Cyrus Saatsaz
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Saatsaz is the author of Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist, is the founder of San Francisco Surf Company, and is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle
's official website, SFGate.com, The Huffington Post
and USA Today
. Saatsaz is also the host and Editor-in-Chief of The Extreme Scene
, the world's first action sports radio talk show. In addition to writing for SFGate.com, The Huffington Post
and USA Today
and hosting The Extreme Scene
, Saatsaz is a journalist, having been published in newspapers, magazines, books and websites including AOL.com, Future Snowboarding Magazine, Fuel.TV, The Great Book of San Francisco/Bay Area Sports Lists, and many more. Saatsaz also worked for KNBR
radio for nearly a decade, serving as a sports anchor, fill-in host, Creative Director and Executive Producer.
. It is here that he first began experimenting with broadcasting, handling the morning news anchor duties on the school's PA system in addition to announcing school basketball and baseball games. Saatsaz has said on his radio show that his high school experience was miserable because half the population was Mormon and the atmosphere there was too conservative and sheltered, citing his experience of being let go from anchoring the morning news on the school's PA system as an example. One morning, Saatsaz opened his daily morning news segment on the PA system with the song "Loser" by Beck
and was dismissed because the school's Mormon administration thought the song would incite thoughts of suicide amongst students.
Saatsaz attended numerous colleges. He spent nearly two years at Humboldt State University
, joining the Delta Sigma Phi
fraternity and was a midfielder for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks lacrosse team. Saatsaz then transferred to Cuesta College
, where he was Program Director for campus radio station KGUR. Saatsaz was accepted to California Polytechnic State University
in San Luis Obispo, CA but decided to transfer to San Francisco State University
, feeling that he would have a better chance at getting his foot in the door of a media company in San Francisco. Saatsaz graduated with a Media Management and Law emphasis.
as a programming intern. Saatsaz quickly impressed management, and immediately after graduating college was hired full-time, first as producer for The Razor and Mr. T and a short time later was promoted to Executive Producer for The Rick Barry
Show. Saatsaz was promoted a short time after that, this time to serve as Senior Producer for KNBR's morning show, The John London Not Just Sports Show. It was during this time that Saatsaz began his on-air career, being brought on for various bits and special segments.
During this time, Saatsaz thought up the idea of an action sports radio talk show, and together with an old friend and roommate from San Luis Obispo, Steve Blankenship (who had previous experience as a pro snowboarder), they created The Extreme Scene
, which debuted on KNBR 1050 in August 2003. Their first guest was Kelly Slater
, who came in-studio to promote his book Pipe Dreams. Former KNBR producer Tony Rhein was originally part of the show, but backed out last minute because he didn't want to sacrifice time from playing music.
A short time after the debut of The Extreme Scene
, Saatsaz was asked by KNBR management to write a blog on the station's website about action sports. The blog quickly drew a following, and even drew the ire of skier Jonny Moseley
, who was called "Jonny Sellout" in one of Saatsaz's blogs because an event Moseley was hosting called ICER AIR
decided to start charging people for attendance. The two quickly resolved their differences, and Moseley has come on his radio show many times since then.
Saatsaz's blog also drew the attention of action sports industry editors, including an action sports website started by AOL
called Lat34.com. As a freelance writer, Saatsaz conducted exclusive interviews with big name athletes like Tony Hawk
. Saatsaz wrote for the site for a year and was promoted to Senior Editor before joining Fuel.TV as a writer, where his stories drew the highest amount of traffic on the site. During this time, Saatsaz was also hired to write stories for Future Snowboarding Magazine (which shut down due to financial difficulties). Saatsaz eventually left Fuel.TV and was hired by USA Today
's action sports website BNQT, where his stories once again drew the website's highest traffic numbers.
The John London Not Just Sports Show was cancelled after three years, but Saatsaz was kept on by KNBR as a Senior Producer, and was promoted to Creative Director in March, 2007. During this time Saatsaz became KNBR's main fill-in sports anchor, in addition to filling in as host of Sportsphone 680. After eight years and four months with the station, Saatsaz and KNBR mutually parted ways due to creative and philosophical differences, on April 30, 2009.
Saatsaz founded a surf shop/bookstore/art gallery in San Francisco called San Francisco Surf Company, writes surf columns for The Huffington Post
, the San Francisco Chronicle
's website, SFGate.com and USA Today
, authored a book called Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist and hosts a nationally syndicated action sports radio talk show called The Extreme Scene
.
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
's official website, SFGate.com, The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. Saatsaz is also the host and Editor-in-Chief of The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene is the first radio talk show dedicated specifically to extreme sports and action sports. The program is hosted by surf journalist Cyrus Saatsaz and pro surfer Omar Etcheverry...
, the world's first action sports radio talk show. In addition to writing for SFGate.com, The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and hosting The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene is the first radio talk show dedicated specifically to extreme sports and action sports. The program is hosted by surf journalist Cyrus Saatsaz and pro surfer Omar Etcheverry...
, Saatsaz is a journalist, having been published in newspapers, magazines, books and websites including AOL.com, Future Snowboarding Magazine, Fuel.TV, The Great Book of San Francisco/Bay Area Sports Lists, and many more. Saatsaz also worked for KNBR
KNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
radio for nearly a decade, serving as a sports anchor, fill-in host, Creative Director and Executive Producer.
Early life
Saatsaz was born in Novato, CA and subsequently moved to Fremont, CA, then Newark, CA before his parents divorced. Saatsaz moved with his mother to San Ramon, CA, attending California High School and briefly playing on the basketball and tennis teams. Saatsaz left after his sophomore year to live with his father in Pleasanton, CA, where he graduated from Amador Valley High SchoolAmador Valley High School
Amador Valley High School is a public high school in Pleasanton, California, USA, a city east of San Francisco. Amador Valley is one of four high schools in the Pleasanton Unified School District, which includes Foothill High School, Village High School, and Horizon High School. The school was...
. It is here that he first began experimenting with broadcasting, handling the morning news anchor duties on the school's PA system in addition to announcing school basketball and baseball games. Saatsaz has said on his radio show that his high school experience was miserable because half the population was Mormon and the atmosphere there was too conservative and sheltered, citing his experience of being let go from anchoring the morning news on the school's PA system as an example. One morning, Saatsaz opened his daily morning news segment on the PA system with the song "Loser" by Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
and was dismissed because the school's Mormon administration thought the song would incite thoughts of suicide amongst students.
Saatsaz attended numerous colleges. He spent nearly two years at Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
, joining the Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
fraternity and was a midfielder for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks lacrosse team. Saatsaz then transferred to Cuesta College
Cuesta College
Cuesta College is a public community college located in San Luis Obispo County near the Central Coast of California. It currently offers 76 Associate's degree programs and 96 certificate programs...
, where he was Program Director for campus radio station KGUR. Saatsaz was accepted to California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
in San Luis Obispo, CA but decided to transfer to San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
, feeling that he would have a better chance at getting his foot in the door of a media company in San Francisco. Saatsaz graduated with a Media Management and Law emphasis.
Career
While a student at San Francisco State, Saatsaz was hired by KNBRKNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
as a programming intern. Saatsaz quickly impressed management, and immediately after graduating college was hired full-time, first as producer for The Razor and Mr. T and a short time later was promoted to Executive Producer for The Rick Barry
Rick Barry
Richard Francis Dennis Barry III , better known as Rick Barry, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is considered by many veteran basketball observers to be one of the greatest pure small forwards of all time as a result of his very precise outside shot, uncanny court vision,...
Show. Saatsaz was promoted a short time after that, this time to serve as Senior Producer for KNBR's morning show, The John London Not Just Sports Show. It was during this time that Saatsaz began his on-air career, being brought on for various bits and special segments.
During this time, Saatsaz thought up the idea of an action sports radio talk show, and together with an old friend and roommate from San Luis Obispo, Steve Blankenship (who had previous experience as a pro snowboarder), they created The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene is the first radio talk show dedicated specifically to extreme sports and action sports. The program is hosted by surf journalist Cyrus Saatsaz and pro surfer Omar Etcheverry...
, which debuted on KNBR 1050 in August 2003. Their first guest was Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, who came in-studio to promote his book Pipe Dreams. Former KNBR producer Tony Rhein was originally part of the show, but backed out last minute because he didn't want to sacrifice time from playing music.
A short time after the debut of The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene is the first radio talk show dedicated specifically to extreme sports and action sports. The program is hosted by surf journalist Cyrus Saatsaz and pro surfer Omar Etcheverry...
, Saatsaz was asked by KNBR management to write a blog on the station's website about action sports. The blog quickly drew a following, and even drew the ire of skier Jonny Moseley
Jonny Moseley
Jonathan William Moseley, better known as Jonny Moseley , is the first Puerto Rican to become a member of the U.S. Ski Team.-Early years:...
, who was called "Jonny Sellout" in one of Saatsaz's blogs because an event Moseley was hosting called ICER AIR
ICER AIR
ICER AIR was an urban big-air ski and snowboard event held in 2005 on Fillmore Street in San Francisco and at or near AT&T Park from 2006 through 2008.-History:...
decided to start charging people for attendance. The two quickly resolved their differences, and Moseley has come on his radio show many times since then.
Saatsaz's blog also drew the attention of action sports industry editors, including an action sports website started by AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
called Lat34.com. As a freelance writer, Saatsaz conducted exclusive interviews with big name athletes like Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
. Saatsaz wrote for the site for a year and was promoted to Senior Editor before joining Fuel.TV as a writer, where his stories drew the highest amount of traffic on the site. During this time, Saatsaz was also hired to write stories for Future Snowboarding Magazine (which shut down due to financial difficulties). Saatsaz eventually left Fuel.TV and was hired by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
's action sports website BNQT, where his stories once again drew the website's highest traffic numbers.
The John London Not Just Sports Show was cancelled after three years, but Saatsaz was kept on by KNBR as a Senior Producer, and was promoted to Creative Director in March, 2007. During this time Saatsaz became KNBR's main fill-in sports anchor, in addition to filling in as host of Sportsphone 680. After eight years and four months with the station, Saatsaz and KNBR mutually parted ways due to creative and philosophical differences, on April 30, 2009.
Saatsaz founded a surf shop/bookstore/art gallery in San Francisco called San Francisco Surf Company, writes surf columns for The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
's website, SFGate.com and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, authored a book called Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist and hosts a nationally syndicated action sports radio talk show called The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene
The Extreme Scene is the first radio talk show dedicated specifically to extreme sports and action sports. The program is hosted by surf journalist Cyrus Saatsaz and pro surfer Omar Etcheverry...
.
External links
- http://www.sfsurfcompany.com San Francisco Surf Company