The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved applying to the state to have the site of surfing pioneer Jack O’Neill’s original Surf Shop designated as a California Point of Historical Interest.
O’Neill, who lives in Pleasure Point, is synonymous with Santa Cruz, where he helped develop a world renown surfing culture beginning in 1959 and later  … More
www.stokednews.com
Julien Camellini during last year’s iXS European Downhill Cup at Pila, Italy. Photo: Thomas Dietze.
iXS recently released the 2011 schedule for the European, Swiss, German and Rookie Downhill Cup series in the spring, summer and fall. The first of six European Downhill Cups kicks off all racing April 30-May 1, at Monte Tamaro, Switzerland. The iXS European Championships, featuring downhill and “fourcross,†are slated for late August in Zermatt, Switzerland.
The iXS national series—German and Swiss—continue in 2011 with five stops in Switzerland and four in Germany. Also, three events for all ages and levels—the iXS Rookie Cup—are on the calendar in Germany. The full calendar follows  … Details
www.stokednews.com
Ashley Force Hood, daughter of funny car legend John Force and herself one of drag racing’s most popular drivers, said Tuesday she’s pregnant and will miss this year’s NHRA season.
Force Hood, 28, is married to Dan Hood, a crew member for the three-car team of John Force Racing, and she said they’re expecting their first child at the end of the summer.
Her announcement was one of several made at a news conference at the team’s Yorba Linda headquarters. The team also said  … More
www.stokednews.com
USA 17 has only ever competed twice, but she sailed the races of her life to dominate the Swiss defender, Alinghi, off Valencia, Spain, last year and win the 33rd America’s Cup.
The extraordinary carbon-fiber machine is being loaded onto the freighter M.V. Star Isfjord this week for the long delivery trip to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. The freighter carrying both USA 17 and her extraordinary 223ft wingsail is scheduled to leave Valencia on January 29 or 30 for  the 7,900-nautical-mile passage to the Bay Area. The estimated arrival in San Francisco, dependent upon on-time loading, sea conditions en-route and transit time in the Panama Canal, is …  Details
www.stokednews.com