Donavon Frankenreiter

Who doesn’t recognize the shaggy-mustached guy seen in almost all of Sanuk’s marketing paraphernalia? Surfers and music-lovers alike are at least acquainted, if not totally on the ball, with this surfing rockstar. But for those who are not clued-in with this Donavon Franken who? Those who just seem to grasp this elusive surfing icon as a tongue twister, well lemme give you some Donavon Frankenreiter (again, it’s F-R-A-N-K-E-N-R-E-I-T-E-R) 101:

1. Please don’t get all too confused with the name. It’s DONAvon, not Donovan nor Danovon, okay? I kept on hearing people during the Sanuk Opening Act event in La Union say his name in a number of ways. But if you really can’t say it right, better call him DONNY, as what this guy’s friends call him.
2. His mustache is 100% real hair. And Donavon is not him without this iconic mustache. So during his mini concert, he gave away fake mustaches to fans and locals to get them donafied! People especially the kids were all giggling and making fun of each other (their mustached version).

Local kids donning the iconic Donavon mustache

Donavon with bandmate Matt Grundy samples tracks from Frankenreiter’s albums

3. This guy started riding the waves at the tender age of 10. After a couple of more years, if he’s not out on his surfboard, he’s jamming with his guitar. With musical influences like guitar gods Clapton and Page and songwriting heroes Dylan and Marley, he soon created a band and named it Peanut butter and Jam after one of his favorite high school bands, Pearl Jam. But it was in 2004 when his old pal Jack Johnson started his Brushfire Records that Donavon started hitting it real big and doing collaborations with equally awesome and talented musicians like Mario Caldato Jr. (famed Beastie Boys collaborator), Joe Chiccarelli of The White Stripes and My Morning Jacket, and Ben Harper among others.

Frankenreiter trying out the waves in San Juan beach, La Union

Surfers trying to impress the judges while wearing their costumes on

4. Mr. Frankenreiter here is one busy man. Aside from his surfing exploits and global music tours, Donny serves as the official Ambassador of Sanuk. Sanuk, known for its ultra light and comfy footwear and as the brand that embraces all things fun is the culprit for this groovy surf break party in La Union. Fun activities were held during the event. Well, if surfing with your favorite cartoon character costume on and playing beach futsal (beasal) with a lifesize ball is not fun and rad, then I don’t know what is.

Competetive spirits from the Beasal players all aiming to make a goal

Jeff Kelly and Pinoy pro-surfer Luke Landrigan awards the winners of the Sanuk Surf Costume Competition

La Union’s Brown Sugar samples some belly shaking Hula dance

The highlight of the concert: Donavon’s Balut Dare!

So, now that you got your Donavon Frankenreiter pointers, I’m sure you’re feeling wee more curious. So check him out here for updates and tour schedule.  But before I wrap this up, I think we owe Sanuk a whopping hand for bringing Donavon and mounting this event in the Philippines. You see, it’s not every day that we have someone as cool as Donny (who performs to an at least 5000 crowd on tours), go to PHL and have an intimate surfing+musical bond with him. So many thanks to our friends from Sanuk Philippines and Jeff Kelly, Sanuk founder himself, for bringing us an authentic taste of the ocean! Until the next surf break season!




–Bim Legisniana

Photos courtesy of Sanuk Philippines

This sembreak, rather, surf break, the party is not in Boracay, it’s not in Cebu, not in Davao, but in San Juan, La Union, one of the country’s surfing hotspots. Aside from the much awaited sembreak, October is also the start of surfing season in the country. And with this water sport continuously gaining popularity locally, it’s just apt that international lifestyle shoe brand, Sanuk, holds a 2-day surfing event on October 22 to 23, 2011 to celebrate the occasion.

Known for its ultra comfortable and light footwear, Sanuk shoes (not sandals) have become a favorite among Pinoys who like comfortable footwear that they can wear wherever. After gaining popularity with its classic Sidewalk Surfer, the brand has branched out to offering more types of footwear for men, women, and even kids, which of course, all bears Sanuk’s unique brand of innovative design and quality craftsmanship.

But more than just great footwear, Sanuk is a lifestyle brand that embraces all things fun. That said, Sanuk Philippines is proud to come out with the biggest surfing event that the country has ever seen. The Sanuk Opening Act aims to bring together top surfing personalities from here and abroad such as Donavon Frankenreiter, Luke Landrigan and Sanuk founder Jeff Kelley together with surfing fans and the press in the surfing event of the year.

With an event so cool, of course it’s only fitting that the guest of honor be a surfing icon like Donavon Frankenreiter. After riding his board at the tender age of 10, Donavon was already a pro at 15 and bringing in the big bucks. He’s definitely one of the world’s brightest stars in surfing and Sanuk Philippines is proud to have him on board for this groundbreaking event.

The first of its kind, the Sanuk Opening Act aims to bring together two of life’s greatest inventions – surfing and music in a 2-day event that is filled to the brim with activities to excite any surfing fanatic as well as those who are always up for an awesome party.

Filled with an exciting roundup of activities, the first day of Sanuk’s biggest surfing event in the country will feature a Surf Costume Exhibition, which is open to all surfers (beginners and groms are both welcome!) as long as they’re willing to don costumes based on their favorite cartoon characters from their childhood—while surfing the waves. Not to add any pressure but, Donavon will be serving as the host and judge for this activity so better put your best game face on, and of course, have fun!

There will also be a lot of outdoor activities, and for the night’s special event, a mini concert featuring Donavon himself! Aside from being a well-known figure in the international surfing community, Donavon is also recognized for his music, something that the guests will all have the privilege to witness live at the Sanuk Opening Act. Day two of the event starts early, really early, as surfing pro and first Philippine Sanuk Rider Luke Landrigan gets everyone to hop on a board with Surfing 101.

With so many exciting activities and festivities, Sanuk Opening Act is set to be THE surfing event in this season!

Sanuk is exclusively distributed by the Primer Group of Companies. For store listings, visit www.primergrp.com

Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions

The Japan Tourism Agency is giving away 10,000 free roundtrip tickets to the country in an attempt to boost its tourism industry after the March 11 catastrophe. The powerful earthquake which triggered a tsunami and a nuclear disaster left a devastated northern Japan with thousands of people killed. The events in March brought the country’s tourism industry to a drop and efforts are being exhausted to remedy the situation.

According to Japan Tourism Agency official, Shuichi Kameyama, the number of foreign visitors has dropped drastically after the earthquake and so they find it necessary to have as many people come to Japan to resolve the slide. Statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization in August showed that there has been a 32% drop in inbound travel compared to the same month of the previous year.

Japanese city at day, at night | All Photos are from sxc.hu

The free inbound flights for next year are offered to foreign travelers but with a few conditions. Interested travelers are asked to submit online applications which details their travel plans. The tourism agency will put up a website for the said application of free tickets. Influential personalities or those who have already established themselves in the blogosphere and in the world of social media are said to be given preference. Travelers are required to document and publicize their trip to social media sites for their followers to get a grasp of Japan.  After all, this effort is made to promote the country to apprehensive travelers and reassure them that Japan is safe to visit and that the nuclear crisis is under control.

Aside from the mentioned requirements, JTA will only shoulder the airfare leaving expenses on food, accommodation and activities to the travelers.

This 10,000 free flights project is launched in hopes of luring tourists back to Japan and for the country to recover as a leading tourist destination.

To know more about tourism projects and updates in Japan, you may visit these websites:

Japan Tourism Agency

Japan National Tourism Organization

–Bim Legisniana

Garduce’s summit of Carstensz Pyramid in July

Seasoned mountaineer and environmental advocate Romeo “Romi” Garduce, an official athlete under the Athlete and Expedition Program of the Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition (C.O.R.E.), is all set to conquer the world’s seven highest peaks known as the Seven Summits.

Garduce is just one of the many Filipinos aspiring to surmount the Seven Summits of the world. He started his quest in 2002 by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa making him the first Filipino to successfully reach its peak. From January 2005 until July 2011, he accomplished six summits: Mt. Aconcagua in South America, Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Mt. Denali in Alaska, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia and just recently, Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia;  each of them standing more than 2,000 meters high.

At present, Garduce prepares for the challenges of Vinson Massif—the last mountain to complete his Seven Summits list. Vinson Massif is a 4,897 meter giant, the highest mountain in Antarctica. The ascend is set on December of 2011 with Levi Nayahangan climbing alongside Garduce. Nayahangan, an experienced triathlete and Garduce’s climb partner in the recent Carstensz Pyramid expedition, will be documenting Romi’s every step in his pursuit to reach the peak of Vinson Massif. Freezing temperature and chilling winds await the mountain’s bold climbers.

Romi Garduce with climb partner Levi Nayahangan on top of Indonesia’s highest peak

Garduce is not on this quest alone as the Filipino people is certainly one with him. One major mover of this expedition, C.O.R.E., is on full support to Romi’s defining quest. C.O.R.E is the advocacy arm of the retail giant, the Primer Group of Companies. Its mission is to influence more Filipinos in protecting and taking pride in the country’s rich resources. Through collaboration with Filipino athletes, ecotourism advocates and private sectors, C.O.R.E. is able to support athletic and scientific expeditions, and organize activities concerning travel, environment, sustainable lifestyle and outdoor recreation.

C.O.R.E. believes in the outstanding abilities of many Filipinos. “Through Romi’s success, we hope to encourage many Filipinos in pushing their boundaries and pursuing athletic success,” says Kristine Villaflor, Athlete Manager for C.O.R.E.

C.O.R.E. trusts that conquering the Seven Summits of the world is just one of the many victories Mr. Garduce, and every other Filipino, will be taking home.

The recent Carstenz Pyramid summit was supported by expedition manager, C.O.R.E.; official outfitter, The North Face; media partner, GMA Network; major sponsor, Recreational Outdoor eXchange (R.O.X)  and minor sponsors, Petzl and High5 Energy Gel.

Follow C.O.R.E on facebook and check us out regularly for updates on this historic quest to complete the Seven Summits of the world.