The largest event since 2005, Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida, attracts thousands of retailers, exhibitors and media from all over the world to view the upcoming collections and new releases of board sport and action sport innovations.

Retailers are returning to business and brands are filling orders following Surf Expo’s largest event since 2005. More than 14,000 retailers, exhibitors and media from around the globe traveled to Orlando, FL for Surf Expo, the global boardsports and beach lifestyle trade show. The event took place January 12-14 and offered buyers a chance to preview summer and fall 2012 lines and write orders with more than 2,500 brands. All 240,000 square feet of Surf Expo’s floor space was accounted for during the sold-out show, as brands continued to search for more room right up to the last minute.

“Our show was bursting at the seams with exhibitors and buyers – all in a positive mood and doing business on the floor,” says Roy Turner, Show Director for Surf Expo. “From the minute we opened the doors until the show closing, there was an energy that I haven’t seen in years. The positive vibe at Surf Expo shows an industry headed in the right direction as it continues to rebound after the recession.”

Orlando continues to prove itself convenient to buyers from across the U.S., the Caribbean, Canada, Latin America and Europe. A small sampling of the 7,000 storefronts in attendance includes Amazon.com, Target, Archies (Canada), Red Sail (Caribbean), Moosejaw, Glick’s, Palace Entertainment (water and amusement parks), Bells, Hanger 94, Emerald City, 17th Street, Jack’s and the Frog House.

read more at transworld

Rip Curl and Skullcandy have teamed up to rally around mutual teamrider and 2x ASP World Champion, Mick Fanning, to launch the first Signature Audio-Enabled Hoodie, boasting two removable speakers in the hood. The hoodie, designed and developed from start to finish with Mick’s input, is a lightweight fleece with an MP3 player pocket plug-in, and is a true reflection of Mick’s taste.

“Being able to work with my different sponsors to collaborate around a unique product to the market has been really exciting,” Fanning said regarding the collaboration. “I hope people dig the hoodie and dial in a good soundtrack for while they wear it!”

The campaign was shot on location in New York City by Steve Sherman this past September amidst the packed streets near Times Square. The video and full photo gallery can be viewed on the product website : www.ripcurl.com/fanningcollab

The official product launch party ensued the night of November 3 at John Colins Lounge in conjunction with the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere in San Francisco. Retailers, media, VIPs, and ASP World Tour surfers alike congregated to have some drinks, hit the dance floor, and support Mick with the launch of this collaboration.

The signature hoodie is available at limited specialty retailers nationwide, and more information is available at both www.ripcurl.com/fanningcollab and www.skullcandy.com/fanningcollab

original story from ripcurl

The words “Follow Your Passions” will forever be inscribed in concrete on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street.

Sean Collins, the founder of Surfline.com, wrote the phrase when he was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame in 2008 and lived by those words. The influential surfer dedicated his life to following waves, tracking winds and sharing stories of swells with the world.

Collins, 59, died Monday from natural causes, according to the Orange County coroner’s office.

His youngest son, A.J., said Collins was playing tennis at his club in Newport at about 2 p.m. when he died suddenly from a heart attack. The family was together, trying to grapple with the news.

For the surfing community, Collins’ death means the loss of one of the most influential surfers in the world. He changed the way people sought out waves around the world.

Collins founded Huntington Beach-based Surfline, which started as a phone service and became one of the most powerful surf forecasting web sites in the world, guiding surfers who once aimlessly searched for waves but now had information readily available to predict the best windows for waves.

read more at ocregister.com

also see article on surfline