Archive for Industry
December 27, 2024 at 4:53 pm | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
Just heard about the passing of Buzz Morasca and had to post something. Buzz was an absolute legend of the sport, innovator and skilled shaper & manufacturer who founded Toobs Bodyboards in California back around ‘88. People don’t understand how influencial Buzz has been and how his shaping methods and laminators machines (Buzz Laminator Technologies™) have revolutionized how hi-end boards were built. Without Buzz chances are you wouldn’t be riding a hi-end board today. Without going too much into detailed, most hi-quality boogieboards today (with the exception of a few skillful shapers) are made with Buzz laminators and using Buzz techniques which have proved to be unmatched and unrivaled. The way Buzz laminated boards, drilled boards cores for stringers and innovated the way to build a proper boogieboard is out of this world. Even Toobs fins have been some of the best in the industry for years and i won’t surf without them any day. Buzz – which i met in person a few times in Morro Bay, CA – has always been helpful and been supportive and nice, providing great custom boards, showing me & friends the Toobs factory, introducing us to the team who worked with him and the Toobs shapers the past 25 years. My deepest condolences to Buzz family and friends. Thanks for your immense contribution to the sport and your kindness.
March 11, 2022 at 12:00 pm | Spongercity Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, General, Industry, International News
March 2022 – For many many years we have covered the international Bodyboarding scene (as an independent online media) for free, with no ressource but our own and just a little bit of money from the few brands and shops advertising on the website (thanks to all that participated!). We updated the website on a daily basis with daily news posts, reviews, tests, interviews, exclusive content and more for 15+ years, supporting the boogie industry, its brands and riders since the early 2000’s, trying to bring you the best of what we could provide and do for the sport. We loved it and met hundreds of riders and friends along the way, all around the globe.
However, these days social media platforms have taken a huge part of people’s online habits and most news, videos and interviews all happen on these different social platforms. We do not condemn this but this has sort of slowed down our Spongercity.com news feed because everything is instantly available online for the people to read and watch out there on social media, therefore reducing the interest of the boogieboarders for online websites like Spongercity.com. This marks a turn in people’s online habits: the way they consume, enjoy, get entertained and gather the information they are looking for – they go straight to social media and have neglected independent websites, online magazines and even paper magazines.
By lack of time mainly and also because there is definitely less stuff to cover and talk about (less contests, less industry news, less pro riders, less money in the sport, less things happening…) we decided to only feed news and stories on our Facebook page for the moment, leaving the Spongercity.com Media on “stand-by” while waiting to see what’s up. We dont stop it or neglect it, we are still around, we still care, we are still available to reach via email and stuff, but we just wanted to let you know that we are currently not adding news posts and interviews or reviews on Spongercity.com because we feel like it’s all already out there on social media – Maybe one day when people are fed up with these platforms they will get back to independent media websites and news feeds, which we think were providing better quality, better visual design and good content for free, with extra flare and love for the sport. We’ll see how it goes and we’ll see ya in the water anyways! Yewwww
July 8, 2021 at 10:28 am | Spongercity General, Industry News
From July 1971 to July 2021… We’re celebrating 50 years of Boogieboarding this month! Thanks Tom Morey for inventing the boogieboard back in July 1971! Happy Birthday boogieboarding! Yewwww
April 1, 2018 at 10:44 am | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
Every once in a while we update our “Short List” of the most well-known board makers / board brands and have them listed here: The Short List (2018 Update)
If you’re a board maker and wanna make a change let us know, email us on the contact page or check us out on Facebook.
December 27, 2015 at 12:16 pm | Spongercity Industry, International News
Bodyboarding just got cool again maybe. From what we’ve figured out what used to be LeBoogie Magazine has now evolved into a new business which looks and sounds pretty cool to us, it’s called Drag Board Co and it consists of 3 riders already: Sam Bennett, Tom Rigby and Jordan Putland. Impressive team and refreshing designs + a relaxed approach to the business sounds pretty good to us in an era where bodyboarding business and marketing seems to have seriously reached a dead-end. Check the boards out here: www.dragshredsleds.com. Let’s hope this brings some fresh air to our sport.
December 11, 2014 at 6:22 pm | Spongercity General, Industry, International, Magazines News
Riptide Magazine celebrated 2014’s Awards last week and although we did cover this great night on our FB page it’s a shame we didnt mention it here, so here you go! Basically Ben Player is a legend… and because he is he won the Bodyboarder of the year award. On the womens’ side it’s Isabela Sousa who got the award and is also a legend. On the knee it’s another legend who won the award: David “Dub” Hubbard. For the videos it’s Katesy & LeBoogie who won the award with Passing Through. Couldnt agree more. Congrats to you guys! Below are all the other awards and winners listed. For more info check the Riptide site.
Bodyboarder of the Year – Ben Player (Australia)
Women’s Bodyboarder of the Year – Isabela Sousa (Brazil)
Dropkneer of the Year – Dave Hubbard (Hawaii)
Grom of the Year – Tanner McDaniel (Hawaii)
Heaviest Wave of the Year – Lewy Finnegan (Australia, at The Right, WA – from Riptide issue 197)
Biggest Move of the Year – Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii, at Honolua Bay, Maui – from Hubboards – The Movie)
Best Feature Film of the Year – Passing Through (James Kates/Le Boogie)
Best Short Film of the Year – The Mexican Mirage (Miller Best/Pride Bodyboards)
Photographer of the Year – Sacha Specker (South Africa)
Men’s Bodyboarder of the Year Top 10
1. Ben Player
2. Jared Houston
3. Pierre Louis Costes
4. Dave Winchester
5. Amaury Lavernhe
6. Mitch Rawlins
Nick Gornall
8. Jake Stone
9. Jeff Hubbard
10. Jase Finlay
Women’s Bodyboarder of the Year Top 5
1. Isabela Sousa
2. Lilly Pollard
3. Alexandra Rinder
4. Jessica Becker
5. Emma Cobb
Dropkneer of the Year Top 5
1. Dave Hubbard
2. Matt Lackey
3. Bud Miyamoto
4. Sacha Specker
5. Cesar Bauer
September 19, 2014 at 9:28 am | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
Bodyboarding legends Spencer Skipper and Aka Lyman opened a shop in Hawaii, 501 Kealahou Street, Suite A23, Honolulu, Hawaii – go check it out if you’re in Hawaii or travelling over there. Sick!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidentity-Shop/785623458126324
March 27, 2014 at 6:25 pm | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
It’s now official, Dave ‘Winny’ Winchester now rides for VS. Dave jumped from the NMD team to the VS team. Both brands originated from shaper Nick ‘Mez’ Mesritz. With Ryan Hardy leaving VS recently there was probably a spot to fill on the VS team and it was a good opportunity for Dave to jump from one brand to another. Shaper Dan Sivess is managing VS and we’re sure the brand and shapes for Winnys models will be niiice.
February 24, 2014 at 1:16 pm | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
It comes at no surprise after the signing with Funkshen Boards, Ryan Hardy will now be sporting Limited Edition fins (same group as Nomad / Funkshen / Attica). Will the next move be a signing with Attica suits? Maybe… (would make sense for the Nomad / Funkshen / Attica / Limited Edition group anyways).
February 11, 2014 at 6:33 pm | Spongercity General, Industry, International News
We didn’t see this one coming. Ryan Hardy rides for Funkshen Bodyboard now and leaves VS Boards.
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