Attention shoppers: Cool sports gifts still available locally

The economy is in shambles, but many still long to make this the hap, hap, happiest holiday season since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny friggin' Kaye.

Problem is, with only a few shopping days remaining until Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or what-have-you, people are rapidly running out of hours to pick the perfect present.

Or maybe everyone has already found a great gift—in that case, they should consider continuing to assist our nation's economic recovery efforts by donating to those in need, perhaps to a charity such as Toys for Tots, My Stuff Bag Foundation or Santa Comes to Agoura.

Whatever the reason for an impending last-second holiday shopping spree, the friendly folks at the Acorn sports section are here to lend a helping hand.

We could easily direct the masses to The Oaks mall or The Commons—those are fine establishments with plenty of highquality stores to spend your hardearned cash.

But for this article, we took a little different route. Call it the road less crowded.

The journey began in Newbury Park, stretched east toward Agoura and headed back west along Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The goal was twofold: discover the season's hippest sporting gifts while keeping money in local communities.

Luckily, the on-site experts we spoke with assured us that, unlike stocks, the forthcoming items are all certifiably hot commodities.

Surf, skate and snow

There's a trio of solid local options when it comes to purchasing surf, skate or snow gear: Revolution Surf Co., IG Boarding Shop and Val Surf.

Over at Revolution Surf Co., at 701 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park, the Skate Incomplete by Anti-Hero is a hit. The package comes unassembled, so if you're looking for an interactive gift, there are worse ways to spend a winter morning than putting a skateboard together with a son or daughter. Expect to drop $110.

Van Wastell skateboard decks ($50-$60) are also big sellers. Wastell, a professional skateboarder from Newbury Park, died in September at a hotel in Berlin, Germany. He was 24.

This is prime time to purchase swim trunks, and Revolution has a bunch on sale.

Swatch watches, the brightly colored ones, are in style, but if you don't mind getting a little spendy on a wrist piece, say $400 or so, consider the Nixon 5130 Watch with its built-in tide tracker. It's old-school epic.

For snowboarders, the Skate Banana by Lib Tech ($500) carves like a steak knife through filet mignon. It comes highly recommended.

Moving to IG Boarding Shop, at 5784 Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake, a pair of Matix Jeans ($60 to $80) can make almost anyone look stylish.

IG Boarding Shop also has some great snowboarding equipment, including the Nike Zoom Force 1 boots ($250) and the Vans Cirro model ($350). It's tough to go wrong either way. As for boarding goggles, a top option is the Electric EG2 ($150).

There's also a large selection of surfboards to choose from at the Westlake-based store.

Thousand Oaks' Val Surf, at 3055 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., has several unique items to go with the standard shop gear.

Just about any surfer would be stoked to land a pack of the new FCS PC-5 fins ($70) featuring a lightweight 70/30 flex technology. Val Surf also has a bunch of Victoria skimboards, wood and fiberglass, priced from $70 to $140.

For the baseball fan in your life, consider the LASk8Dodger hat ($30). It looks like an L.A. Dodgers lid with a skateboard imbedded into the lettering.

Krooked and Chocolate brand skateboarding decks are quality buys for less than $50. Lakai shoes ($50$70) are also big sellers at Val Surf.

Stocking stuffers: Think DVDs. For the snowboarders, the choice is "That's It, That's All." Surfers would dig Chris Malloy's "One Track Mind," and the skaters are all over either "Ride the Sky" or "And Now."

Golfing

At The Club House, across the parking lot from Val Surf at 3095 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., TaylorMade golf clubs are always a best-seller.

But if you're shopping for a club that's going to push your partner's game over the top, or maybe even over the edge, check out the Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled Wedges ($110).

These babies come in new 62and 64-degree angles and can help you lay up like Phil Mickelson at Augusta, or least as good as Phil from accounting at the local par-3.

For those eager to take a step up in links management, the SkyCaddie by SkyGolf serves as a personal, GPS-based guide on any course. Models range from $250 to $400.

Stocking stuffers: Golf balls. Precepts go for as low as $10 a dozen. On the high end of the spectrum are the Titleist Pro V1 balls for a little less than $50 a dozen.

Fishing

Cross the street from The Club House and you'll find Malibu Fish'n Tackle, at 3166 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

If dad's going to bring home something tasty from his next ocean adventure, he's going to need a nice reel to get the job done. Look no further than the Avet H/X Two-Speed Series ($409). As for rods, try the Phenix Black Diamond Series ($290) with graphite shaft.

The WFO Trek Pack ($55) comes with high praise and has plenty of room to fit the supplies of any avid fisherman.

Stocking stuffers: Shimano Lucanus jigs ($20) or Roboworm freshwater tournament soft floating lures ($3 to $5).

Cycling

We The People bikes from BMX are on fire right now, with the Envy model at the top of many musthave lists. They can be purchased at Agoura Cycles, 29041 Thousand Oaks Blvd., and can be in the store within in a day or two. Prices range from $250 to $1,100.

If you're a true baller when it comes to gift giving, consider the Orbea Alma 29er. At $5,000, it's a premier cross country or trail rider.

Stocking stuffers: CamelBak hydrating backpacks ($35-$140).

Running

Future Track Running Center, at 30125 Agoura Road, Ste. A, in Agoura Hills, specializes in finding the best shoes for your feet. Asics, Brooks and Adidas are the store's top-selling brands, with the Adidas Supernova Sequence ($95) a longtime favorite for local distance runners.

Some fine running watches are available, too. The Timex iControl is iPod compatible, and at $50 it's marked way down from the original price.

Stocking stuffers: Bodyglide skin lube ($7), Pepper spray ($15) and non-cotton socks ($6 to $10).

Soccer

There are three sizes of soccer balls—depending on the age of the players involved—and BK Sports at 764 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park carries them all ranging from $15 to $60.

Unless, of course, you're looking for the world class European Match Ball, which runs $130.

BK Sports also has a wide range of soccer cleats from $20 to $300. For many years the Adidas Copa Mundial ($100) has been in high demand.

At $300, the Nike Mercurial Vapor SL shoe could help your kid perform like Zinedine Zidane on the pitch. Just tell them not to head butt anyone because, after all, it's the holiday season.

All listed prices are approximate as of Dec. 5.