In an interview with GameSpot, skating legend and video game staple Tony Hawk has spoken fondly, and none-too-subtly, of his wishes to see another Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer game. Using the Tony Hawk: Ride controller, of course.

Chatting about what comes next for the expensive peripheral, Hawk says “I think that the first priority, beyond skateboarding, would be snowboarding because that would lend itself [to the board] a little bit easier [than other genres], and beyond that I’d love to do a surfing game. I always thought that Kelly Slater’s [Pro Surfer] was an underrated title for the PlayStation 2. I thought that people didn’t really give it the attention it deserved.”

Nice hearing those words, as I can vouch for their accuracy. Kelly Slater’s was pretty great. How great it would be on an unwieldy plastic board in the middle of your living room, however, may be up for debate.

Tony Hawk talks Ride sequels [GameSpot]

original story via kotaku.com

The Australian Sports Commission’s Indigenous Sport Program (ISP), which works to increase the number of Indigenous people participating in sport, has partnered with Surfing Australia and the University of Queensland to conduct a three-year (2009–11) research project measuring the impacts of sport on Indigenous Australian communities.

It will be funded by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, an international apolitical organisation that uses the positive influence of sport to address social challenges.

The idea for the research project came out of a need, identified by the ISP, to substantiate claims around the benefits of sport with empirical evidence, not just on the basis of anecdotal accounts. “This is the first time that research of this nature has been conducted in this field” said ISP Senior Sports Consultant Richard Kilian.

ISP has formed a useful partnership with the University of Queensland to provide expertise in the development of the research agenda. Similarly, Surfing Australia has joined ISP as the organisation primarily responsible for providing the context and sites in which the study can take place.

“Surfing Australia is proud to be chosen as the primary sport to be utilised for this very significant research project. We believe this recognises the excellent fit that exists between surfing and Indigenous communities and will be a welcome addition to the already excellent work being done through the ISP and our member states” said Chris Symington, Sports Development Manager for Surfing Australia.

read more at surfingaustralia

Over the last decade, Volcom has allotted millions of marketing dollars into the Banzai Pipeline, its locals, and adjacent real estate. And, announcing the new sponsorship of the 5-Star World Qualifying Series Pipeline Pro, the action sports brand is reinvesting into the North Shore community and Hawaii’s ‘QS surfers. At the same time, Volcom has never owned an ASP property.

“Pipe is extremely important to Volcom,” says Volcom Surf Brand Manager, Brad Dougherty. “We have positioned ourselves on the beach so that our team riders and the local chargers can take full advantage of what is out front. Careers are made out of Pipeline and Backdoor.”

read more at espn