X Play Nation of Action Sports: Game Changers

The title is going to make you think...if I want to learn about marketing to millenials or market sports products I will read this book. BUT, you'd be short-sighted. This book is 100% the best marketing book ever. Marketing is changing and marketers need to learn new skills, this is step one in that process. The book has great stats, quotes, anecdotes and personalities. The story about Monster Energy Drinks and how they rose from a market cap of $300 or so million to over $3 billion is great. (btw they are now closer to $5 billion) Well written and easy to read, it took me 2 days to finish it, I couldn't put it down. Read it and re-learn what works in marketing.

I can not say enough about this book! X Play Nation is the most informative book about how the action sports world became what it is today. This is a book that takes the reader inside the marketing strategies behind each athlete and the companies that they represent. I recommend this book to any marketing student or entrepreneur who has aspirations to get into the action sports business world.

Interesting history of action sports participants. Mostly focused on the accessory companies and riders rather than the companies that created the sports or the sports equipment. For example there is barely any mention of Burton.

Just got done reading XPLAY NATION as someone who has raced motocross for over 30 years. And still skateboards and snowboards at 49 years old. Found this book to be very well written and informative. The author Alex Striler is obviously someone who knows the people involved in this lifestyle and lives the lifestyle himself. Tom Green

It was okay, somewhat tedious to get through, but it's very clear that the author knows his stuff! Kudos for writing such a thorough book on action sports.

Great history of action sports and very interesting lessons in marketing. Not just for the skateboarding and surfing communities -- this book has marketing lessons for all industries. The social media section is outdated though.

This is an absolute brilliant look behind the scenes, behind the curtain, behind the hype. This in depth look at how action sports (or, as Quiksilver's CEO, Bob McKnight, calls them: "environmental sports") came to the forefront is a must read for all involved and those curious as to how these self competitive sports could come so precipitously to the living rooms across the nation and around the world. Striler's understanding of marketing and the infusion with technology is impressive. His background in finance, Wall Street, action sports, marketing and sponsorship add to the jell of understanding and presentation of such an unfamiliar subject. It is the encyclopedia from the mouths of the participants and owners. Congratulations Alex on a job well done. Like the sport itself, ecstatic and dynamite, this book will be on the shelves for reference not only now but in the future by generations to come Gamma, Epsilon and Omega as the SOURCE.Glenn Campbell

X Play Nation should be required reading for anyone interested in marketing to or developing a business within the action sports realm. This book is full of insightful accounts of the businesses and founders, who have gone on to become household names and industry leaders. X Play Nation focuses on all of the major action sports withing the industry, and it illustrates that companies cannot apply a 'one size fits all' approach to the action sports market.I'm really hoping that Alex dives deeper into the business aspects beyond marketing in subsequent volumes. My only nit is that my cover delaminated within a week, and both the front and back cover are perpetually warped. However, this has nothing to do with the content, and I look forward to Alex's follow-up volumes.