SAN DIEGO, March 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Execute Sports, Inc. (OTCBB:EXCS) announced today that Academy Snowboards has increased its sales penetration into Japan this season by more than 100%, with an initial order of 800 boards through First MMT Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese Snow and Surf distributor which exclusively distributes the Academy Snowboards brand.
Academy Snowboards' marketing director, Jeff Baughn commented that "We are extremely pleased to see the Academy Snowboards brand continue to gain traction in Japan, where snowboarding in general has such a strong and growing base of snowboarders." There are an estimated 4.5 million snowboarders in Japan, representing annual sales in hard goods alone of close to $1 billion.
First MMT's brand manager Toru Kagaya added, "Academy Snowboards' continued commitment to producing the highest quality boards, supported by an award winning pro team including Transworld Rider of the Year's Chad Otterstrom and Mike Casanova enables us to continue to drive sales into the burgeoning Japanese market." The Academy Snowboards line has won industry top ten honors on the Rhythm 157, Commuter 156 and the Merit 157.
Baughn stated further that "We are getting great feedback in the Japanese market on our partnership with Jason Lee's "Stereo" brand on the Rhythm boards." Academy Snowboards teamed up with Jason Lee (a former pro skateboarder and current star of television's My Name is Earl and his Stereo Skateboards) to add the Stereo graphic onto the Rhythm line of boards. Toru Kagaya commented on the partnership, "The most popular brand in our market for 2006-2007 is Rhythm. Everybody is really stoked on the graphic, especially people who know about skateboarding, because Academy Snowboards is using the Jason Lee graphic and collaborating with Stereo. Fusing the skateboard brand with Academy Snowboards is one of the most forward-thinking marketing strategies that we have seen, and it is paying off."
Academy Snowboards' pro team competed earlier this month in the Toshiba Slopestyle Invitational in Japan, where Mike Casanova won "Best Rail Jam Trick" honors. The team competes in April at the Transworld Team Challenge. Academy Snowboards' team has won the challenge each of the past two years. Entrants to the event include Burton, Ride, Forum, K2, CAPiTA and Rome.
About Execute Sports, Inc.
Based in San Clemente, California, Execute Sports, Inc. develops performance products including wetsuits, vests, rash guards, snowboards, wake skates, bindings, bags and apparel for the action sports industry. The Company's brands include Execute Wetsuits, Academy Snowboards, Kampus Wakeskates and Kampus Shoes, Execute Moto Graphics, Collective Development Bindings and Collective Development Bags. In addition, Execute has an exclusive worldwide license to design, produce and distribute EagleRider apparel through EagleRider's 35 franchises and through the Company's eCommerce site, http://www.eagleridergear.com. For more information, go to http://www.executesports.com and http://www.academysnowboards.com.
About First MMT Co. Ltd.
Based in Tokyo, Japan, First MMT is a leading action sports distributor of brands including Academy Snowboards, Mission 6, Ashram, 51 Lid, Otis, Ransom, Sticky Bumps, S.A. Force and Surf Laboratory.