Savier Inc

Shoes will play a starring role at the Action Sports Retailer trade show this weekend, as a new company backed by Nike Inc. pushes its skate products and two Southland footwear makers launch new styles for women. Savier Inc., which says it got its seed money from Nike and is using the footwear giant's in-shoe air-bag technology, will debut its skate shoes, apparel and backpacks at the Long Beach show, a key industry event that is not open to the public. "This is Nike's stealth way of . . .

In a deal that is likely to send shockwaves through Southern California's surfwear businesses, industry icon Bob Hurley has sold his company in Costa Mesa to giant Nike Inc. The terms of the sale were not disclosed. But in acquiring Hurley International, Nike, which has been trying for years to break into the burgeoning market for surf, skate and snowboard clothes, is picking up one of the industry's hottest brands that last year did about $70 million in business.