Oakley :: Action Sports

The King of Wake Speaks: Harley Clifford Talks 2012, Trick Development and the Future

Chasen Marshall — May 13, 2013 10:00

Harley Clifford won King of Wake, but he’s also, as far as the contest scene, the king of wake. In 2012, the 19-year-old superstar of wakeboarding dominated the sport. World champion and trick of the year; pro tour champion and favorite of the fans in the readers’ poll. It was the year Harley had been aiming for ever since he turned pro in 2008.

Early in 2013, he’s off to a similar tear, with three consecutive wins to start the season. The thought is already on everyone’s mind: how long can the winning streak go?

We sat down with Clifford when he stopped by Oakley HQ during his annual wakeboard season migration from Australia to Florida and hit him with all the key questions.

Oakley Goes Into the Jungle for X Games Foz do Iguacu, Emerges With 10 Medals

Chasen Marshall — April 24, 2013 13:06

Much like the magnificent Iguazu Falls nearby, the four days of X Games Foz do Iguaçu were not to be missed. Between the world-class action, the passionate crowds, the tropical climate, and the ear-ringing decibel levels, overall, the event was sensation-numbing in the best ways possible.

Grete Eliassen Wins Best in Action Sports

Elishia Matta — April 15, 2013 20:42

Longtime darling of women’s Freeskiing, Grete Eliassen proved that her prowess extends beyond the powder-obsessed with her recent sweep of X Games’ Best in Action Sports.

Stay Calm and Breathe On: Oakley Surfers Go Through Breathing Survival Course

Chasen Marshall — April 10, 2013 10:00

Nearly every surfer has experienced the sensation: pinned to the ocean bottom, trying to swim for the surface, desperate for a few quick gasps of air to avoid what might happen if they don’t. Water swirling; surroundings dark; up is down, down becomes up. It’s a scary moment and therefore, a tough time to stay composed – even the pros say so.

According to Kirk Krack, who teaches a surf survival course around breath holding, composure is key.

Oakley Helps Return Surfing to Summer X Games With "Real Surf" Video Contest

Chasen Marshall — April 08, 2013 09:00

Surfing is back in the X Games (kind of). This year, beginning in Brazil, the X Games audience will get to see the best airs and barrels, hacks and power turns from the likes of Jordy Smith, Gabriel Medina, 11-time world champ Kelly Slater and five other big name surfers, as they contest for an X Games Gold Medal. The twist: the action will be packed into 90-second video clips and part of the inaugural “Real Surf” presented by Oakley contest.

48 Hours of Celebrating Skiing: Tanner Hall Invitational, Shane McConkey Weekend and Dumont Cup

Chasen Marshall — April 03, 2013 09:30

Nearly two-dozen skiers were on hand for the first-ever contest, but really, the Tanner Hall Invitational, held at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, was just a massive jam session between friends and fellow stylists – and it was just one of three celebrations of skiing going on across the country, which included a Chinese Downhill and the Dumont Cup.

Tanner Hall Invitational: Getting the Run-Down From the Man Himself

Chasen Marshall — March 28, 2013 14:00

This Saturday, style will be the focus at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Eleven-time X Games medalist Tanner Hall will be on hand with a couple dozen of the most stylish freeskiers in the world for the first-ever Tanner Hall Invitational. With the event less than 48 hours away, we decided it was a good time to catch up with Tanner to talk about his first season back from injury and to get some insights on his signature event.

Six Medals For Oakley Snowboarders at Euro X Games; Toutant and Norendal Win Gold in Slopestyle

Chasen Marshall — March 25, 2013 12:30

It wasn’t the season Sebastien Toutant had expected. One of the most talented young snowboarders of his generation – the generation of Mark McMorris and Stale Sandbech and Torstein Horgmo – he already had three Winter X Games medals to his name, including a Gold in Slopestyle in 2011. But coming into Euro X Games in Tignes, France, his 2012/13 season had mostly been filled with near misses – a caught rail here, an over-rotated spin there, a finish one spot clear of the podium. In Tignes, Toutant kept the mishaps and the near-misses at bay.

In the Slopestyle Final, he took the early lead with his first run (88.0), which put him in good position to podium. With McMorris among the finalists, Toutant knew he’d have to fight to hold on to the top spot. On his second run he landed a clean triple cork, followed by a stomped Cab 1260, earning a score of 95.0. McMorris would come up just short in his third and final run (94.0) for Silver, and the Gold would belong to Toutant.

"Sets In Motion": Game-Changing New Women's Wakeboard Series Aims to Progress and Promote the Sport

Chasen Marshall — March 25, 2013 11:15

Back in 2010, after she’d had a stunning season – which included becoming the first female to land a 900 – then-wakeboard team manager Matty Swanson posed the question, “What’s next?” Amber Wing wanted to do a film project. That conversation was the genesis of “Sets In Motion,” a new, game-changing women’s wakeboard series.

“Women in wakeboarding don’t get asked to film or aren’t included in any filming projects, and there’s maybe 3 or 4 guys ones every year, so I wanted to create a platform and a project for the girls that’s going to be timeless and online and for everyone to see forever,” explained Amber Wing, the reigning Queen of Wake who in January became the first female to land a double flip. “It gives the girls something to work towards, and not just be riding for contests, because its different riding for contests than free-riding. It was an idea, in a way, for me to push the girls and motivate them to progress their riding harder than what they’ve been doing or had to push towards in the past.”

Turski's 4-Peat and Carlson's "Real Ski' Win Highlight Great Week at Euro X for Oakley Skiers

Chasen Marshall — March 22, 2013 17:06

A blizzard swept through Tignes, France on the first day of competition at Euro X Games, and what followed was a flurry of world-class competition. Three days of action in the Superpipe, on the Slopestyle course and on the Internet resulted in five medals for Oakley skiers, and 11 overall for Oakley athletes.

While there were plenty of great stories throughout the week, the achievement by Kaya Turski stood out from the rest. For the fourth consecutive year in Tignes, Turski was untouchable in Slopestyle, winning another Gold for the first four-peat in Euro X history. The win was a bit of redemption for Turski, who had to settle for Silver in Aspen in January behind young Norwegian skier Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen.

Curren Caples Wins Volcom Damn AM; Reflects on New Generation of Skaters

Chasen Marshall — March 19, 2013 12:52

Based on the surfer/skater combo, the style and the long blonde hair, the comparisons have already been made to the legendary Z-Boy, Jay Adams. He’s on the level to be traveling and skating with the likes of Eric Koston, Rune Glifberg and Ryan Sheckler. And now he has a win at the legendary amateur contest, the Volcom Damn AM. Maybe it’s time to state the obvious: Curren Caples is ready for the spotlight.

In due time. His time as a pro is sure to come sooner rather than later, but for now, let’s embrace the moment.

Henrik Harlaut's Journey to Winter X Games Stardom – Can it Continue in France?

Chasen Marshall — March 18, 2013 15:00

The courses are constructed and the athletes have arrived – Euro X Games 2013 is ready to commence. Among those heralded names making the trip to France will be Henrik Harlaut. The 21-year-old Swede is one of the newest stars in the sport. He arrives in Tignes riding the momentum of a two-medal performance in Aspen in January, which included a Gold Medal in Big Air by way of a first-ever Nose Butter Triple Cork 1620. He’ll be looking to add to his medal-haul when competition begins on Thursday.

Comeback Kid: 18-Year-Old Tyler Wright Wins the Roxy Pro Gold Coast

Chasen Marshall — March 09, 2013 12:33

The clock was ticking down on the Final of the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast and she was up against the reigning runner-up on the elite ASP Women’s World Championship Tour – and yet, Tyler Wright didn’t flinch. In fact, she sat out in the lineup singing, seemingly unfazed even though the very early ratings lead and $15,000 were on the line. A wave came, Wright put her powerful style of surfing to practice, and a 9.2 resulted – and with that score, the win.

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” said Wright, after being carried from the water to the podium. “I wasn’t even thinking out there. I was singing to myself and when I came in, my sister said ‘I was singing right along with you’. That little wave came in and hugged the bank and I just left it all on the wave. To get the score and the win like that, it’s incredible.”

Triple Crown Champ Sebastian “Seabass” Zietz Ready to Take on the ASP World Tour

Chasen Marshall — February 28, 2013 10:00

Despite the events of the past couple months, Sebastian “Seabass” Zietz is still the same outgoing, three-thumbed, dance-machine from Kauai that the surf community knows and loves – he’s just added a few new facts to his Wikipedia page: Triple Crown champion and a member of the ASP World Tour. One was the springboard unto the other. His showing in Hawaii during Winter 2012 solidified what so many had believed about the 24-year-old: he has the pedigree to compete and thrive among the best surfers in the world. Beginning in 2013, he will have the opportunity to do just that – and his fellow WCT surfers are anxious to have him.

February Fun: Jacob Wester's Mid-Season Edit

Chasen Marshall — February 27, 2013 12:24

Fortunately, this winter has been better than last – that’s a sentiment held worldwide. More snow, more frequently. Thank goodness. While he could have his pick of any destination worldwide, Sweden’s Jacob Wester has mostly stayed local this winter. The winter’s been so good to Europe, why not?

And despite all these years on skis, the 25-year-old is still finding ways to keep the sport and his time on the mountain fresh, exciting and challenging.