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Catch a virtual wave with pro surfer Kelly Slater in a 360-degree video

By Kraig Becker Published June 15, 2022

For most of us, getting the opportunity to ride a wave with legendary surfer Kelly Slater is beyond the realm of possibility. After all, the man who has won the World Surf League championship a record 11 times isn’t likely to be found slumming it on just any old beach. But now, thanks to a new 360-degree video from Teton Gravity Research, we can all experience what it is like to surf alongside one of the best surfers ever.

The video, which you can watch above, was created while TGR was making its latest documentary, Proximity. That film pairs some of surfing’s living legends with its brightest up-and-coming stars and sends them off to remote destinations to hang out together. In Slater’s case, he was matched up with John John Florence and both men were sent to the South Pacific to ride some big waves and ponder the intricacies of their sport.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Proximity was directed by visionary filmmaker Taylor Steele, who had the foresight to bring along a GoPro all-inclusive rig and six Hero4 cameras to capture some of the action. Those tools allow filmmakers to record footage in all directions at once and later use special editing software to stitch all of the feeds back together to create a seamless experience. The result is an immersive video that allows viewers to pan around inside the clip while viewing in a browser or look in any direction if they are watching it on a VR headset such as an

Oculus Rift

or

HTC Vive

.

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The Kelly Slater clip includes several scenes of him and Florence as they explore the island, take plunges under the sea, and ride a boat out to a surf spot. But, of course, the best moment is when Slater hits the water, giving us not only a fantastic look of the man in action but his custom-made surfboard designed by Gagosian Gallery.

Steele filmed several VR clips as part of the Proximity project — the first of which we told you about a few weeks back. Others are expected to follow, taking viewers to different parts of the world to watch more amazing surfers carve up some impressive waves. Watch the Teton Gravity Research YouTube channel for more videos soon.

Contributor

Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…

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Emerging Tech

Juiced Bikes sold at auction for $1.2 million, report says

The Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 adds more power, upgraded tires, and an improved battery to the popular moped style e-bike.

Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes, has been sold on an auction website for $1,225,000, according to a report from Electrek.Digital Trends recently reported how the company was showing signs of being on the brink of bankruptcy. The company and its executives had remained silent, while customer inquiries went unanswered and its website showed all products were out of stock. In addition, there were numerous reports of layoffs at the company.Yet, the most convincing sign was that the company’s assets appeared as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.Now, it appears that Juiced Bikes’ assets, including a dozen patents, multiple URLs, and the company’s inventory in both the U.S. and China, have been sold at auction, according to the report. It is likely that the buyer, who remains unknown, can capitalize on the brand and the overall value of the 15-year old company. Founded in 2009 by Tora Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.
The company had quickly built a reputation for the versatility of its e-bikes and the durability of their batteries. Over the years, the popularity of models such as the CrossCurrent, HyperScrambler, and RipCurrent only bolstered the brand’s status.Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.Juiced Bikes’ getting sold quickly might be a sign of what consulting firm Houlihan Lokey says is a recovery in the North American e-bike market.
The industry has had a roller-coaster ride during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A huge spike in demand for e-bikes had combined with disrupted supply chains to create a supply/demand mismatch of “historic proportions," Houlihan Lokey said.

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Adventure time: SUPCASE has the ultimate gear for outdoor enthusiasts

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You might know SUPCASE for its excellent collection of durable and rugged phone cases. But as it's in the industry of making tough gear for the adventurous sorts, it should come as no surprise that the brand also has a valuable collection of outdoor gear. Just to provide some examples, a multi-functional pocket tool, a rugged and water-resistant equipment case, a durable yet spacious backpack, or even a sleek yet reliable bottle opener.

In fact, there are quite a few options, so many that it could be tough to nail down just one tool or outdoor item you'd need. Naturally, we put together this guide to explore some of the ultimate gear, but you can always peep at them yourself, as well.

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Aventon Abound SR combines thoughtful design, enhanced security, and smart connectivity

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Electric bikes are nothing new at this point, and while there are many styles, few purportedly do-it-all, and even fewer actually offer smart or more advanced features. They tend to do one thing particularly well, like cruising, carrying cargo, or sightseeing -- like city riding -- but the biggest way they push the envelope is by offering that long-range electric power. The Aventon Abound SR, a new do-it-all bike, goes far and beyond anything that's come before it.

For starters, it's the first bike equipped with Aventon's electronic control unit (ACU) which empowers intelligent safety features. That gives you 4G and GPS tracking built-in, plus remote locking, an alarm system, and much more. But also, this top-of-its-class bike is incredibly versatile and is suitable for everything from commutes to tough exercise rides and daily routines. It features a top speed of 20 miles per hour, has a range of up to 60 miles per charge, and can carry a payload of up to 440 pounds. Impressive, indeed. Let's take a closer look and get a little more friendly with it, shall we?