USA TODAY's Sal Ruibal reports that of the 4.2 million
snowboarders in '98, "more than half" were 24 or older, and
the sport's median age "is increasing by two years every
calendar year." Snowboard sales to 24- to 36-year-olds
increased 270% in the last year, while those to 36- to 45-
year-olds increased 99%. Rubin writes that beside the
"financial picture, the culture of the sport is maturing,
too" (USA TODAY, 1/29)....SC-based Dunlop Racquet Sports has
retained SC-based Jeff Dezen PR to handle marketing-
communications, planning and PR in North America (JDPR).
CHARMED LIFE? In Miami, Clark Spencer profiles the
"NTRA Champions on Fox" series, which debuts with Saturday's
Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in FL. Spencer writes that
the national TV attention that the series is receiving is
"something the sport was slow to embrace in the past" (MIAMI
HERALD, 1/29)....Thoroughbred owners Bob and Beverly Lewis
have granted the licensing and merchandising rights of their
'97 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Silver
Charm, to NTRA Properties. The licensed merchandise will
initially consist of T-shirts. The merchandise is available
at Gulfstream Park and via the NTRA Web site (NTRA).
PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW: Nike, Taylor Made and Cobra Golf
will all launch a new line of golf balls at the 46th PGA
Merchandise Show, which starts today in Orlando. In NJ, Yi-
Wyn-Yen writes that Callaway's new driver, the titanium and
oversized HawkEye, is "apparently creating quite a buzz" at
the show (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/29)....CA-based Liquidmetal
Golf, which was the "talk of the golf industry" at last
year's show, but "didn't have any products for buyers," is
introducing a driver "to complete its launch" of putters and
irons (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/28).
