one of the craziest Pipe pits of the season.

Are Volcom and Mitch Coleborn Old News?

Mitch Coleborn is one of Stab’s favorite knockaround blokes, a bruiser of a goofyfoot with a penchant for tossing back tins and taking oncoming sections like a goddamned champion.

While rumours have spread of their impending split, our best intel says the Stone’ll stay put on Coleborn’s tip ‘til 2020.