A Giant Floating Skate Ramp In Lake Tahoe For Bob Burnquist.

Pro-skater Bob Burnquist has skated on almost every surface imaginable. Now he can add the surface of the water to that list. As part of California's Dream 365 Project, a collection of inspiring videos, photos, memes, tweets and more designed to increase tourism to California, Burnquist proves he can Dream Big and builds a large floating skate ramp in the waters of gorgeous Lake Tahoe.





Behind the Scenes
Once upon a time we came upon a photo of a floating skate ramp. We thought it was a totally cool idea, but when we did a little research, we discovered the image was a fake—someone’s Photoshopped fantasy. Bummer, we thought—but then we got inspired. “Let’s build our own,” we cried, “and let’s have pro skater Bob Burnquist skate on it—in Lake Tahoe!” Somehow our crazy idea seemed just fine to Bob, who had his own designers join us for four days to build this ramp “floating” above Lake Tahoe. Brazilian-born Bob loved the ramp so much he wants one just like it built at his waterfront home in his home country (only because his San Diego spread—where he has his own super-pipe—doesn’t have any waterfront). Cool fact: For our shoot, a wet-suited snorkeler was at the ready to dive for Bob’s skateboard every time it went over the edge and into the big blue.



Find a dream, fuel your dream or just see something awesome at the Official Dream365 Project site.

Jeffrey Darling's Ad Campaign For South Australian Tourism. (All 3 Spots)

The third but no means final installment of the ads by KWP! for South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) launched earlier this month. Following on from the highly successful Kangaroo Island, Let Yourself Go and Barossa, Be Consumed (both shown in this post) campaigns comes Adelaide, Breathe.

All three have been the result of a partnership between the South Australian Tourism Commission, KWP! Advertising and Moth Projects. In particular director Jeffrey Darling and KWP! creative director James Rickard.

The most recent, Adelaide. Breathe is 1:46 seconds of stunning imagery with a fabulous cover version of INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" sung by Australian singer /songwriter Emma Louise.

Adelaide Breathe:


When embarking on the third ad in the series, the group were very conscious of the fact other advertisers, particularly but not exclusively in the tourism category were not only taking note, but also beginning to emulate what they had done. It became imperative to step things up again and the team has done so with Adelaide, Breathe.

"What I was interested in is how we could create a new language and a new ground swell instead of resting on our laurels. This is where the success of the previous pieces has come from: to dictate the game, not be a follower - even if it is the swell we created." says Darling. "Above all I wanted the piece to be entertaining. An appreciation of entertainment and art seems to sit at the very core of Adelaide's soul."

Barossa. Be Consumed (Music: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand):


Adds Rickard: "Like many cities, Adelaide is a multilayered proposition, but what sets it apart from others is its creativity, youthful entrepreneurialism and freedom that are attributes of its DNA as a freely settled colony. It is the combination of space and pace that enhances that sense of liberty."

The spot, featuring singer Emma Louise and her astronaut alter ego discovering and exploring the city and its close regions, is set to her cover version of the INXS classic, Never Tear Us Apart. The track was produced by record producer, composer and engineer Nick Launay and Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie.

Kangaroo Island, Let Yourself Go (2012):


To date the campaigns have achieved record results, along with a number of awards including the Grand Prix at Cannes Corporate Television & Media Awards, and for Cinematography at LIA Awards.

Credits for Adeliade, Breathe:
Agency: KWP! Advertising
Creative Director/Writer: James Rickard
Art Director: Michael Gagliardi
Agency Producer: Di Willson
Account Manager: Tristan Glover
Production Company: Moth Projects
Director: Jeffrey Darling
Executive Producer: Sarah Blair
Producer: Kate Sawyer
Editor: Adam Wills
Post Production: Kojo
Compositing & Colour Grading: Marty Pepper
Music: Never Tear Us Apart, INXS
Performer: Emma Louise
Producer: Nick Launay

information courtesy of campaignbrief

Dive Into The World's Deepest Pool. Nemo 33 In Brussels.

Looking to learn to Scuba Dive? Get certified? Practice dives? Why not start with NEMO 33 in Brussels, the deepest swimming pool in the world? The 33 meter (105 feet) deep pool is designed for exactly that.

The pool was designed by diving expert John Beernaerts and architect Sebastian Morena-Vacca, who wanted to create a space in Belgium for divers to use as there wasn't one there before. Opened in 2004, it has become a tourist attraction as well as a teaching and practice facility.

The water is warm and has an automated filtering system. The pool has no chemicals, so there's no chlorine smell. There are 2 pools, 2 pits (5, 10 and 33 m), caves at -10m, three permanent belles of air under pressure (-9m, -7m, air renewed permanently); 250 anchoring points in the tank to: change the aspect of the swimming pool (for the amateurs), adapt it for film shooting, adapt it for scientists and technicians.

There are also heated changing rooms, separated for men and women, separate showers and separate toilets. The pool is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30 °C (86 °F) and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10 m depth level.




The diving pool is open to everyone from serious open water divers, deep sea advanced divers and beginners. Tourists, parties and more are welcome as well. Nemo 33 also features a restaurant, aquagym classes, hydrotherapy, deep sea diving, group packages and more.

To dive in the deepest pool you must be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an instructor.












The adjoining restaurant and bar peeks into the pool via windows:




NEMO 33 is open 365 days a year, go here for reservations or more info. (Unfortunately the website is not available in English, despite indicating that it is).



NEMO 33
Rue de Stalle 333 (Rond-point des Menhirs)
1180 Uccle (Bruxelles) - Belgique
Téléphone : +32-2-332.33.34
EMail : dive@nemo33.com

photos are courtesy of the NEMO site and underwater photographer Michel Braunstein

UPDATED: Is San Diego The Next Soho? 3 Hip Places To Stay In Different Price Ranges

I used to think of San Diego as a typical tourist destination filled with overweight, conservative tourists and families full of unsophisticated people clamoring to go to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, The racetrack at Del Mar or Legoland.