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Skate, Snow and Surf Sports Make a Splash on the Web

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If your passion is catching big air on a skate board ramp, getting barreled in a perfect wave, or shredding down the slopes, then there's a Web site that you will be stoked about.

It's HardCloud.com. The site, which just launched April 7, 2000, is filled will loads of information for the adventure athlete. Whether you're interested in reading about your favorite competitor, seeing amazing photos, watching enthralling video, or hearing about the latest and greatest gear (going live this month), this site is a good starting point for people that are interested in skating, surfing or snow sports.

"HardCloud.com is all about creating a Web site That actually does something useful," said co-founder and executive vice president, Jeff Brunings. "It's about helping independent-minded kids use the Internet as a tool. Many of these kids are into action sports like surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding."

HardCloud.com, which is based in Palo Alto, California, was founded in fall of 1999 by adventure sports athletes including including Wayne Tsuchitani, Maui Meyer, Larry Crow, Jim Kempton, and Robert Balmaseda.

"HardCloud.com was created by athletes who we're tired of wasting time trying to find information on the Internet that had any value," Brunings said.

Although the site is only a few months old, it's already preparing for a relaunch scheduled for this July. The relaunch will include adding features such as opportunities to buy the leading brands characterizing action sports, new services, and community-building features.

If your passion is football, skydiving or golf, you're out of luck. HardCloud.com does not plan on expanding to add these types of sports to their site. "Surf, snow, and skate are lifestyle sports," said Brunings. "You don't hear kids saying 'I'm a footballer, or I'm a baseballer.' No, they say 'I play football, or I play baseball.' Action sports are different. It's all about the lifestyle. That's why people say, 'I'm a skateboarder.' We will cover any sport that has a strong lifestyle and culture associated with it."

HardCloud.com is currently funded by venture capital provided by ECompanies and Intend Change, but hopes to eventually make a profit by selling products on their site, not through advertising.

When Brunings was asked what he thinks it will take for the site to succeed, he replied, "HardCloud is something interesting, something authentic, and something useful. That's more I can say for most Web sites. If we listen and give people what they want, then everything should work out alright."