BoardSport Source, Issue 100, February/March 2020
SOURCE was launched in 2002, three months after answering a phone call while lying on the beach in Southern Spain. It’s been a wild ride getting to 100 issues, with massive changes in media technology and the gyrations in demand for boardsport products, but we’re still delivering in both print and digital formats. We continue to be the go-to network for all things industry for the European boardsports business and despite the financial crisis and “consolidation” of the industry, we remain firm believers in the European solution delivering in French, German and English to brands, distributors and retailers across Europe. With our editorial team spread across the continent we have many ears to the ground bringing a balanced view to a complex business environment. As brands have come and gone, SOURCE has remained in business bringing a dependability to the boardsports market as a key part of the plumbing that keeps our industry moving forward.
To celebrate 100 issues, we’ve had a commemorative logo designed by Aaron Schwartz. Aaron’s a supremely talented designer, photographer and filmmaker, known largely for his work as Creative Director for Korua Shapes and we’re extremely honoured to have such a special creation to mark a century of SOURCE issues. Look our for some limited edition engraved Mizu bottles and Stance patches at ISPO.
Inside the front cover we’ve taken a trip down memory lane, revisiting (almost) all of our previous front covers. I think 87% is a fair haul spanning six plus art directors and many more external hard drives! Our front covers are something we’re still incredibly proud of here at SOURCE; it gives our industry’s employees the recognition they deserve and I’m proud to say that since starting as Editor six years ago, the quality of cover submissions has gone from strength to strength and is now healthier than ever.
Female Big Wigs in our industry are few and far between and we thought it only fitting that we feature one of action sports’ finest leading ladies – Roxy GM Emilie Souvras – as our 100th Big Wig Interviewee. We also take a look back at just what’s influenced the evolution of the snowboard since its inception, with an article by Tristan Kennedy.
Keeping our ear to the ground for outstanding performing retailers is usually sufficient, however for our 100th issue we put the vote out to the brands. And the winners of our 100th issue, your 2020 Snowboard Retailer of the Year is S’Brett from Mannheim in Germany.
As a B2B magazine, working with sensitive content not meant for consumers, we’ve (thankfully) never had to compete with the world of Instagram influencers and Facebook algorithms; we send an email newsletter regularly to a core, engaged readership and we send our printed magazines to the European boardsport industry’s most important influencers; retailers and industry employees.
Here’s to the next 100 issues! See you at ISPO 2040?
Forever Sideways
Harry Mitchell Thompson & Clive Ripley
Editor & Publisher