O’Neill, the original Californian surf, snow and lifestyle brand, has appointed Soulsports as their UK PR and social media agency, with immediate effect. O’Neill was founded in 1952, when a young Jack O’Neill invented the world’s first neoprene wetsuit. O’Neill continue to lead and innovate with both technical products and a strong fashion line for men, women and children.

Jojo Cook, who joined Soulsports as PR Director in February this year, will be the Account Manager, handling all press enquiries regarding products, events and athletes.
Soulsports is a leading UK action sports agency, specialising in PR, athlete management and events.

Sophie Paget, Marketing Manager O’Neill UK said: “Last year was a big year for the brand with O’Neill UK being setup as a direct subsidiary company to O’Neill Europe. This is a new era for us all and now is a great opportunity for us to communicate all that O’Neill stands for and offers – from our athletes and core events, to our product developments, such as new Eyewear and Toddler ranges being added to our 2010 collections. Soulsports, with combined experience and expertise in both extreme sports and fashion, were an obvious choice for us to appoint to take on this task, and we’re looking forward to working with them this year!”

Soulsports will also be promoting The O’Neill Cold Water Classic surf series, one of the most groundbreaking event series in world surfing, which is now in its second year. The CWC stops at Thurso, Scotland on April 13-19th, where 144 of the world’s best surfers will battle it out at one of the coldest and wildest surf spots in the world. Press places available.

For all PR enquiries contact Jojo Cook
jojo@soulsports.co.uk
Tel: 01273 687788

www.oneill.com
www.soulsports.co.uk

Check out the BRITS 2010 feature from the Mirror.co.uk, its never to chilly for an alpine gathering: http://bit.ly/9gip3v

Garmin the global leader in satellite navigation turns its expertise to snowsports to deliver the new must-have item for the slopes as it announces a series of GPS devices and a range of activities geared toward the snowsports enthusiast.

Demonstrating that it is not solely the performance-driven that benefit from the value Garmin adds to sport, the wrist-worn Foretrex® 401 is set to provide millions of recreational skiers and snowboarders with the fundamental statistics that they have long craved; how high, how far and how fast did we go today? Of course, this sophisticated, waterproof device is packed with extensive capabilities for the more inquisitive, but its simplicity makes it possible for everybody to get more from their time on the slopes.

To put the Foretrex 401 onto the wrists of typical enthusiasts, Garmin has joined forces with 10 specialist chalet operators around the Alps to form official Garmin Test Centres, offering guests the opportunity to test-drive the latest GPS technology. At the end of the day, guests simply upload the day’s data, or ‘tracklog’, at Garmin Connect to review their movements and statistics including highest speed, total descent, total ascent, maximum elevation, total distance and much, much more.

To foster the competitive spirit that will no doubt arise, Garmin has created a season’s league table at Garmin Snow Club to champion the persons that travel the fastest, the furthest, and the greatest descent. The victorious not only secure bragging rights for the year, but are then in with a chance of winning a week’s winter holiday at one of the Garmin Test Centres.

In addition, the Garmin Downhill Challenge will be making its presence felt at The BRITS Snow & Music Festival, which hosts the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships in Switzerland from 21st – 28th March. Throughout the week revellers will charge the slopes to register a fastest time to be displayed upon the Garmin Leader board positioned centre stage of the Apres Arena. The Garmin Downhill Challenge is destined to spark post-slope boasting and debate and perfectly complements the en-masse downhill at the end of the week, Red Bull Homerun, which witnesses 300+ competitors racing simultaneously from the top of the mountain to the bottom… organized chaos. The winner of the Garmin Downhill Challenge will naturally win a trip to The BRITS 2011 to defend their crown.

Finally, spearheading the snowsports campaign are two guys that uphold Garmin’s pursuit of innovation and adventure in BBC Ski Sunday presenters and Garmin ambassadors Ed Leigh and Graham Bell. Regular Ski Sunday viewers will have noticed a recent product review of the Foretrex 401 on the show. Follow Ed’s and Graham’s travels around the world at Garmin Snow Club including fly-through visuals of Graham’s World Cup Downhill runs and both of their exploits at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“Snow sports offered up an exciting proposition for Garmin, which required a shift in our approach for a sport that’s mass focus is recreational,” said Chris Merrell, Garmin’s Marketing Communications Manager. “And we are strong in the belief that Garmin can, and will, add value to every snow enthusiast, both in their on-piste activities and off-piste discussions. GPS adds fun as well as safety to your snow activities.”

Both Garmin devices are available at all Snow + Rock and Ellis Brigham stores nationwide, where a purchase in-store or online holds the added benefit of entry into the prize draw for an all expenses paid trip for 2 to The BRITS 2010 Festival and the opportunity to take on the Garmin Downhill Challenge.

Foretrex® 401 – SRP £199.99
DakotaTM 20 – SRP £279.99

www.garminsnowclub.co.uk

If you need a little help choosing a board this season, check out the women’s board review in this months copy of Onboard. Written by Soulsports PR/shredder Jo Brown after her visit to the Board Test.

 

Garmin the world leader in GPS devices have appointed Soulsports to consult and deliver a strategy for Garmin to enter the Snowsports market.

See the developments at www.garminsnowclub.co.uk

Soulsports have teamed up with Samsung to provide some great prizes from Cushe footwear & Snowboard Club UK.
Press Release:
Samsung Mobile UK today announces ‘Gone in 60 Minutes’ its biggest ever competition that gives people the opportunity to win a prize every hour, on the hour, in the run up to Christmas.

Look out for details of how to enter on the Samsung ‘Gone in 60 Minutes’ Facebook page or Twitter feed and be in with a chance of winning a £4,000 Skiworld snowsports holiday for two, complete with lessons; kit and lift passes and extra goodies.
In addition to this amazing prize, other prizes that Samsung is offering in its biggest-ever giveaway include:

• A top-end 40’’ LED TV
• Samsung’s newest dual screen cameras (ST500)
• Samsung netbooks
• A huge selection of the latest Samsung handsets including the Genio Touch and Genio Qwerty
• Signed shirts and tickets from Chelsea Football Club (courtesy of Samsung Football)
• Samsung Blu-Ray players
• Lessons at Sno!zone in (Milton Keynes, Castleford or Glasgow)
• 5 Billabong Jackets from 2Seasons
• Samsung Movies vouchers
• Copies of the new Sega Football Manager 2010
• Chuckbuddies
• 20 SCUK memberships
• 8 pairs of Cushe shoes

The competition opens on Monday 30th November and every day a list of prizes up for grabs will be released. All you have to do is log onto the website and answer the question to enter and, every hour on the hour (weekdays only from 10-8pm), someone will win a prize. Sign up for alerts, follow the Tweets or become a fan on Facebook to be first to hear the news about the competition.
On top of the hourly prizes, for every hourly question people enter , they’ll be entered into the grand prize draw to win the holiday – so the more you participate, the more chances you have to get away on that trip of a lifetime!

Samsung is working with a range of partners to provide these great prizes including Skiworld; 2 Seasons; SCUK, Cushe, Chuckbuddies, Funky Gunk, Sega, Sno!zone, 3 Valleys, Ski Set, Samsung Football and New Generation.

FB: www.facebook.com/pages/Samsung-Gone-in-60-Minutes/176008025147
Tw: www.twitter.com/UKsamsungmobile

And the campaign url is www.gonein60minutes.com

www.samsungmobile.co.uk

We are looking for a dynamic individual to join our expanding team as a Public Relations Manager.

As the UK’s Action Sports Agency we deliver an uncompromising standard of service across Consultancy, PR, Athlete and Event management with our philosophy always to keep brands at the forefront of our thinking, whilst keeping the sports and athletes at the heart of our actions.

Due to recent business wins and successes we are looking to expand our team and require a UK PR Manager to join the company who will be responsible for the creation, development and execution of PR strategies and plans based around our own events as well as our client’s events and products. The role will also focus on providing an opportunity to secure external PR accounts aiding the expansion of the business, therefore new business pitching experience is essential.

Based in Brighton and reporting to the Directors and managing the day to day running of the PR Department you will have experience in people management and supervisory skills, and be confident in speaking at management meetings to update on progress. With your excellent time management skills you will manage project timelines, budgets and ensure that deadlines are met.

To be considered for this role you will ideally be degree qualified in Business or Marketing and have a minimum 4 years PR experience either within the action sports industry or a professional PR agency.
As the successful candidate you will understand the individuality of our core market but also the commercial role that PR plays in the overall business process. Knowledge and connections within both the corporate brand world and the Action Sports arena is also beneficial for this role. A proven track record in developing and implementing PR strategies through to execution is crucial, as are, relationships with media, sponsorship partners and third party agencies.

You will have exceptional written, verbal, computer and presentation skills, an innovative approach, plus excellent organisational skills.

If this sounds of interest, please send your CV and covering letter with salary expectations to pippa@soulsports.co.uk. The deadline for applications is the 28th October with interviews taking place early November.

Starting out life ten years ago to the day, Soulsports has come a long way since its athlete agency beginnings but confesses to having been a little modest to date about the company’s successes. Today, you’ll find us delivering an uncompromising level of service across Consultancy, PR, Athlete and Event management and are proudly launching a new website to demonstrate our good work. We welcome you to Visit Our World at soulsports.co.uk.

Soulsports founder and director, Stuart Brass remarks on the company’s journey, “Over the past decade Soulsports has been progressively building toward this, the moment it can confidently lay claim to offering a full suite of marketing services across all major action sports. We are The Action Sports Agency and our philosophy has always been to keep brands at the forefront of our thinking, whilst keeping the sports and athletes at the heart of our actions.”

Stuart was one of the UK’s most influential pro snowboarders, and among the first wave of riders to attract corporate sponsorship. It is to this corporate involvement that Stuart owes his vision (that and Jerry Maguire smashing box offices in the same year, he jokes), and in 1999 Soulsports was established to provide representation for UK action sports athletes.

In the ten years that have passed, Soulsports has attracted a team of experts to its doors and as recent client successes prove, we are as confident providing services to major industry players such as DC, Quiksilver, Vans, Extreme Sports Channel and the British Surf Association as we are dealing with global blue chip clients such as Nissan, Orange, Red Bull and Motorola. Naturally, we’ve not abandoned our roots and working with athletes such as X-Games Snowboard Champion Jenny Jones, World Champion Mountain Biker Steve Peat and Big Wave Surfer Gabe Davies still holds pride of place within the business.

In a nutshell, Soulsports is a dynamic company with a competitive edge and has its sights fixed firmly on becoming The Action Sports Agency of choice. We work hard to create amazing campaigns and imaginative content and urge anybody looking for a fresh approach to accessing the action sports market to take a look at our world through www.soulsports.co.uk.

We think you’ll like what you see.

Soulsports has just got back in from a weeklong trip to Dublin after organising a press trip to the DC King of Dublin Skateboard Contest. Check out the full event write up and a couple of images below.

Press Release:

Keith Walsh Crowned DC King of Dublin

Last weekend, Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July, saw the first of the 2009 DC King of Series events kick off in Dublin, where local Keith Walsh was crowned the king of the two day amateur skateboarding contest, walking away with 2,500 Euro’s, a spot on the DC King’s Team and of course the bragging rights!

On day one of two, the DC US, European and UK skate teams and the city’s local skaters and contestants all met up at G1 Skateshop before skating across the city to the contest spot, Portobello Square, to skate the ledges and water gaps. With the spot fully de skate stopped and the gods shining down it made for a perfect set-up for Day One of the DC King of Dublin contest with everyone seeming stoked to have a skate event like this in their town.

Riding in heats of four, the 40 contestants flew through the 8 heats - 20 minutes a heat. The scene was awesome with the guys rolling deep to skate. The ledges of Portobello got handled and some amazing riding went down from both the 40 contestants and the DC pros, which included Jani Laitalia, Henning Braaten, Ruben Garcia, Manuel Margreiter, Jody Smith and Antony Lopez.

There were definite standouts from the days contest, but the judges, made up of the DC Pro Team, kept the scores close to their chests until Day Two when DC King of Dublin headed over to a rail spot, Wood Quay.

Sunday brought day two and the finals of DC King of Dublin—what a finals it was. It definitely went down as the best am skate contest Dublin’s ever seen. Outside of the spot, the scene was sick. The natural outdoor auditorium set up made a rad setting to watch Ireland’s best battle for the DC King of Dublin crown.

The spot for day two was decidedly heavier than at Portobello’s. Wood Quay was a long 12 stair with a new handrail added to the middle of it to mix it up. Men and boys were separated, with some of the skaters from Day One’s ledge spot not even showing up to skate. It didn’t look that big, but once the guys started jumping down, it was a different deal. And unless the ams were on their street game, they were out. With the DC team jumping in to keep the energy high, a lot of stuff went down by those actually competing. We’ll bare you the list of tricks, go watch them for yourself through the video recap at www.dcshoes.com/skate.

The finals boiled down and rising to the top were Keith Walsh, who took the top spot, followed by Joe Hill, and then Cian Eades. The boys were ripping. For their efforts, they split an impressive 5,000 Euros prize pot. It was an unprecedented opportunity to shred some otherwise-illegal street spots, get some exposure, and earn some Euros. Congratulations and thanks go out to all of the skaters and skate shops (especially G1) that made it an unforgettable contest and legendary success.

Really, the best way to see everything that went down in Dublin is to check the www.dcshoes.com/skate website, which has a gallery showcasing the event. Later, don’t forget to watch out for DC King of Dublin footage in an upcoming podcast video.

On July 22nd Soulsports PR worked with DC to host an exclusive event at the Maverik Showroom in London to celebrate the release of DC skate photographer, Mike Blabac’s first book, BLABAC PHOTO – The Art of Skateboarding photography. More than 400 guests, including Ryan Smith - DC professional skateboarder, came to support Blabac and view the photo gallery exhibit showcasing 20 years of Blabac’s photography pulled from his extensive collection of work.

Available now, BLABAC PHOTO is the first skateboarding book of its kind featuring 224 pages of iconic images in skateboarding in a beautifully designed, cloth-bound, large format hardcover book. Published by powerHouse Books, BLABAC PHOTO takes you on a visual journey from Blabac’s humble beginnings as a kid who was intrigued by cameras to shooting some of the most legendary skateboarders of all time. Coinciding with the release of BLABAC PHOTO is the Blabac Azure mid, the first DC signature shoe that has been made for a non-professional team member. This shoe was designed to compliment the book and pay homage to Blabac and his work with DC over the past 10 years.

Both the book and shoe are available at www.dcshoes.com/blabac., DC flagship stores, select skate shops, powerHouse, and select book retailers.

Blabac’s London gallery exhibit will be available for viewing at the Maverik Showroom located at 68-72 Redchurch Street from July 23-31. BLABAC PHOTO launched in New York at the powerHouse arena in Brooklyn New York on June 30. The NY exhibit will be available for viewing at powerHouse arena from July 1 – August 2. Other previous tour stops included Los Angeles, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Barcelona. The last stop will be in San Francisco on August 28. For more information on Blabac and the world tour visit www.dcshoes.com/blabac.

A few pictures from the night: