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Tom Schaar Honored With Forbes "30 Under 30" Sports Selection
Tom, you’ve gone and done it again.
Professional skateboarder and Blenders Brand Ambassador, Tom Schaar, is used to doing really, really amazing things at a really, really young age. So hey, we can’t sit here and tell you we’re shocked he just made the Forbes 30 Under 30 - Sports 2020 List. But are we excited and absolutely blown away?
Hell yes.
And let’s be direct: While it absolutely shouldn’t be surprising Tom made the prestigious-as-all-get-out list that “spotlights the next generation of talent,” given his gnarly list of radical early accomplishments, you gotta stop and remember—he’s only 20. A few months back, he would have been a teenager eligible to make someone’s friggin’ “20 Under 20” list, were they inclined to put it together.
So, yeah. The “30 Under 30” at age 20? Dude, Tom, you’re making garden variety overachievers look like underachievers.
Here’s a refresher on Tom’s accomplishments in case you’ve been disconnected from the world of skateboarding the last, um, nearly decade:
- The first skateboarder in history to land a 1080—the holy grail of skateboarding tricks—at the age of 12
- Repeated the 1080 feat under official competition rules in Tehachapi, California in March of 2012
- The youngest X Games gold medalist in history
- Nine-time X Games gold medalist
- The youngest Vans Pool Party champion in history
- The youngest Austin X Games “Big Air” gold medalist in history
That’s just a teaser, really. And as for the future? Well, aside from doing a bang-up job reppin’ us as part of the Blenders Athlete Entourage, in March of this year Tom was named to the inaugural USA Skateboarding Team. That means he’ll be competing in the sport’s Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
So, so sick.
Hey, Tom, keep on doing your thing, man, and serious props for your selection to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List. We couldn’t be prouder and can scarcely wait to see what the new year holds for ya!
MARCH RADNESS // ASHLEY KIDD
4x World Wake Surfing Champion, Ashley Kidd, has been out there carving a legacy. From championship runs to operating her own surfboard store and bikini line, she’s absolutely been living life in forward motion.
Recently, we caught up with the Blenders Brand Ambassador for a little Q & A as part of women’s history month, wherein we talk championships, business, and style:
Blenders: What inspires you to live life in forward motion as much as possible every week?
Ashley: Life can be ended at any second so always live up to your full potential and accomplish as much as you can!
Blenders: Your first wake surfing contest was the World Wake Surfing Championship in 2010, where you nabbed second place. What did that immediate success do for your confidence?
Ashley: I actually entered that competition not knowing whether I was good at wake surfing or not so it was a huge surprise for me to be recognized and actually receive my first sponsor at that time. That first competition was the beginning of my wake surfing career from then on I went to competitions and competed in the pro level on the wake surfing circuit, so I guess you can say that competition definitely boosted my confidence and changed my life!
Blenders: You’re now a 4X World Wake Surfing Champion. What was your favorite/most memorable pro competition and why?
Ashley: My favorite competition was the World Wake Surfing Championship in Las Vegas in 2014 when I won my first World title and Female athlete of the year award. It was literally the best feeling in the world!
Blenders: How fulfilling was it to become an entrepreneur (Cheekah Bikinis)?
Ashley: Knowing that I can start a business from nothing to something great was mind blowing to me. If you set your mind to something you can accomplish everything! I actually decided to close down Cheekah Bikinis because I realized that it wasn't my passion. It was a great experience that showed me I can run a company but it also really made me appreciate wake surfing so much more!
Blenders: What’s your fav pair of Blendz?
Ashley: I absolutely LOVE the A series and the Guava Queen North Park
Blenders: Imagine you need a walk-up song in baseball (or a WWE ring entrance jam, take your pick). What bop are you going with?
Ashley: Probably “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift because I would just walk in dancing... I know it's been so over played but it literally always puts me in a good mood lol.
Blenders: What’s your spirit animal?
Ashley: An Eagle! Haha, I am a strong person but also like being laid back and want to just fly around lol.
VANS PARK SERIES AFRICAN CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: WHAT YOU MISSED
Organized by The Boardr and sponsored by Vans, the African Continental Championships park series went down this weekend in Cape Town and it gave South African hopefuls a chance to show out and earn a spot at the Park Series World Championships—and perhaps even the pro tour.
Ultimately, the Vans Park Series African Continental Championships that concluded Saturday, Sept. 15th was more than a regional showcase for local talent. It was a first-of-its-kind event in Africa that brought to life the area’s first public skate bowl. That’s the kind of sporting development we have a soft spot for, so we couldn’t help but shine a quick light on the results from this one.
VANS AFRICAN CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FAST FACTS
- All skaters must have met regional eligibility requirements
- There’s a Vans Park Series iOS app
- Skaters either went until they fell or until the 30-second timer ended
- Four runs only
- Five skater jams total, in order
- Scoring was made based on “overall impression”
- Only the top eight made it to the finals of a Jam
- The oldest participant was Brett Shaw from Durban, South Africa at the age of 45
- The youngest participant was Manoa Mayer from Cape Town, South Africa at the age of 12 (yup, 12!)
RESULTS
Competition was fierce but there could be only one. (How very Highlander of us.)
It was Yann Horowitz who came away with top honors… and if that name’s at least vaguely familiar to you, well, there’s probably a couple reasons for that.
But first, here’s how the primary results broke down:
1st Place
Yann Horowtiz, Age 27
Ranked 379th
2nd Place
Thalente Biyela, Age 25
Ranked 755th
3rd Place
Kalvyn Mac Millan, Age 29
Ranked 603rd
Repping South Africa, the 27-year-old Horowitz stole the show and looks poised to advance beyond his 379th-ranked global ranking (remember, this isn’t the pro tour). Sponsored by the likes of adidas, Stance, RVCA, and Baseline Skateshop, Horowitz isn’t your average “outside the top 300”-type competitor. An outspoken ambassador for the game, Horowitz is a riser in South Africa and a guy that’s getting his voice heard. (He also happens to be gay but prefers to be known as a great skateboarder first-and-foremost; activist second). But no matter how you do or don’t know of him, he’s someone to watch.
You can follow Yann Horowtiz on Insta, @horoblitz.
P.S. The Vans Park Series Men’s Pro tour (going up a rung!) heads to Shanghai for the 2018 World Championships on October 26th-27th. As you can imagine, we’ll have some solid coverage for all of ya!
RECAP: VANS U.S. OPEN OF SURFING 2018
Three hundred world-class athletes—including the planet’s top surfers—took over Huntington Beach over the past nine days for a celebration of surfing and surf culture. There were outdoor movie showings, athlete meet-and-greets, concerts, and art installations.
Oh, and a lot of badass surfing.
It was the biggest surf event in North America this year and, now that it’s over, we wanted to hit you with results and highlights for anyone not fortunate enough to be in the area.
“Spoiler” alert: It was a special time for homegrown talent.
THE WOMEN’S SURF COMPETITION
The Sunday finals of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing saw two women left standing: current World #1 (and 6x world champion!), Stephanie Gilmore, versus Huntington Beach’s own Courtney Conlogue.
Spicing up this storyline is the fact that Conlogue was returning from injury. Despite this, she never pressed or appeared anxious. Instead, she wisely sat back and let Gilmore come out of the gate with fervor, the latter catching waves almost immediately but posting only decent scores. Conversely, Conlogue leveraged her knowledge of the area and wave behavior, grabbing and slicing the hell out of one of the best waves the final heat had to offer.
Ultimately, it led to a thrilling comeback victory for Conlogue.
"It's so great performing in front of my hometown," said Conlogue following the big win. "We spend so much time traveling during the season, and when you get your hometown vibe, there's nothing like it. You just absorb all that energy and use it as fuel for your fire."
"The win in 2009 was quite amazing for that time in my life, and now this one has its own special meaning for me. Coming back from injury, it's the first event I've felt 100 percent. Both of these wins here have been amazing and unforgettable.”
While Gilmore had to settle for runner-up, she managed to increase her lead in the 2018 World Title race.
THE MEN’S SURF COMPETITION
It was a huge weekend for hometown heroes.
Like the women’s competition, the top of the podium on the men’s side was represented by Huntington Beach local, Kanoa Igarashi. He defeated Griffin Colapinto in an enthralling final, becoming the first back-to-back men’s U.S. Open winner since fellow Huntington Beach native, Brett Simpson.
The men’s final was a truly wild back-and-forth affair that opened with Colapinto scoring an impressive 8.00. The heat was on, and Igarashi’s initial 7.60 left him at a disadvantage. But he seized a chance in the waning minutes of the competition, stomping a reverse and laying claim to an 8.17 score in the final heat.
"That was the best heat I've ever had," exclaimed Igarashi. "On that last wave, I don't know, I felt like something just took over me and whatever I was going to do on that wave I was going to land it. When I stood up on that wave I knew I already had the score.”
"The whole contest I was just thinking about this final heat. I paced myself the whole time and let it all out at the end. It was a really hard heat, the waves were slow, but I just believed that Huntington was going to give me the waves and it did.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Next week, the WSL Championship Tour reconvenes in beautiful Teahupoʻo, Tahiti in French Polynesia for the men’s Tahiti Pro starting this Sat, August 10!
6 OF THE MOST REMOTE LOCATIONS ON EARTH
Sure, when you think “remote,” you probably often think of your grandparent’s place in the country where the WiFi really sucks and you can’t get a decent cell signal. And while that may feel like it’s waaaay out in the boondocks because of our reliance on modern technology, let us tell you—that ain’t nothin.The remote locations on this list are truly removed from the rest of civilization—volcanic islands with incredibly low populations, cold as hell destinations that dwell in darkness for most of the day, and more. Let’s jump right into the full list!
1. TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
Imagine if your city’s population only had a total of nine different last names.
Well, that’s a reality on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. Considered the most remote archipelago on planet Earth, you’ll have to catch one of only nine boat rides to the island that make it there each year. Oh, and bear in mind that you’re in for a 1,732-mile journey.
2. CAPE YORK PENINSULA, AUSTRALIA
Cape York peninsula marks Australia’s northernmost point. You’re going to have to have some kind of all-terrain vehicle to access it, and to give you a representation of its remoteness, it’s a friggin’ 28-hour drive from Cairns.
3. OYMYAKON, RUSSIA
From warm, volcanic locales straight to freeze-your-ass off Russian towns. Oymyakon is home to only 500 residents that have to dwell in darkness for 21 out of 24 hours each day. The average temperature is -58 degrees (yeah, NEGATIVE 58), and many call this the “coldest inhabited place in the world.” In fact, it’s so cold that its population can’t grow crops. Oh, and bonus: The road to the town is called “The Road of Bones.” Charming.
4. PITCAIRN ISLAND, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
Source: ZSL.org
We’re hitting a population low with this one—there are only fifty people that live on Pitcairn Island. Fun fact: The spot, which is over 3,000 miles from New Zealand, was first settled by European mutineers of the ship “Bounty,” and no plane has ever landed there.
5. SOCOTRA ISLAND, YEMEN
Home to the Dragon Blood Tree, this spot has considerably more inhabitants than the others on our list—-40,000 in this case—but it’s 400 miles from the Yemen capital and the island only built its first road in 2011. More incredibly, however, is the fact that it has 800 ridiculously rare plant species—in fact, a third of all its flora can’t be found anywhere else on Earth.
6. LA RINCONADA, PERU
Down for visiting Peru? If you want to experience La Rinconada, you’re in for a whopping six-hour trip from the nearest city, and all of it via unpaved roads. We hope you’re used to high altitudes, too, because the town is three miles up in the mountainous air—giving it the distinction of the “world’s highest city.” Literally, not figuratively, you guys.
One more note: There’s no running water. So, you’re probably gonna wanna keep that in mind before you pack any bags!
7 OF THE SICKEST SURF SPOTS IN THE WORLD
Ready to catch a wave?
Awesome. But before you get off the couch to head to your local spot, be sure to soak in this list of seven of the sickest surf locales in the world. There are some badass breaks at all these destinations, ensuring that even the most seasoned among you will be up against a sick challenge.
1. MUNDAKA BEACH, SPAIN
Image Credit: Blog Friendly Rentals
Let’s start with Spain. This medieval village in the Basque country is thought by many to have some of the most premiere waves in all of Europe. Mundaka Beach, roughly 90 meters long and 100 meters wide, serves up waters perfect for those of moderate to advanced skill. A picturesque destination, it’s hosted surf contests as part of the World Tour for many years—and for good reason, as waves here reach as high as 12 feet and last for as much as 300 meters.
2. BUNDORAN BEACH, COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND
Image Credit: Simply Woman Magazine
In search of some of the finer waves Europe has to offer? Seek the moody green waters of Bundoran Beach in Ireland. Sure, the sea here can be cold, but if you’re well-seasoned it won’t matter. The ten-foot-plus waves are far too much of an attraction to turn down—plus, there’s nothing like throwing a few back at an Irish pub with the locals. (It’s Dublin, so by “a few” we mean “a shit ton,” of course.)
3. FUERTEVENTURA, CANARY ISLANDS
Image Credit: The Vacation Times
Time to get on island time. Fuerteventura off the African coast has an immense collection of wildly popular waves, including Generosa Suicides, Shooting Gallery, El Hierro, German Rights, and others. Chief among these is The Bubble, the celebrated right-hand tube reserved for experts only. If you’re aching for a challenge, pack your sunglasses between October and March for the height of surf season.
4. HODDEVIK, NORWAY
Image Credit: Fjord Norway
Fantastically consistent swells and breaks for beginners to da pros characterize the mountain-wreathed wilds of Hoddevik, Norway. The prospect of icy waters may deter some of you, but don’t let it—modern wetsuit technology totally has your back, and besides, you won’t have to deal with the obnoxious crowds prevalent in some of these other destinations.
5. BLACK’S BEACH, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Repping the contiguous United States is Black’s Beach in San Diego—which we’re still pretty sure means “whale’s vagina” in German. Anyway, Black’s Beach is stowed away under the bluffs of Torrey Pines and is considered perhaps the dopest surfing spot on our mainland. Bear in mind that Fridays and Saturdays can get crowed af, though, and if you’re a beginner, you should look elsewhere.
6. HOSSEGOR, FRANCE
Image Credit: Volcom, YouTube
Vive la France! Hossegor is another pro destination for those jonesing for a wicked wave. If your skills are up to par, you’ll enjoy gloriously brutal beach breaks that can go head-to-head with anything found in Hawaii—not to mention the warmest Atlantic sea temperatures around. And if your skills are not quite up to speed yet, there’s always La Sud directly to the south, catering to the beginner and intermediate types.
7. EHUKAI BEACH PARK, NORTH SHORE, OAHU, HAWAII
We had to finish by showing love for Hawaii. It belongs on any surfing list, as does Ehukai Beach Park in particular. Why? It features the world-famous, experts-only Bonzai Pipeline. Get this: Its waves reach as high as 25 feet OR MORE in the winter months. But, ugh, proceed at your own peril, alright?
5 TRAVEL PHOTOS THAT WILL GIVE YOU SERIOUS WANDERLUST
There’s no shortage of wonders in this world. While we can’t feature them all, our travel photo series here at Blenders has covered glacier-cut valleys, treacherous ocean-spanning roads, rainbow-colored mountain peaks, and more.
Today, we’ve got another bunch of wanderlust-inducing vistas that will have you positively aching to catch a flight. From ancient, temple-strewn vistas to pool-filled, glistening salt flats, here are a few more of our favorites for you to marvel at:
1. ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL FOREST PARK | HUNAN PROVINCE, CHINA
Within the People’s Republic of China’s Zhangjiajie City is the stunning Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. What makes this spot special? Just look at it. There are jaw-dropping, natural quartz-sandstone pillar rock formations that stretch thousands of meters into the air, formed through natural physical erosion. Notably, the 1,080-meter “Southern Sky Column” has officially been renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” in honor of the James Cameron film. Park officials say the formations helped inspire the floating mountains from that movie.
2. BAGAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA | BAGAN, MYANMAR
Image Source: hotels.com
This ancient city area nestled within central Myanmar (formerly Burma) is home to more than 2,000—yes, two thousand—Buddhist temples and monuments. One of the sites includes the Ananda Temple, built in the wayback of 1091. Perfectly, you can even grab a hot air balloon ride over this sensational vista.
3. SOSSUSVLEI NAMIB DESERT | NAMIBIA
You’ve never seen sand dunes like these. The towering red sand mountains rise up out of the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia salt and clay pan. There’s absolutely awe-inspiring scope here.
4. MOUNT RORAIMA | VENEZUELA
First discovered by explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595, Mount Roraima is the highest of South America’s Pakaraima chain plateaus. Once thought to be unscalable, you actually can climb to the top of this distinctive, breathtaking anvil-shaped peak to peer through the clouds at the mesas and rainforest below. As if that wasn’t enough, Mount Roraima represents as one of our blue orb’s oldest geological formations, throwing it back to the Precambrian period roughly two billion years ago!
5. SALINAS GRANDES SALT FLATS | JUJUY PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
Image Source: Argentina Travel Blog
The Salinas Grandes flats are sodium and potassium mines located approximately 3,450 meters above sea level in northwest Argentina. Despite the crazy dry heat and remote location, this destination is absolutely beautiful. The floor of the salt flats and their rectangular mining pools reflect the boundless sky.
ALLEY HANGS
A few weeks ago, TJ and I took a little stroll around the neighborhood to get a few images featuring our brand new Deep Space and Blue Bengal D Series frames. We stumbled down one particular alley that ended up having a ton of textures we used to our advantage. These are just some of the shots that we favored amongst the sea of images captured that day. The best part of this particular shoot, in our opinion, was that we weren’t expecting to get such a raw feel in our beachy backyard, making this set one of our favorites thus far.
To give you a better idea of how the frames fit, check out the video below. And if you’re interested in either of the frames, CLICK HERE and HERE to learn more.
Stay tuned for more content fresh off the editing room floor!
-Julius
10 CAVES TO EXPLORE BEFORE YOU DIE
Sep 29, 2015 Blenders Eyewear
1.Marble Caves in Chile
Thousands of years of Lake General Carrera’s waters splashing up against the walls these caves have created the swirling texture. The azure lake reflects on the inside of the cave making its marble look appear blue. Just a 3o minute boat ride and you can glide through this cave for yourself.
2. Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand
These caves are home to a species of glowworms, the Arachnocampa luminosa, that are found only in New Zealand. You can take a boat ride through the cave filled with thousands of glowworms that are each only about the size of a mosquito. The guided tour runs all year long, 7 days a week, $48 for adults, and $21 for children.
3. Hang Son Doong Caves in Vietnam
This cave is the largest in the world and was just recently discovered in 2009. It is so massive that it even has its own jungle, river, and climate. It is over 650 feet high and almost 500 feet long and visitors have to repel in harnesses down over 250 feet to enter the cave. Yet the experience of exploring this wonder is worth it.
4. Batu Caves in Malaysia
This cave is home to a Hindu temple and shrine and thousands of visitors and worshippers flock to it every year especially during Thaipusam an annual Hindu festival. These 400 million year old limestone caves are also home to macaques monkeys.
5. Fingals Cave in Scotland
This cave is located on the uninhibited island Staffa in Scotland and is known for its natural acoustics. A boat is needed to access the cave and tours are available where you can hear the eerie sounds the ocean makes crashing inside. The scenery with coastal and mountainous views makes the journey to the cave and the cave itself the spectacle that it is. 
6. Giant Crystal Cave in Mexico
Inside these caves are some of the largest crystals in the world called selenite crystals, however, to see them for yourself, you have to have certain protection otherwise you can only experience them for 10 minutes. The caves’ air temperature is extremely hot and unpleasant at 136 degrees and 99 percent humidity. 
7. Benagil Sea Cave in Portugal
Off the Algarve Coast lies a pristine beach home to this sea cave that is always topping charts of places to visit. The crashing waves has created its structure and is now a playground for boaters, swimmers, and sun bathers alike.
8. Reed Flute Cave in China
This cave is illuminated by multi-colored lights and gets its name from the reeds here that you can make into flutes. Inscriptions on the walls date back to 792 AD and though the lights are just for the experience it truly makes the interior of these caves surreal. The limestone walls, pillars, and rock formations are only made better with the colors of the rainbow.
9. Melissani Cave in Greece
This cave is surrounded by forests on the island of Kefalonia in Greece with crystal clear waters perfect for swimming. The cave creates a cenote like pool and the sun shines down in illuminating the breathtaking views. Sights from below and above the caves are equally beautiful. 
10. Tham Lod Cave in Thailand
Kayak down the Nam Lang River which flows through this cave in northern Thailand and look up at all the stalactites and stalagmites (the drooping rock formations). Guided tours provide paraffin lanterns to light up the dark surroundings as you walk through the cave’s trails. 
