Enter the Super Frenchie

Life adventurer extraordinaire Matthias Giraud, AKA Super Frenchie, is joining the Cushe team this year. We have two things to say about this:

1. Awesome. We love this guy and his attitude toward life. In so many ways, he IS Cushe.
2. We wish we could claim that we came up with the name Super Frenchie.

We're looking forward to seeing what Matthias has in store for us this year - in the meantime, check out the video below to see what he got up to in 2011.

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Cushe Stocking Giveaway

At Cushe, we are all about the holiday spirit. It's a great time for great times.

Last week we put together a very Cushe gift guide and it got us to thinkin'... We should hook up some of our favorite people in the world - our fans and followers - with a start on that list. Namely the Cushe shoes part.

So we put together five stockings stuffed full of goodies including a bunch of Cushe swag and a coupon for $100 to spend at our online store. That’s right - 100 buckeroos to go toward any pair of Cushe kicks you want!

Entering is super easy and there are a few ways to do it.

Post on our Facebook Page:
“All I want for Christmas are my Cushes.”

Or follow us on Twitter and tweet:
“All I want for Christmas are my #cushes. @CusheUS”

It really is that simple. Winners to be announced Monday December 19th,2011.

One thing: though we love all y'all, this is a Cushe US contest, so you gotta be in the US to win. It doesn't change how we feel about everyone else, but rules is rules:)

Get at it!

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A Very Cushe Holiday Gift Guide

While the holiday season claims you should be having dreams of sugar plums, we think that’s slightly outdated, and we have no idea what the hell a sugar plum is anyway. So we put together a short list of items that would compliment a Cushe Life – whether it is an urban or rural adventure you seek. If you don’t know what to ask for this holiday, anything on this list would be a great place to start…

1. Osprey Stratos 24 Pack
You need something to hold the stuff on the rest of your list, right? Osprey bags are rugged, lightweight, and feature plenty of pockets for a good volume to organization level. Not a lot of us will have use for a single ice axe attachment, but we have faith you’ll be creative in its use. ($99.00)

2. Merrell Mid-Layers
Super comfortable for anything from work outs to coffee runs as well as ideal for layering when the weather gets all weird on you. We dig the Tazlina Hoody for the ladies and the Cairn Hoody for dudes. ($89.00 - $99.00)

3. Aqua Vessel Ultra Lite Tritan Filtration Bottle
With the amount of water we’re all supposed to drink, it’s always a good idea to have a bottle by your side. This model from Eco Vessel has a plant based filtration system attached to the straw top… which means every sip of water gets cleaned on its way to your mouth. We can’t help you clean what comes out of your mouth, but we can help clean what’s going in. ($24.95)

4. Diana F+ Camera
We think one of the most important things in living a Cushe Life is making memories by doing what you love. It’s always a good idea to have a camera nearby to document the times and the people of your life. Digital is easy, but film in a plastic 1960’s designed camera has flavor. Embrace the variety of results caused by this perfectly imperfect beauty that inspired apps like Instagram. ($89.00)

5. Klipsch Image S5i Headphones
Your Cushe Life has to have a soundtrack, and these are great in-ear headphones to plug into your favorite iDevice and enjoy. Klipsch makes a great sounding product and the durability of the S5i’s is an added bonus. A great upgrade over the stock headphones that come with any music device. ($129.99)

6. Sun Bum SPF 30+ Sunscreen
Hey, there is a reason we support the Slater Brother’s Invitational and the World Skin Cancer Foundation each year. Protect your skin with this oil-free, Paraben-free, Vitamin E enriched sunscreen. And thank the sweet monkey logo for helping protect your hide. ($14.99)

7. The Cushe Shoes You Don’t Have
Wait, what? You need new pair of Cushes? How could we forget! This list wouldn’t be complete without your new favorite shoes. While we love all of our styles equally, we recommend the Surf Slipper Chuka for guys and the Wildtrip WP for gals. Both are Cushe takes on classic styles. ($90.00 - $160.00)

What’s in your Cushe Life holiday pack this year? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter – as always, we love to hear from ya!

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ISA and Slater Brother's Recap

We just had an amazing October featuring two great pro surf events the Cushe team was proud to be a part of. Let’s recap, shall we?

The ISA World Masters in El Salvador bounced back from a bout of terrible weather to deliver the goods. Team USA, who made their debut in the ISA World Masters, did it up in style and took the gold! We’d call that a pretty successful start. Not only did they win the team trophy, but the USA had some stellar individual performances by Tom Curren, Jim Hogan, Allen Sarlo and Alissa Cairns as well.

Puerto Rico and Cushe team member Gustavo Betancourt had a solid showing too, taking the copper and 4th place! All in all, a great tournament with top kick competition. Hats off to all the riders and champions from the 2011 ISA World Master Surfing Championship.

Bonus – Cushe got to leave its mark on one of the most legendary surf spots in the world, Punta Roca! Check out the amazing graffiti mural in the picture below.

After the ISA's, we dropped in on Cocoa Beach, Florida, to set up shop at the Slater Brother’s Invitational. This event doesn’t just provide some great entertainment; the proceeds benefit the World Skin Cancer Foundation, so it was awesome to be in the company of our friends at Volcom, Oakley, Quiksilver and Go Pro supporting the cause.

Mitch “All the way from the UK” Corbett and Nolan Tyler were both representing for Cushe, and both had great showings. Mitch went on to the quarters in the longboard, while Nolan matched him and made it to the quarters in the shortboard. We’re definitely looking forward to the 2012 Slater Brother’s Invitational!

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Cushe Hits the Road to Waves

October may not seem like a big surf month if you don’t live near a coast, but trust us, it is. Cushe is a proud sponsor of two events on the waves this month – the ISA World Masters and the Slater Brother’s Invitational.

The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is scheduled to start October 18th at Punta Roca El Salvador. The start of the event was postponed from the 16th due to the monster storms that hit El Salvador with several days of torrential rain. The ISA and the teams involved are committed to helping out the town of La Libertad, as Mauricio Funes, President of El Salvador, declared a State of Emergency.

This is a seriously stacked event with talent streaming in from all over the globe. In fact, a record 124 competitors signed up before registration closed. Our own sales rep, Gustavo Bentancourt (pictured below), will be representing Team Puerto Rico! We’ll be supporting Gus, Team USA, and hoping for better weather not just for the comp, but for El Salvador as well. You can check the live stream and catch all the action as soon as the event kicks off here.

Now onto the famed Slater Brother’s Invitational. This is our second year sponsoring this great event, which takes place October 28th – 30th in sunny Cocoa Beach, Florida. The Slater Brother’s don’t just put together a kick-ass competition; they raise awareness and money for the World Skin Cancer Foundation. That’s all kinds of cool we at Cushe are proud to be a part of. We’re bringing in our very own Team Cushe rockstar Mitch Corbett for the event, so if you are anywhere near Cocoa at the end of this month, don’t miss this.

Can’t make it to Cocoa? Don’t sweat it – you can tune in to a live webcast and see Kelly, Skippy, Sean, and all the competitors once the event starts. We’ll be hanging out taking some photos for your ocular pleasure as well, so stop by and see us!

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Eric McCabe Interview Part 2

We continue our interview with Eric McCabe - pro disc golfer and newest member of team Cushe. The first part of our interview had Eric chatting about his game today, which included a list of his favorite courses for all you disc golfers out there looking for a challenge and some scenery. So catch up on that if you haven't already. Part two takes us through McCabe's turn from amature to pro.

Cushe: You started playing disc golf back in 1995 – how did you make the transition from amateur to pro?  Was going pro always a goal?
EM: I started in 95 and turned pro in 2000 after winning the Amateur division at the Kansas City Wide Open. Turning Pro was always a goal of mine, I always enjoyed watching the Pros play at my local tournaments and knew one day I’d be competing against them. 

Cushe: Did you have anyone coach you, or take you under their wing when you first got started?
EM: I did, I looked up to a lot of people, including, "Crazy" John Brooks, Bruce Hudson, Kevin Babbit etc… but most of my influence was from LaRon "The Who Man" Harris. I always looked up to LaRon's game and he definitely inspired me. I pretty much owe all my success to him, he took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of the tour.

Cushe: Nice. It sounds like you had access to a great community of pro supporters to get you started. What was the most difficult aspect of the sport when you were first starting off?
EM: Learning control and disc selection was definitely the most difficult aspect starting out.  But this didn't stop me from getting to the field and working on it day in and day out.

Cushe: Learn by doing – that’s definitely our style too. How has the landscape of Disc Golf as a sport changed since you started playing?
EM: The plastic has come a long way since I first started playing. Disc technology has been amazing in the last 10 year of the sport. Discs fly twice as far as they used to making courses easier and easier. Newer courses adjust for that now and typically have longer holes and are much more difficult. Most of our National Tour Events have courses with a par of anywhere between 58 and 65.

Cushe: How did you get hooked on the game? What made you decide to give Disc Golf a try?
EM: I was in High School, and grew up in the small town of Emporia KS, 35,000 people. I lived about two blocks from Jones Park which at the time had 1 18 hole Disc Golf Course, so myself and a couple friends gave it a try and were hooked immediately.

Cushe: That love at first try thing is definitely a sign you’ve found something you’ll be doing the rest of your life. If you could go back to your early days and give yourself one piece of advice – what would that be?
EM: To be patient, and know that like Ball Golf, Disc Golf is 80% mental!

Cushe: Solid advice. We assume the other 20% is a secret sauce of skill, natural talent, and 7 herbs and spices. Thanks for hanging with us, and giving us a little background on your story so far. We wish you all the best for the rest of the year and into next season! You definitely live the Cushe Life.
EM: Thanks!

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Eric McCabe Interview Part 1

Say hey to Eric McCabe, pro disc golfer and latest addition to the Cushe team.  Eric turned pro in 2000, and since then he’s nabbed an impressive collection of titles including 2010 World Champion. We caught up with Eric fresh off his run at the 2011 World Championships – here is part one of our two part interview with Eric McCabe.

Cushe: First off – congratulations on placing 6th at the recent PDGA World Championships. Tell us about the competition there.
EM: Thanks! The competition is getting stronger and stronger every year. This year's World Championships was held in sunny California (Monterey Bay). The Worlds haven't in Cali for 30 year, since the first ever Pro Worlds in Irvine California in 1982. We had 453 competitors, which was the most in history! Needless to say, the competition was tougher than ever.

Cushe: Whoa! 453 competitors is no joke. How do you prepare for a major event like that?
EM: For any Major event I spend a lot of time working on my putt. This is the most important aspect of the game, in my opinion. Typically I try and show up at least a week in advance, and try and get 3 to 4 rounds on all the courses being played. After that, I usually go back and work on trouble holes, and putt at least 45 minutes in the morning and the evening. 

Cushe: That’s a serious schedule. Does your practice philosophy change for events outside of the Majors?
EM: Not really. Outside a Major my practice philosophy and schedule is pretty much the same as a Major event.

Cushe: We imagine like any athlete, you put gear through its paces – how do you choose the equipment you use? 
EM: This is true, as a disc golfer probably the most important piece of equipment, besides my golf discs of course, would be a good pair of shoes. It was an easy decision for me to choose Cushe shoes. It is essential to have waterproof shoes with a good tread, and the Xsige WP is perfect for disc golfers, the tread has a unique "foot print" style that is super grippy on all tee-pads, from concrete to natural.
Cushe: We’re blushing over here! We love the kudos, but even more we love that you found a place for the Xsige in your game.

Cushe: Do you have any favorite courses, and what makes them special?
EM: I do have a list of favorite courses, my top 5 are:
1.) Milo McIver - Estacada, OR - This is a beautiful course just outside Portland OR, home of the Beaver State Fling National Tour Event.  The course has pretty much every typo of shot and is one of the fairest courses I've played.
2.) DeLaveaga - Santa Cruz, CA - Wide variety of shots, Every hole is a signature hole, with the 27th hole 'top of the world' having the most scenic view on a disc golf course.
3.) Blue Ribbon Pines -Twin Cities, MN - A well manicured course on a sod farm. Hole four is the most picturesque hole I've ever seen. It’s a 400+ foot hole with 80 foot pine trees lining the fairway.
4.) Maple Hill - Leicester, MA - Just outside Boston MA, and home of the Vibram Open National Tour. The course is beautiful and championship caliber in every way with a great use of elevation, ponds, and wooded areas.
5.) Water Works - Kansas City, MO - A unique course with tons of elevation on pretty much every hole. Hole one has a great view of downtown KC.

Cushe: Sounds like we need to schedule a cross country road trip. As a professional, where do you see the sport going?
EM: Every year the sport is getting bigger and bigger. We now have close to 50,000 Professional Disc Golf Association or PDGA members. The Pro purse is expanding from year to year. All we're missing is that corporate sponsor to step up and help us out and we'll be on our way.

Cushe: What’s coming up for you over the remainder of 2011?
EM: The remainder of 2011 is pretty easy for me. I've been hanging out in Santa Cruz since Worlds ended and I plan on playing the final Major of the year in Augusta, GA later this month. After that I’ll probably head back to Cali and enjoy my winter.
Cushe: That sounds like a pretty good way to spend the rest of the year to us!

Check back later this month for part two of our interview with pro disc golfer and newest Cushe team member, Eric McCabe. Now go practice!

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Twitter Giveaway

Want to win a pair of Cushes? Well we want to hook you up with a pair to strut the rest of this summer out in style.

This is a Twitter contest and is super simple to enter. All you have to do is follow uson Twitter, and Tweet the following message:

“Want to win a free pair of Cushes? Follow @CusheUS & RT to be entered to win. #cusheus Winner announced 8/31.”

The winner will be announced on 8/31/2011. Good luck everyone!

U.S. residents only.

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Beat the Heat

Hopefully you are finding a way to stay cool during the summer heat this year. It’s definitely been on the warmer side to say the least so far. While heading to the nearest large body of water is always our number one choice here at Cushe, not everyone has that luxury – or even the time. 

So we got to thinkin’, if we were landlocked, how would we cool out? Getting in front of the AC unit doesn’t count, that might keep you cool, but the entertainment factor is just above filling out tax forms. We have to have a little fun, so here are a few of our favorite things when it comes to summer fun.

The Slip N’ Slide. A total classic and occasionally dangerous depending on the surface underneath the thin vinyl slide. Getting a good sprint going before launching yourself down the yellow runway was always a point of pride. Bonus points if you have access to Crocodile Mile. It was basically Slip N’ Slide, but green.

Water guns. For most people, water guns were the first arms race of our lives. Once the first person on the block got a Super Soaker, you needed one, only bigger so as to deter the others from attacking you. I know what you are saying – running around and having a squirt gun fight with my adult friends is just going to make me hot. And that is exactly why you fill the water guns with ice water. Duh.

Water balloons. First off, no, these do not belong with water guns. A balloon fight is its own animal and it usually breaks out with someone catching an unexpected water balloon to the back. Once the first balloon is thrown, you must know that this battle won’t end until everyone is soaked. Or someone gets the hose out and puts the nozzle on Jet. This is a good thing though, since the point is to cool down. Take it like a champ… and retaliate.

The kiddie pool. This isn’t the same low rent action you might remember from back in the day. You can get some sweet digs that will fit you and a few friends.  This is actually a two part-er, because it’s absolutely essential that you pair this with a cooler filled with beverages. Kind of an unwritten rule though for dudes – no Speedos in the little pools.

There are plenty more options and many probably don’t involve water… though we can’t really see the point of that. Got a favorite way to enjoy the summer heat? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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