More restructuring at VF:
Kevin Bailey has been named president of Vans Americas.
Bailey used to run Vans’ retail division and was a key executive during the company’s turnaround years of 2002-03, Steve Murray, president of VF’s Action Sports Coalition told me this morning.
“As you know, over the past few years Vans has grown strongly in both size and complexity and we feel it’s the right time to add to our leadership team,” Steve said via email.
Bailey career has included stints at Lucky, Nike and American Eagle.
Steve, who previously served as Vans president, will now focus more deeply on the Action Sports Coalition, which currently includes Vans and Reef, he said.
Key areas he plans to focus on include “long term strategy, brand and product extensions, supporting our international regions better, getting after the China market, exploring new acquisitions, people development, organizational design etc.,” he said.
Vans has been one of VF’s strongest performers and has continued to post strong results even during the recession.
Surfing may have been born in Hawaii and raised in Malibu, but it grew up on the golden shores of Orange County. From the breaks at Sunset to the beaches fronting “Surf City” in Huntington Beach south to the legendary line-up at Trestles on the southern border, Orange County has been the spawning ground for generations of great board riders.
The Register salutes the best each year with the annual Orange County Surfer of the Year Awards. The online poll plugs into fans who vote for the best male and female professional rider – maybe a contestant in the worldwide Association of Surfing Professionals circuit or a lone wolf seeking out the biggest waves wherever they form in the oceans of the earth. A prize goes to the best of the longboarders who cruise the waves in their big boards, keeping alive the “hang ten” tradition of their zinc-nose slathered forefathers and mothers.
The awards also honor the next wave of top surfers – the up and coming boys and girls who surf for the fun of it or for their high school or surf team spirit, with perhaps an eye to one day taking on the Kelly Slaters, Andy Irons and Layne Beachleys of the world.
Fans, vote early and often. The last waves of votes will hit the ballot at midnight on July 9. Then the horn blows. The excitement peaks during the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, where the awards ceremony will be held at the Walk of Fame at Jack’s Surfboards on July 23.
Despite small surf, day one of the Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Point WA had plenty of action.
Some of Owen’s competitors say those claws help him stick moves like this.
Number one seed Owen Wright, stamped his authority with a convincing win. Wright opened his campaign with the typical flair and style that has him currently holding down first place on the ASP Pro Junior ratings. His wave selection and devastating forehand attack was enough to see him rewarded with the morning’s highest scoring wave, an 8.55. He went on to back that up with a 7.25 ride to finish with a combined total of 15.80.
“The waves were pretty fun, although they were sort of slow at the start of the heat, I managed to pick off a few good ones and get a few turns in so I’m pretty happy” said Wright.
Owen joined current ISA under 18 World Junior Champion Dean Bowen to take some time out to have a chat and sign some autographs for admiring fans and students attending learn surf classes at Trigg beach.
