New Social Networking Action Sports Web Site Nears Launch
By Tripp Mickle, Staff
Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
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Action Sports Social Networking
Web Site Gearing Up For Launch |
A new action sports Web site focused on social networking debuted in beta-testing
this week. The site, go211.com, is owned by Action Sports Inc., a company founded
by Sean Aruda, the former CEO of Mapletree Networks. “The name comes from
the movie ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ who had the idea to go beyond 10 on
the volume knob of an amplifier and take it to 11,” Aruda said. “We’re
trying to do the same thing.” The site features professional athletes managed
by Octagon agents Peter Carlisle –- who recently started a social-networking
site for swimmers — and Bob Klein and Wasserman Media Group’s Circe
Wallace. The site includes pages for more than 15 pros, including snowboarders
Seth Wescott and Danny Kass, BMX rider Jamie Bestwick and skateboarder Jereme
Rodgers, who are being paid. The site will offer videos, blogs, photos and lists
of the athletes’ gear. Its focus is on social networking, and amateurs who
become members will be able to upload and share video footage of themselves doing
tricks. “The premise is MySpace meets YouTube in an action sports vertical,”
Aruda said. “At the end of the day, that’s going to be what gets the
kids coming back.”
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