ExplorerGirls

We are really excited here at ExplorerGirls with some recent coverage in the news in both Australia and the US. A really fun and informative city paper in Melbourne, MX, featured ExplorerGirls.com in an nice big article, “Internet Explorers, Taking Social Networking to Extremes”.

When they decided to do the article on us, they wanted to do a photo shoot as well. The photographer, Ben Swinnerton, requested he snap me rock climbing or skateboarding. Since, skateboarding is one of my favorite past-times I choose the latter.

I was thinking of rocking out on my short board, then it hit me…cruising on a longboard would be a lot of fun. Only thing, I left my longboard back in the States…gave it to my brother when I moved over to Australia a few years ago. You can only bring so many things on the plane… and the snowboard was not being left behind.

Recently, while I was over California covering the S3 Supergirl Jam I set my eyes on one of the coolest longboard skateboards I have seen (and snowboards, too)…the graphics were funky, the board had a beautiful shape and the materials they used to make it, on top of all that, are environmentally friendly.

The company who produces these boards is Arbor and while many of you might have heard of them over the years…for some reason I hadn’t…and I wanted to know more. Arbor has been operating since 1995 and has based all their designs ecologically and for the most part stood out in the industry as the environmentally friendly alternative.

There is big movement with companies now to go “Green” and it’s great when you can believe in a company and feel good about the products you use or wear. One of the coolest things they are doing at Arbor is using bamboo, another great material alterative for clothing and gear these days.

If you don’t know much about bamboo and why it’s so good, here’s the DL…it’s a self propagating grass that grows incredibly fast. It rapidly, continuously and safely delivers more raw material per acre than any other natural fiber. And, it’s sustainable because bamboo is inherently organic. No pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irrigation or detrimental cultivation practices are required to achieve its amazing renew-ability. (Just ask Arbor…they will tell you!)

So, needing a board for the shoot, I decided to call up the team at Arbor and see if I could get one of these awesome boards and show it off. Arbor was totally supportive and the end result was some great photos and a new customer for Arbor. After taking the board out for a cruise along the foreshore in St. Kilda and back at the beach in Torquay…I was sold.

I quickly placed my order for the PIN Bamboo 46” carving board (and even picked up the BUG Koa 36” street board for my husband). I have to say I am so impressed I am looking to ride one of their 2009 women’s snowboards with some ultra-cool graphics for girls. And, love their spring/summer gear line made with 90% of bamboo-based fabrics!

We are so stoked about these products, couldn't help share it with everyone.

Go Arbor!

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow