Who owns sector 9

The interest had been apparent from everyone who saw us skate by so we started making skateboards in our backyard. Lots of learning and a couple evictions later we were forced to move into our first warehouse in what would become the Sector 9 skateboard factory. View account.

Stay tuned — there will be more to come. Brian Cook gives us an update on how ThirtyTwo has evolved its snowboard boot line this year, the fluid shipping Read more…. First-to-market, the custom crafted 3D printed eyewear is built to the unique details of the face.

By Tiffany Montgomery Published Jul 21, Related news No related photos. Read more news. Industry Insight. Read more insights. Smith created the Imprint 3D Technology to address the vast range of face shapes and features. Courtesy of Smith. Smith Launches Imprint 3D Technology. Courtesy of etnies. Etnies Reveals New Snow Shoes. Etnies Winterized collection includes four styles and is available now. While its diversity gave Sector 9 a slow start, it may be exactly what has insulated the brand from the effects of a recent drop in overall skateboard participation, a parent company in turmoil and a new CEO.

That dip meant that fewer to year-olds, who make up the majority of the core skating market, entered the sport in the mid- to late s. The number of people who skate at least once a year dropped from 13 million in to just over 6 million in , the most recent year for which the Sports and Fitness Industry Association has data. Sector 9 president Valdivia is not concerned about those numbers, because he does not think they are an accurate portrayal of the skate market.

The corporation bought Sector 9 because it was an industry leader, he said. Analyst Jeff Harbaugh said that Sector 9, arguably the largest player in the longboard market, should remain on top if it does just that. Its success may be boosted by the fact that the longboard market appears to be growing even as shortboard sales suffer. That is partially because Sector 9 brought a thirst for innovation and technology to the industry, Harbaugh said. Where traditional skate companies fostered a culture of standardization, longboard companies welcomed differentiation.

And Sector 9, without judgment, invited anyone who wanted to, to join in the fun and ride on its boards — any way they liked. Easy advice to give, probably a lot harder to do. A former warehouse employee who rose through the Sector 9 ranks, Valdivia took over as president when cofounder Steve Lake retired in late June. After 15 years at Sector 9, he believes he has a good idea of how to capitalize on existing achievements.

Billabong does not share numbers on its divisions, but told shareholders this year that the Sector 9 brand continues to grow and perform well. Our identity is more solid than ever. The popular assumption is that longboarding accounts for about half of industry sales, but research firm Board-Trac has data showing less than 10 percent of the 9. Still, a Board-Trac study confirms their universal popularity, with most age groups reporting that they ride both short and longboards.

The study shows longboards are most popular among skaters aged 20 to 24, with 14 percent reporting that they ride longboards exclusively and another 71 percent who said they ride both short and longboards.

Of the five age groups, the oldest set 25 and up had the highest number of those who ride solely on longboards: 21 percent. Developer proposes condos in Imperial Beach. Win free beer with this new game app. PR firm spins off new social media agency.