our grooverider

e
m
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t
b-x
LAUNCH ISSUE
SUKKING
IT’S NEW. TRY IT
ZUKIE
SKATEBOARD
+
WIN! A SIGNED
COOL NEW RESORTS
WHALES IN CUBICLES
DUKE KAHANAMOKU
ERIC CANTONA
ICE-DIVING
SOPHIE HELLYER
BEN GROVE
OUR GROOVERIDER
S P O R T

M U S I C

F A S H I O N

L I F E S T Y L E
THIS ISSUE
WELCOME TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF B-XTREME
We’re here to share our passion for sport - the more adrenaline required the happier we are.
Inside you’ll find an interview with Ben Grove, one of the skate world’s coolest and he’s
even coughed up the chance to win a Zukie skateboard personally signed by him.
Ant Baker tells us all about SUKking and why he loves it.
Football icon Eric Cantona shares his love of the white stuff, while new band Whales In
Cubicles confess a passion for.... ping pong!
We’ve also got tickets to give away for the Ski & Snowboard Show in October.
Above all, we want to hear from you. Email us at tellus@b-xtreme and share what
you’re getting up to with us.
B-XTREME.COM
OUT THERE
timetofly
Kitesurfing is the fastest growing extreme sport.
It will make its Olympic debut in 2016 after many
years in the sporting wilderness. You can try it
out in the UK with Scotland being a particular
hotspot. John and David at Trykitesurfing.com
have been literally flying a kite for the sport
for almost a decade in Ayrshire in the West of
Scotland. They provide kitesurfing lessons in both
one-day and two-day courses, both of which are
IKO (International Kiteboarding Organisation)
approved.
B-XTREME.COM
WE JUST REPORT IT...
Domestic ironing is usually done indoors – pretty
bloody boring, right? Then why not try ‘Extreme
ironing’ - an outdoor activity that combines the
danger and excitement of an ‘extreme’ sport with the
satisfaction of a well-pressed garment.
The first ironist and inventor of Extreme Ironing was
a guy called Sam one evening back in ’97 in Leicester.
The sun was shining and Phil preferred the idea of an
evening out pursuing his (somewhat unsuccessful)
hobby of rock climbing to ironing. Then it occurred to
him to combine these activities into an extreme sport:
Extreme Ironing.
It involves taking an iron and board (if possible)
to remote locations and ironing a few items of
laundry. This can involve ironing on a mountainside,
preferably on a difficult climb, or taking an iron skiing,
snowboarding or canoeing.
Of course, you’ve got to be careful. Budding extreme
ironists are advised to start ironing in the safety of
their back garden, before progressing to mountainsides,
woods or public places. The basic equipment is pretty
simple: an iron and board. Ironists are also advised to
take full safety equipment such as harnesses, ropes and
helmets where appropriate.
This might mean ironing on a particularly difficult
mountain climb, or taking your iron and board 20
meters underwater with full scuba gear.
Go on. You’ve got plenty of shirts to do…
We know how to make the
dullest domestic chore of
ironing into an adrenaline
sport. Do it somewhere
completely random. There
you have Extreme Ironing…
Iron Maidens
B-XTREME.COM
DIVING
FOR ICE
Why not try Ice-Diving? See the world from
a new perspective – underneath the ice –
on one of the lakes in Tignes!
Get kitted out in a full dry
suit and venture through
a hole cut in the ice with
a fully qualified instructor
(where you will be tethered
to the surface throughout
the dive). The dive lasts for
around 15 minutes and you’ll
get to explore magical ice
formations and wonderful
translucent hues created by
the light penetrating through
the ice.
If that’s not enough then why
not try out other activities on
offer there, including: iceskating on the frozen lake or
cross-country skiing around
the lake, parapenting, husky
drawn sleigh rides and iceclimbing on frozen waterfalls.
Ice-Diving is available
everyday from 11h00 until
16h00, from mid-December
until early April to guests
staying in Tignes.
B-XTREME.COM
TRY IT!
Crystal Ski offers
holidays to Tignes
in France and
prices are from
£419 per person
(based on four
sharing)for 7 nights
in the self-catering
apartments Rond
Point des Pistes
in the centre of
Tignes Val Claret.
This price includes
return flights
from Gatwick
and transfers.
Direct regional
flights from 13 UK
airports available
at a supplement
starting from £10.
www.crystalski.
co.uk)
T
O
U
N
P
G
I
STEP
FASHION
Cool T-shir
ts a
nd boards f
rom Zukie
Clothing
PARTY HARD NECKLACE £15
G-RIP ORANGE/BLACK
DECK7.75/8/8.25 ALL £40
ZUKIE LOVES
ESPANA RED
SM/M/LARGE/
XL ALL £22
ZUKIEMAN
PINK/BLACK
SM/M/LARGE/
XL ALL £22
ZUKIE MOON
GRAB T
SM/M/LARGE/
XL ALL £22
BE-EXTREME.COM
G-RIP BLUE/
WHITE DECK
7.75/8/8.25
ALL £40
ZUKIEMAN
PINK/BLACK
SM/M/LARGE/
XL ALL £22
ALL ITEMS
AVAILABLE AT
ZUKIECLOTHING.
COM
Z NECKLACE £12
NOODLE
SKINNY SHIRT
SM/M/LARGE/
XL ALL £22
buy them
here
ACCESSORIES
GRANNY TAKES A TRIP
As ski season approaches why not try a ski accessory which is a little different?
Visit www.granniesinc.co.uk where you can have loads of fun designing your very own beanie, scarf, snood,
wrist warmer or head bands to suit your style and co-ordinate with the rest of your ski wardrobe.
And then the interesting bit: you pick a granny, who will hand-knit your design and send it to you!
SNOODS £29
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Grannies, Inc. believe that
there’s a designer inside
everyone. Yep, a little Klein,
McQueen, McCartney or
Westwood (Vivienne, not
Tim) sat patiently somewhere
within, just ready and
waiting to leap out.
HATS £29
re
e
h
m
e
h
t
buy
SCARVES £29
WRIST WARMERS £24
B-XTREME.COM
INTERVIEW
“THE MORE
STAIRS I DID,
THE GREATER
THE BUZZ
I GOT”
How good is Ben Grove?
So good that the skateboarding
icon has pretty much dumped
competing in championships
and is now following his own
unique path. We spoke to a
decidedly free spirit.
B-XTREME.COM
INTERVIEW
GROVE RIDER
How did you get into skateboarding?
I came to skateboarding quite late. I was 13
or 14, I think. I got into it ‘cause of two local
Aussie lads.
Was it an immediate buzz for you?
It felt great. When I was learning to do
the trolley it gave me an adrenalin rush
I’d never had before. I got another buzz off
jumping my first set of stairs jump and the
more stairs I did the greater the buzz I got. I
took to it like a duck to water.
You still love it, right?
Yes. Course. Still try to do as many
competitions as I can in the UK and Europe.
You’ve got quite a lot of commercial stuff
going – endorsements and stuff like that.
People definitely want a bit of you. How
does that workout for you?
It’s all good for me. First, I don’t get involved
with anything I don’t believe in. Rule
number one. I represent brands as best I
can. Whether it’s wearing a shirt or it’s a
sticker on my board.
I only work with brands with which I am
comfortable.
Who are your heroes?
My heroes tend to be music ones – proper
heroes like Ian Brown. I went to see the
Roses all three nights at Heaton Park. They
were great. Also Ian Curtis, Liam Gallagher,
Shaun Ryder and Bez… All Manchester’s
finest.
B-XTREME.COM
I’M DOING MANCHESTER’S
FINEST AT THE END OF THE
YEAR. WE’RE DOING TWO
SKATEBOARDS WITH TWO OF
MANCHESTER’S BIGGEST MUSIC
ICONS. I’M SWORN TO SECRECY
RIGHT NOW OTHERWISE
I’D TELL YOU
INTERVIEW
GROVE RIDER
“THE BEST ONES
ARE JUST ME WITH
MY MATES IN THE SUN
AND SOME BONDI BEER
DOWN AT SOME
SKATE SPOT”
enterition
compet
What are you up to now?
I’m doing Manchester’s Finest at the end of
the year. We’re doing two skateboards with
two of Manchester’s biggest music icons.
I’m sworn to secrecy right now otherwise
I’d tell you.
meet in Leigh On Sea. Got a taste for it.
The worst – pretty much any day when
I can’t get a trick going. I’ll keep battering
myself, but it’s just not happening.
Sometimes stuff just doesn’t work out.
You’ve got a nice hook up with Zukie
Clothing, haven’t you?
Yeah. I liked their clothes and now they’re
doing boards as well. It’s good to get
involved and it’s fun getting out there with
Tell us about your best and worst days them.
skateboarding.
The best ones are just me with my mates in What’s your motto for life?
the sun and some Bondi beer down at some ‘Keep on that shit you want, and off that
skate spot. Met Barry from Bondi at a skate shit you don’t’ - Jimmy Boyces.
You like The Blackout, right?
Yeah. They’re nice lads. Good friends with
Matt Pritchard off ‘Dirty Sanchez’.
B-XTREME.COM
PARTY HARD
AND WIN A SKATEBOARD SIGNED BY BEN GROVE
Yes, you read right. We’ve got one of Zukie’s fabulous
Party Hard skateboards to give away.
So far, so utterly amazing you think. But it’s better than
that. Ben has also whipped out one of those permanents
markers and signed it as well. Let’s recap: one great
board. Check. Signed by a legend. Check.
To win simply tell us in no more than 20 words why
you love skateboarding.
Entries to us at: [email protected]
Mark your entry Party Hard. Entries by 1st
November 2012.
SUKKING
It’s called SUKking and it’s
definitely not rude. It is,
however, a new sporting hybrid.
The man with the plan is Ant
Baker. He talks to us about his
new(ish) creation
B-XTREME.COM
SUKKING
The Fabulous Baker Boys is a movie from
the late 80s starring Michelle Pfeiffer. It
might also be the title for a movie about
the UK’s Baker Boys – Nik Baker (6 times
world champion wind surfer) and Ant
Baker (pro windsurfer and current British
Slalom champion).
Today, the fabulous Baker boy of choice
is Ant. He’s talking about SUKking basically stand-up kiting or kiting on a
stand-up paddleboard. The sport - which
he is pioneering - is no more than a year
old and, as Ant enthuses, it ‘works for
everyone from 75 downwards’. Both his
children – a son, 6 and daughter, 8, love it.
Like his illustrious brother Nik – Ant’s
mantelpiece groans with awards. He is a
professional windsurf and kitesurf coach
currently ranked 1st in the UK pro-slalom
series. Ant spent 10 years competing all
over the world on the PWA World tour
and additionally on the Production Class
World & European Championships.
He was a junior World Champion.
He was British Youth Champion seven
times. In a ten-year period he remained in
world’s top ten pro-wind surfers.
In his time he has broken most of the
bones in his body and actually managed
to break his back in England when he fell
of a bike. He also watched as his hand
literally broke off in front of him and had
to be reattached.
The downtime afforded by these injuries
he put to good use and he set up his own
sports marketing company in Australia.
‘The life of an athlete goes too quickly. I’m
really lucky. I’ve been up every mountain
top in the world and probably every bar
into the bargain.
‘I’ve had hard times and I’ve also enjoyed
the most generous sponsorships – paid to
follow sport I love.’
The joy Ant gets from sport is undimmed.
He has recently founded The Baker
Academy, where he offers coaching for
all levels for windsurfing and kitesurfing,
paddleboarding and fitness.
‘I still have a blast. It’s about watching
the sun go down at the end of the day. It
reminds me that every single second of
life is important,’ he says. If SUKking is to
go global, then it couldn’t have a better
ambassador than Ant Baker.
I STILL HAVE A BLAST.
IT’S ABOUT WATCHING THE
SUN GO DOWN AT THE END
OF THE DAY. IT REMINDS ME
THAT EVERY SINGLE SECOND
OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT
www.baker-academy.com email: [email protected]
B-XTREME.COM
MUSIC
WHALE MUSIC
Whales In Cubicles’ debut single
‘Nowhere Flag’ is a wake-up call of a
song. Stop getting distracted by crap
when the world is in trouble is their
message. We spoke to the band’s
frontman, Stef Bernardi.
The
new
season
means
new
Whales
In Cubicles?
When
you get to
speak Stef Bernardi
– who comes
to the UK via Italy
and
the US – it’s the first
skis,
snowboards,
new
thrills
question on your mind. The name that is.
and
new
snow
to play
He quickly
spills.
It’s taken
from a on.
line inBut
a song by US singer,
Andrew Bird.
where’s
the excitement in all
Why does he like it? ‘It’s a good image for the situation of
humanity,
like a just
wild beast
in civilisation
that
if you
hit trapped
the same
old (cubicle).
Humanity being squeezed.’
resorts
toit’s
doclear.
theThis
same
Immediately,
is not aold
Oneruns?
Direction moment.
Things seem to be happening for this uncompromising fourpiece. Next on the horizon is a national tour with Sissy And
The Blisters sponsored by Bondi Beer. ‘I’m counting on there
being plenty of beer,’ laughs Bernardi.
Plus there’s the support of a real life magician.
Harry Potter apparently seriously digs Whales In Cubicles.
Really.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe deserves some kudos for sharing his
love of the band in a recent interview. ‘I think this is fucking
great,’ he said of the group’s single ‘Nowhere Flag’. Logically,
he should whip out that wand of his and magic Whales Love
Cubicles to the top of the downloads chart.
The group are, like many, London-based. As a visitor he
seems quite taken with the English sense of humour and
appreciates their love of irony, the latter he describes as a
‘nice trait’.
Personal geography seems unimportant to him. ‘It doesn’t
really matter to me where people are from. The thing I have
B-XTREME.COM
MUSIC
WHALE MUSIC
in common with many of my friends is that
most of them don’t consider themselves to come
from anywhere.’
So it’s more about the individual than where
they hail from?
‘Exactly,’ he says.
As far as ambitions for the band go, Bernardi
isn’t looking to play multiple residencies at
the 02. He says: ‘I wouldn’t say no to the 02,
but I’m not fixated about it. If we don’t end up
ever playing there, it’s not as if we wouldn’t be
fulfilled.’
What would be fulfilling is connecting a
deep level with an audience. ‘I’d like people
who come to see us to leave with a feeling of
asking questions rather than we’ve given them
something easy to decipher. Mystery.’
That would explain his personal taste in music,
which includes Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman
and Nina Simone. Radiohead also get a mention
‘for their honesty more than the music they
make’.
Does he enjoy anything away from music? ‘In
the last few month I discovered the joy of pingpong. Me and Jamie (band member) play in our
downtime. It’s very zen. Very relaxing. It’s almost
like a meditation.’
Whales In Cubicles tour later this month.
It won’t be relaxing. Guaranteed.
‘IN THE LAST FEW
MONTHS I DISCOVERED THE
JOY OF PING-PONG. ME
AND JAMIE (BAND MEMBER)
PLAY IN OUR DOWNTIME.
IT’S VERY ZEN. VERY
RELAXING. IT’S ALMOST
LIKE A MEDITATION’
B-XTREME.COM
Whales In Cubicles play: The Castle
(Manchester) 25th September; The
Oporto (Leeds) 26th; Bungalow and
Bears (Sheffield) 27th; Labour Club
(Northampton) 28th; Oakford Social
Club (Reading) 29th; Hoxton Square
Bar & Kitchen (London) 4th October
and Borderline (London) 6 October.
The single ‘Nowhere Flag’ is out now.
Devil
WHITE
Eric Cantona was a Red Devil at Manchester
United, where he gave defenders and
occasionally fans nervous breakdowns (the
kung fu kick he delivered against Crystal
Palace). Now, he’s a white devil – loving the
slopes of Tignes.
When did you start skiing, Eric?
I started when I was young, but my
career choice meant I had to have a long
break.
Are you anywhere near as competitive
on the slopes as you were on the pitch?
No, not at all! I’m not very good so it’s
hard to be competitive. While I was
playing professionally I wasn’t allowed
to ski but I like it. I enjoy the wonderful
views, being in the mountains – I can
see why people do it and like it.
Your football career was amazing,
but what would be your greatest
achievement on the slopes?
I’m not good enough to say that I’ve
achieved something special. Just having
a good time, taking it easy without risks,
B-XTREME.COM
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
WHITE
Devil
is good. It’s why I like Tignes (Eric is a
regular visitor), because if you want
to take risks you can, if you want to
go off piste you can, if you want to
just have fun, it’s also possible.
Have you had an experience on the
slopes that comes anywhere near
the feeling of scoring a winning
goal?
No! But I see people off piste and it
looks like they’re having the same
feeling – maybe even more so.
Describe your ideal day in the
mountains in winter.
After a morning of skiing, just a
quick lunch then back for more,
with my brothers, sisters-in-law and
all the children. We cook together in
the evenings – we’re tired from the
day, but in a good way, and we enjoy
the family time.
What’s the Cantona speciality?
My brother is a very good cook – he
makes anything and everything
well. And me, I like to cook some
easy but very special tomato sauce.
It’s homemade – there’s no secret
ingredient but I like to do it my way.
I serve it with gnocchi. Simple and
good – you have a glass of wine,
some good music on, family, friends,
it’s nice.
Why did you leave Leeds United so
suddenly? Something about Leslie
Ash…?
[Smiling] I’m a traveller, it was time
to move on.
A version of this interview appears
at skiandsnowboard.co.uk
B-XTREME.COM
THE ART OF BEING A LEGEND
GIVE IT UP FOR DUKE KAHANAMOKU
Hawaiian-born Duke Kahanamoku is the undisputed godfather of modern surfing. In his lifetime he
also won five Olympic medals, smashed a swimming world record and wrestled with a ten-foot long
eel. Here’s why he’s a legend.
He was a dude:
No question about that. The Duke
was a swimmer, actor, law official,
beach volleyball pioneer and,
as we’ve said, pretty much the
godfather of modern surfing.
He had great nicknames:
The Duke, The Big Kahuna, Father
of Surfing, Mr. Hawaii, Hawaii’s
Ambassador of Aloha
He was an Olympic swimming
champion:
Duke would take five Olympic
swimming medals back to his
home in Waikiki, including three
gold medals (100m freestyle at
Stockholm 1912 and 4 x 200m
freestyle relay and 100m freestyle
at Antwerp in 1920). In 1911, while
swimming in an amateur race in
Honolulu as a 21-year-old, Duke
shattered the then world record
in the 100-yard freestyle by four
seconds and became a swimming
Hall-of-Famer.
B-XTREME.COM
LEGENDS
HE PROMPTLY
DRAGGED EIGHT
SURVIVORS BACK
TO THE BEACH
FROM THE WRECK.
ON HIS OWN.
THE ART OF BEING A LEGEND
GIVE IT UP FOR DUKE KAHANAMOKU
He Changed Surfing Forever:
Duke pretty much gave the world
modern surfing. Duke was there leading
the rebirth of surfing in the early 1900s
in Hawaii. By the time he was in his
early 20s, he was regarded as one of
the most adept surfers and watermen
in Honolulu. In 1915, while visiting
Sydney, Australia, took a young female
companion named Isabel Letham on
a tandem ride, in an 8’6 alaia thereby
making her the country’s first surfer
and birthing a sport that would come to
define a nation.
He Saved Loads Of Lives:
While working in Southern California,
Duke saved the eight men from
drowning. In June of 1925, just outside
of Corona Del Mar, a pleasure boat
capsized, throwing several passengers
into the sea. Duke’s immediate response
was to grab his board. When he arrived
at the scene he promptly dragged all
eight survivors back to the beach in
eight separate trips. The local police
chief would describe Duke’s actions
that day as ‘the most superhuman
surfboard rescue act the world has ever
seen.’ Ever modest, Duke had exited the
scene well before reporters arrived. Just
like a proper Superman.
He had a statue named after him:
The Duke has his own statue on Waikiki
beach with its own webcam.
B-XTREME.COM
LEGENDS
THE ART OF BEING A LEGEND
GIVE IT UP FOR DUKE KAHANAMOKU
He stayed close to his roots:
When he returned home from his first
Olympic Games with a gold medal, he
became an icon in the islands. ‘Duke
provided the people of Hawaii with an
idol which we’d been lacking since the
monarchy,’ said Kenneth Brown, a family
friend to the Kahanamokus. ‘Because of his
fame, and the fact that people accepted him
as a Hawaiian, it helped the perception of
the Hawaiian people.’ With the exception
of a stint in Hollywood where he worked as
an actor, appearing in more than 25 films,
Duke continued to call Hawaii home and
even served as the Sheriff of Honolulu for 26
years.
He had a stamp issued with his face on it:
On August 24, 2002, which was also the
112th anniversary of his birth, a 37c firstclass letter rate postage stamp of the United
States Postal Service with Duke’s picture
on, was issued. The First Day Ceremony
was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in
Waikiki and was attended by thousands in
his honour.
He had a motorcade provided for his
funeral:
For his burial at sea a long motorcade of
mourners, accompanied by a 30-man police
escort, travelled to Waikiki Beach.
He wrestled a 10-foot long eel:
OK, this might be more myth than fact, but
back in 1913 various newspapers reported
that the Duke had actually wrestled with a
10-foot long eel. And won, of course.
B-XTREME.COM
DUKE EVEN
SERVED AS THE
SHERIFF OF
HONOLULU FOR
26 YEARS
X-Treme Views
Sophie Hellyer. She’s capital ‘G’ gorgeous.
A genuine poster girl for UK surfing.
She’s also just been gobbled
up (forgive the imagery) by
Lynx Deodorant owned by
comglomerate Unilever to
front one of their campaigns
targeting pre-pubescent lads
who blush when they hear
the word ‘Dick’ even when it’s
followed by ‘Whittington’.
Our heroine is seen riding
the waves at the Wadi
Adventure Park in the UAE in
a conveniently Lynx-branded
bikini. It gets better (or worse)
depending on your view. Sophie
is ultimately an object to be
leered at and ultimately the
subject of a multi-option cam
experience where the viewer
gets to choose the camera
angles on the shoot. Options?
Shot from the back or front. Or,
in true grubby mac tradition –
shot from the vantage point of
some rustling bushes.
Two views on this. One, it’s
great for the sport. Showcases
it on prime time telly. Massive
exposure. Pun intended.
The production values for these
B-XTREME.COM
things are off the scale. Plus a
girl needs to eat and god knows
though surfing is becoming
increasingly commercialised,
it’s a long way from Premiership
level wages.
Result.
Alternatively, you think it’s a
total sell-out. Cheapening for
the sport – especially when
the accompanying soundtrack
for the ad is titled ‘Ride With
Me’. Therefore the first time
surfing penetrates (oo, er) the
mainstream it comes with the
baggage of sexism.
It’s not fair to judge. When
commerce and sport combine
business always takes the
easiest,
most
photogenic
option. See Beckham, David.
Had he looked like the back end
of a London bus (say the 38 from
Leytonstone) his crossover to
sporting icon/celebrity would
never have happened. Why
shouldn’t Hellyer, Sophie have
the same opportunity?
OPINION