NowVIZ / The Black Moods by NowVIZ magazine

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INTRO AD

Good luck at this year’s INDY 50!

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INTRO

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O AD

Cover photo by Andrea Mead Cross on location with the rock band, The Black Moods.

SECOND sara

D STORY

The blk

moods

FOURTH oakley

STORY

daniel woods

Daniel is an american professional rock climber and one of the most accomplished boulderers in the world with more V16 acents to date than anyone else!

book review

Top photographer Andrea Mead Cross showcases her talent alongside an amazing group of world-class athletes in her book, Sports Souls and all for a cause.

sara price

A professional Motocross and Supercross racer not only making history in her racing endeavors, but is the first ever factory supported female racer under Monster Energy Kawasaki and a X-Games medalist.

INDYCAR series SUCCEss

Even though 2020 was an unforgettable year, and a year we will probably remember as one to forget, the IndyCar Series made life seem normal for a moment and showed that change is possible.

T f C h t

the black moods

The Black Moods’ three members — frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman have a fresh sound and vibe hitting the Top 20 Active Rock chart!

108

LISTEN TO YOUR WORLD

Find out what our featured athletes and rockers are listening to!

JOHAD ELLIS

Oakley designer, Johad Ellis stays fresh and focused by traveling and seeing new places, perspectives, and aesthetics. It’s also what keeps his work innovative and hot.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

You just have to check it out!

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DANIE

Bouldering is about problem solving—which in climbing parlance means finding the natural features in a rock that can be used to get to the top. The best climbers make it look easy, as if a foot placement or blind jump to a non-hold is preordained. Truth is, ingenuity is born from intense dedication bordering on obsession; spiderman climbing-agility comes with mastering the mind. Daniel Woods has done both. Woods is one of the few climbers in the world to have climbed both a 5.15 and V16, the top grades in two climbing disciplines. The 31-year-old Boulder resident is considered the most accomplished American male competition climber. He’s put in his 10,000 hours. He started climbing at 5; competing at age 9. He had a taste for the face on a Boy Scout trip to Texas’ Mineral State Park. He’s been hooked ever since. In 2010, he was the first American to win a Bouldering World Cup and establish a proposed V16 boulder problem. He continued to win every competition he entered that year. In 2018, Woods joined an elite group of world-class climbers (fewer than 20) when he climbed his first 5.15b: La Capella in Siurana, Spain. What’s addictive about climbing is the elusive quest to “top out” a route. This might entail multiple return trips to scrutinize a boulder until you finally understand the rock and the sequences needed to execute it. Sometimes, to hone in on specific climbing objections, Woods will train indoors. He’ll prep and condition his physique and his mind, strengthening arms, torsos and fingers using an assortment of props— tension boards (wooden boards with holes) and asymmetrical boards that change the angle of the wall from 30 to 55 degrees and build finger strength so deadhangs don’t go south. Training with grips of varying sizes and levels of difficulty help build movement memory sequences that are akin to jazz improv. Climbing sports routes help tune the mental game and ultimately fight the impulse to lose focus. Accuracy, flow, and tension have to be flawless. There’s no room for zoning out. Recently Woods returned to a former conquest to see if he could top its difficulty. Sleepwalker is one of the world’s hardest boulder problems. Located in Black Velvet Canyon, Nevada, Woods decided to return to add a sit start as opposed to a stand start, which would add five V13 moves to an already difficult V16. Last March, after an intense three month journey and solo prep in the desert, abstaining from smoking, alcohol and caffeine, Woods achieved his goal, topping out a new sit start to Sleepwalker (V16). He dubbed the new line Return of the Sleepwalker and graded it V17, the first V17 in the United States; the second in the world after Nalle Hukkataival’s Burden of Dreams in Yosemite National Park. For Woods, it’s about “chasing the climb”—looking at weather reports, knowing when to make a move at just the right time of day. As he was once quoted in Climbing magazine, “Go in hard every single day, train the sections, perfect the movement, adapt to the line, and then try to just see how far you can go.”

PHOTO TIM KEMPLE, DEFYING GRAVITY

Return of the Sleepwalker (V17 FA). I just recently completed this line. There is just one other proposed 17 in the world. A contender for the hardest boulder problem in the world.

PHOTO BOBBY SORICH “Return of the Sleepwalker” (FA) proposed 9A/v17

PHOTO BEN NEILSON

NowVIZA +Q NowVIZ: You are a rock star! One of the most accomplished boulderers in the world, with more V16 ascents to date than anyone. You are the first American to win a Bouldering World Cup (2010) and establish a proposed V16 boulder problem. You are a nine-time American Bouldering Series National Champion and have dominated the series for a decade. What gets you amped and motivated to conquer your next project? Daniel: I started climbing at 5 and have been climbing for 26 years. The first time I climbed, I instantly fell in love with it. It was so free and empowering. I like the problem solving aspect, along with the physical challenge. By problem solving I mean understanding how natural features in the rock can be used to get to the top. There is a lot of trial and error. Once you have your sequence dialed, the next step is being strong enough to execute it. Climbing is ever changing. Once you complete one line there will always be something new that offers a new experience. It’s hard to get bored. NowVIZ: Intense strength and endurance are necessary to climb at the V16 and V17 levels you have achieved. What kind of training do you do? Daniel: Honestly, the best way to get better is through climbing itself. Climb as many days a week as my body will allow. Climbing with people who are better than you and learning from them. When it comes to supplemental training, I do some fingerboard stuff, core workouts, upper body workouts, and stretch a little. NowVIZ: Do you implement or adjust your training specifically for an upcoming project or ascent? Daniel: Yes, I solely train based on what my project has to offer. If the climb is overhung and requires a lot of finger strength, then I will level my fingers and core up. If I am training for a competition (actually, I do not compete that much anymore), then I will climb inside a lot. Adapting to what your goal presents is key. NowVIZ: How do you plan for a certain climb and how long do you usually stay to finish a project? Daniel: Friends will get me hyped to go try something. I’ll skim through Instagram and YouTube seeing what looks appealing.

N “EMPATH” (15a/9a+)

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANIEL WOODS

NowVIZ: You’ve climbed some of the hardest climbs in the world including, Norway’s First Ley and Thor’s Hammer, Spain’s Papichulo and La Capella, and in Malaysia, Tinipi. What climbs to date have specifically become milestones in your career and why? Daniel: The Game (V15) FA. This climb helped put me on the map when I was young for hard bouldering. Hypnotized Minds (V16 FA). At the time it was one of the world’s hardest bouldering problems and first of the grade. The Process ( V16 FA). This line was very tall and committing. It was the highest and hardest climb in North America. Still unrepeated. Return of the Sleepwalker (V17 FA). I just recently completed this line. There is just one other proposed 17 in the world. A contender for the hardest boulder problem in the world.

NowVIZ: Where are you currently and what are you working on? Daniel: I am in Colorado working on my other V17 project. Feeling close, just need the weather to cooperate. NowVIZ: Is there a climb you’re planning at some point that stands out from the rest? Why? Daniel: This current project I have is just as hard as Return of The Sleepwalker. Soon I will get back into sport climbing and try to climb some hard routes. I want to send the hardest boulders and routes out there.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANIEL WOODS

SARA

who have made their mark on the racetrack, Sara Price has established herself as an elite competitor in multiple realms of racing. Having raced on numerous continents, the superlative resume of the California native includes standing as the winningest female racing amateur. Turning professional at 16, she made an immediate impression, garnering AMA/WMX Rookie of the Year recognition in 2009. Following it up with a bronze medal at the 2010 X Games, another empowering note defined the beginning of the decade. Becoming the first female factory supported motocross racer with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing, Price made national news when she entered the 2013 Miss California USA beauty pageant, proving how the combination of beauty, brains and ambition can create a bold, elegant pathway to achieve one’s dreams. Equally compelling were the milestones accumulated in the latter half of the decade. Price and Erica Sacks went to Morocco’s Sahara Desert, participating in the 2015 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, an all-women’s off-road race where they placed seventh. Winning the 2016 Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame Rising Star Award in the UTV, MX, and ATV Category, Price then won the 2017 Hoonigan and Fiat Female Driver search. As her prize, she competed in the Mt. Washington Climb to the Clouds event, the nation’s oldest hillclimb event. An unforgettable 2019 resulted in the SCORE International Trophy Truck Spec Championship; accentuating yet another superlative first for a proficient Price. By completing a grueling 800.5-mile race, Price earned her “Iron Woman” status, becoming the first female to drive the entire SCORE International Baja 1000 race solo. For the inaugural Extreme E season, Price joined Chip Ganassi’s Racing X-Treme team as their first-ever female driver. Racing in remote parts of the world to promote sustainability and equality, Price debuted at the 2021 Desert X-Prix in Al-’Ula, Saudi Arabia, with competitors driving spec electric SUVs. The circuit complemented her perfectly. While many of Price’s accomplishments have been at the racetrack, she has also had success launching an auto paint business, SP Enterprises, as well as in the field of stunt professional. With a growing list of credits, from a Super Bowl commercial to the feature film, “Jumanji: The Next Level,” Price has also been the stunt double for pop icon Lady Gaga. Perhaps Price’s greatest attribute, however, is the fact that she has shattered stereotypes that transcend sport, representing the future for women in racing.

Heading down to Mark Allen’s surf spot in Santa

a Cruz, California.

Photo FortuneGym.com

Justin Fortune vs Lennox Lewis, 1995, The Point, Dublin, Ireland.

On location at Canyon Lake with Sara Price.

Photo Davis Shaefer

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: You started your racing career at 8 years old! How did you get started? Sara: Growing up my dad raced off-road cars and my brother raced moto-cross, while I was into horses, showing and competing. I had so much energy that my mom bought me my first dirt bike when I was eight years old so I could burn off energy on the pee-wee track while my brother trained. Little did they know I wouldn’t get off the bike. Eventually, I started racing and actually won my first race. NowVIZ: Since then, you’ve won 17 national motocross championships, medaled in the X Games, and became the first female to compete in the SCORE International Baja 1000 in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Not only did you solo drive the entire race, you finished second, earning the 2019 championship. You also debuted in Stadium Super Trucks at the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto race weekend, becoming the first female driver to compete in the series, earning the title of 2016 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Rising Star. Is there one particular race that has been game changer for you? Sara: The Baja 1000. 19 1/2 hours of straight driving. My team not only finished, but came in second—the position needed to get the SCORE International 2019 Trophy Truck Spec Championship. Many people thought I was committing championship suicide by being the points leader in the class and taking on a race that is usually driven by two or three drivers. But our team focused, worked hard, and didn’t make many mistakes. It was a big accomplishment and, in a sense, life changing for me. NowVIZ: In June 2020, you signed with Chip Ganassi Racing to race the Extreme E, the electric off-road motor racing series. You are also the first female driver for Ganassi Racing. How did it feel to sign with Ganassi Racing and the Extreme E? Sara: Signing with such an accomplished and legendary team like Chip Ganassi Racing is a dream come true. I’m honored to be the first female on the team as well. I’m still just floored to be a part of making history with a series like Extreme E with our GMC Hummer EV. This is the new pinnacle of off-road racing. We will be competing against some of the best racers and teams in the world. But Extreme E is more than racing. Extreme is using racing as a platform for advocacy. The series will take us around the world to places that have been environmentally impacted. With Extreme E we are racing for an incredible purpose. I’m passionate about spreading the message.

FARYSA HAMZAH / Shutterstock.com

Eight-weight world champion, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

NowVIZA + Q “I always want to reach for the moon with the goals I set. But sometimes I have to force myself to sit back and look at how far I’ve come. Nothing worthwhile is built over night.”

+ A NowVIZ Q Photographer Andrea Mead Cross working with Sara Price.

NowVIZ: Intense strength and endurance are necessary to drive at optimum levels. How do you train your body to perform throughout the season? Sara: With a background in motocross and growing up training hard over the years with many different trainers, I have come up with a program that works best for me today. I’ve always had an athletic body and carry a lot of muscle naturally, usually more than most women, and I embrace that. It gives me an edge in achieving my goals. Body maintenance is very important with the beatings we put ourselves through, so I regularly go to a chiropractor and get massages as often as I can to make sure I’m recovering properly. I do a lot of boxing, strength training, Pilates, and always stay active. Recently, I took up mountain biking and also go on hikes. All the training is great, but nothing beats riding a dirt bike or getting time in the driver’s seat. NowVIZ: How much does nutrition play a part in your training? Sara: I’m always striving to be more lean. It’s one of the tougher tasks for me. It comes down to diet. Nutrition is key to being your best performance self on race day. During race day it’s extremely important to eat every few hours to maintain constant energy. Keep the diet as clean as possible, but don’t deprive yourself from what your body might crave. Then, before race day, it’s carbs to feed the body and brain.

NowVIZ: You’re a role model for all women in sport. Your passion and success as both an athlete and business woman are respected by all in and out of the sport. What have been some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome to attain this stature?

Photo Davis Shaefer

Sara: For anyone trying to reach a goal, build a business, or be a champion there are many challenges. I didn’t go to college. I was self-taught. I tried to absorb everything I could from people I looked up to or people I was around. With that came a lot of failure and having to get back up and try again in a new way. You can say most of the time it was trial and error and most of the time learning the hard way. But my biggest challenge has been balance. Balance is a very hard thing to achieve. I always want to reach for the moon with the goals I set. But sometimes I have to force myself to sit back and look at how far I’ve come. Nothing worthwhile is built over night.

Kicking off the Extreme E Series in Saudia Arabia.

NowVIZ: You’re also a stunt professional working in movies doubling for Ruby Roundhouse on Jumanji and commercials for companies such as Acura, Microsoft, Infinity, Apple, and Honda; working music videos for talent like Lady Gaga and doubling for stars such as Jason Statham! Can you tell us how you broke into this exciting career and give us a few highlights? Sara: I started stunt work in 2013 when I got a call from a good friend whose friend produces commercials during the Super Bowl. At the time they needed girls who could ride motorcycles. I said, heck yeah, why not! Little did I know I was walking into a huge production for Microsoft. I was automatically accepted into the stunt union SAG-AFTRA and started working for one of the biggest coordinators to date, Sean Graham. I knew nothing about this world or that it even existed, but I did know how hard it is to make a living in motocross. It came into my life at the right time and I’m forever grateful. After my first job, through word of mouth, I got more jobs on motorcycles. Years later people in the industry learned I was now racing cars, so I started getting car jobs. Today, the majority of the work I get is on four wheels but I still do some motorcycle jobs. I’ve even been a stunt coordinator for a job or two. NowVIZ: You mentioned you got into beauty pageants to prove women can be gorgeous and as good as the men on the track! How was that experience? Sara: When I dabbled in pageants I was actually out of racing from a motocross injury and had to have shoulder surgery. I got a letter asking if I wanted to participate in the pageant. What better way to stay in shape and try something out of the norm that might get attention and help make my racing dreams continue? So, I went for it. I certainly learned a lot. Pageants aren’t necessarily for me, but I learned that you can do anything you set your mind to and ended up winning my first pageant. It was a new side of me I have never shown anyone. I do enjoy embracing my feminine side even though I don’t get to show it very often. NowVIZ: Is there a person or mentor in your life that has helped you through difficult times, as well as, the successful times? Sara: I have so many mentors that have been there for me. NASCAR racer Boris Said is a great friend and mentor for my racing. Dave Gowland was one of my first sponsors in motocross when I was 12 years-old. He is now my Monster Energy Drink sponsor. He’s a big help when I need to make a business decision, which is nice, since I still mainly manage myself. Emily Miller is an incredible soul. She brought me to my first international race in 2015 in Africa. She is a powerhouse; what she does for the world of motorsports, and women in it, is incredible. Rhys Millen is another incredibly accomplished racer and friend. We’ve worked in stunts together. He has taught me so much behind the wheel and how a vehicle works. My biggest mentors would have to be my parents though. They’re self-employed business owners who always have my back. I’m very blessed to have these people in my life and so many more I’m not mentioning. What I learned the most from all of them is to never stop asking questions.

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The BLAC

CK MOODS

Listening to The Black Moods is a straight shot of adrenaline and unadulterated joy—like stepping into a raucous party in full swing. A self-described blend of Bad Company and Foo Fighters, this is classic American rock and roll, meant to be played loud. With powerful drums, big guitar riffs, and vocals that nail the rocking high notes and catchy lyrics, the Phoenix-based power trio consists of frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman. The tight, high energy trio is an irresistible mix that brings you face to face with your inner rocker. It’s one of the reasons they have shared shows with everyone from Whitesnake to The Doors’ Robbie Krieger, Gin Blossoms, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, and more. The Black Moods have built a following the old fashioned way—relentless touring. With an almost obsessive nature, these three musicians have put in their time, sometimes working 90 hours a week, writing, singing; honing their style, which has been gleaned and assimilated from such rock icons as The Doors, Gin Blossoms, and The Rolling Stones. Today, they’ve gone from performing local shows to cracking the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with their infectious, unadulterated rock and hard-hitting lyrics about romantic desire and conflict. They recently signed to agency powerhouse CAA under agent Joe Mott. For their second record Sunshine, which debuted May 2020 under the independent label Steelhorse Entertainment/The Fuel, Kennedy, drummer Diaz and bassist Hoffman worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Johnny “K” Karkazis to shape the title track “Sunshine” into the hard-hitting, first-ever Top 20 Billboard Active Rock chart singleat #16. Johnny “K” flew to Phoenix and set up a studio in the band’s rehearsal space to tap the band’s raw spirit and primal energy they’re famous for in their live performances. Creative jam sessions blended days and nights, resulting in some of the most dynamic recordings to date. The album has since broken the top 40 charts three times— “Whatcha Got,” (#30) “Bad News,”(#24) and “Bella Donna,” (#29), which inspired their own brand of wine. During quarantine the band moved their home studio to the Ozarks (hometown of vocalist/ guitarist Josh Kennedy) to write and record material for their next album due this Fall, which will include a remotely recorded track with legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones). For The Black Moods, the world of rock is the only world. They live it and breathe it. And the future looks bright. For many, American rock and roll defines our lives. We owe it to The Black Moods to keep us feeling young, rebellious and free.

Photographer Andrea Mead Cross working with The Black Moods.

Josh Kennedy

Chico Di

iaz

Jordan Hoffman

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: How did the three of you become The Black Moods? Josh Kennedy I moved to Tempe, AZ from the Ozarks to attend the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. During that time, I started working in the Gin Blossoms’ studio recording local bands and working on my own demos. I met Chico through a mutual friend and we started playing all around Arizona. We eventually played with a band from L.A. that Jordan was in and we stole him. That’s the short version! NowVIZ: You put out an album Sunshine last May 2020, which was recorded by Grammy-nominated producer Johnny “K” Karkazis. He’s also working with you on your upcoming album due out this fall. Did that collaboration have an impact? Josh: Johnny has become a part of the family. He came in and stepped up our game--and pissed us off a lot! Sunshine was really about us getting to know each other. This record was like a crazy Christmas vacation. NowVIZ: A new emotional music video for the ballad “Home” is out which delves into the struggle of balancing family life with being a touring musician. How did the song evolve? Josh: We had nine songs completed for the record and felt we needed at least one more. There are mostly rock songs on the album, so we started talking about adding a ballad. My son was in the Midwest with his mother while we were in Arizona making the record so I would FaceTime him and play him some acoustic songs. I wasn’t on the phone for more than 15 minutes and the music that came out sounded like a lullaby. After I hung up the phone, I started writing and finished “Home” in about 10 minutes. It just poured out. The song captures the way the band feels being on the road away from the ones you love, hoping they don’t forget about you, grow away from you or grow up too fast. Then Covid hit and it resonated with everyone that couldn’t be with their loved ones due to being on the front lines, in bad health or stuck somewhere away from home. NowVIZ: How did the opportunity to record with legendary producer Eddie Kramer come about? Josh: I met Eddie Kramer at Gene Simmon’s house. Eddie has produced some of the KISS records and had stopped by to visit while I was there so Gene introduced us. We immediately hit it off so I started working on some studio projects with him. We stayed in touch over the years, so when the singles from Sunshine started breaking into the charts, I called him. We always seemed to be busy at the same time though, until Covid hit. With both of us free we decided to do something that hadn’t been done before and tracked a song together using Zoom and a software platform called Audio Movers. It was a blast! It’s amazing to work with such a legend; we are lucky to call him a friend.

NowVIZ: You have your first-ever Top 20 Billboard Rock single, title track, “Sunshine” which peaked at #16 and three additional Top 30 singles, “Bad News” #24, “Whatcha Got” #30 and “Bella Donna” #29. This has got to inspire you to keep grinding out new work! When it comes to creating new material what’s your creative process? Josh: It’s definitely something. At the time you’re in the middle of the hurricane, so you don’t really stop and take it in, you just keep pushing forward. That didn’t stop us from watching the charts every week they came out though. We are always writing. There are no bad ideas, just ones that need to be massaged a little more than others. The writing process is usually a group effort, especially on the new record, and sometimes I’ll come in with a full song then the guys add their two cents. I have more than a few iPhones that don’t have any more room in the voice memo section.

Photo Tracy Fultz / Blushing Cactus Photography

NowVIZ: Can you tell us anything about your new album in the works and when we might hear it? Josh: The new album is a lot different from Sunshine. We purposely took more of a Rolling Stones approach. It’s a lot more loose and we used more vintage tones. We are hoping a single sees the light of day by May, but that could change. NowVIZ: You have a 1978 Tom Petty cover that plays on SiriusXM’s Tom Petty Radio show, “I Need to Know.” It’s a great version of the song. What is it about Tom Petty that inspires you guys? Josh: Thank you so much. Everything about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is inspiring. His approach, his songwriting, work ethic, style… I could go on for days. If you haven’t seen his documentary, I highly suggest it. It’s an honor to be played on his Sirius XM station. NowVIZ: Tell us about your brand of wine named, Bella Donna. Josh: We have two wines out now. “Bella Donna” is a red blend, which came out not long after the single entered the charts last year. “Sunshine” is a white wine Riesling that was just released. Both are made by a local winery in Scottsdale, Arizona called Su Vino. (Optional question) Is there a question that you haven’t been asked that you’d like to answer? Josh: Plums are my favorite.

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QA +

WITH NOWVIZ

+ A NowVIZ Q

NOWVIZ: When you were applying to Oakley, you had a background in car design. Was that considered a normal career trajectory? Johad: Much of my inspiration for eyewear design comes from automotive forms. I designed cars for Volkswagen in Germany. So, it was a natural transition to go from transportation design to product design. I think Oakley liked that I had strong sketching abilities and could create multiple concepts in a well-illustrated manner in a short timeframe. I also had a different perspective from other traditional product designers. NOWVIZ: How does designing cars inform product design? Johad: It’s interesting to apply automotive-style breakup of surfaces when designing eyewear. For example, with the Stringer’s injected polycarbonate frame, I could produce elaborate surfacing that would normally be too costly or too sculptural by just milling acetate. We were able to come up with a piece that really stands out in the crowd. NOWVIZ: Designing eyewear seems difficult to revolutionize! Johad: It might seem so at first, but there are many ways to ideate under the “eyewear” umbrella! As you evolve to more sports and performance frames, things can get really exciting. For example, sports frames curve more to allow for a greater viewing angle. Performance under extreme conditions has to be considered while designing, and in terms of styling, sculpture and pattern were also big inspirations while designing new frames. Whenever I could catch a local pottery show or art exhibition, I would snap a few pictures with my smartphone and morph those images into stems for the sunglass, then sketch over it, which would create patterns I would otherwise not sketch organically myself. NOWVIZ: Which Oakley models currently on the market have you designed or collaborated on? Johad: Two of my frames are out at the moment--the unisex sun frame “Stringer” and the womens’ prescription frame “Reversal” and two more will be coming to market in the next few seasons. Both were incredibly fun to create and very different from each other. The sunglass is injected polycarbonate, so the surfacing is on the wild side. For the prescription frame, we used milled acetate, so the challenge was to achieve sculpture through the materials constraint.

JosefNewgarden.com @josefnewgarden

NOWVIZ: As a product and car designer, what are the most important aspects of good design for the active market? Johad: Sometimes the consumer doesn’t know what the next amazing product will be, or how it will be intertwined in their lives. It’s only after using it that will people wonder how they ever got along without it. That’s the magic designers aim for. NOWVIZ: How important is the consumer to your own individual process? Johad: It’s absolutely imperative. There always is a target market. If you miss that mark, the product might not do as well when it’s available to the public, which means it could be discontinued, or worse it might hurt the brand. We kept millennials in mind while designing the two frames I mentioned earlier, and luckily, it seems the frames appeal to the market.

NOWVIZ: When you’re not designing, what keeps you fresh? Johad: Travel, travel, and once more, travel! Because of design, I’ve been able to go to some amazing places. I was recently in South Korea finishing a vehicle for Kia Motors. Without any exaggeration, I am literally answering these questions on a plane from Los Angeles to Gothenburg, Sweden where I’ll be on business for a week. Seeing new places, perspectives, and aesthetics keeps me fresh and reinvigorated to design more awesome things.

Olympic gymnast, Sam Mikulak

INDY S

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

STORY

The Series was led by owner Roger Penske whose determination and persistence to keep the tracks open fought hard against all odds. As the pandemic continued to force delays and rescheduling, Penske tried a new approach for IndyCar and put together The IndyCar iRacing Challenge. Drivers and teams quickly came onboard and the race season kicked off virtually by early April giving the networks and race fans some temporary action. A brilliant move for IndyCar, keeping the Series afloat and sponsors happy.

Josef Newgarden 2020 IndyCar Series runner-up.

Six-time IndyCar Series Champion No. 9 IndyCar driver, Scott Dixon.

In the meantime, a new schedule was being drafted (due to the pandemic) that included the rescheduling of the iconic Indianapolis 500. This was a first; in addition, no fans, another first. By June, IndyCar got their live show back on the road. As modifications continued, including having to limit the number of crew in the pit and dropping pre-race practice and qualifying, the IndyCar organization adapted and rolled out a new solution to every obstacle. What began as a catastrophic year for IndyCar turned out to be a success considering all the challenges.

When the 2020 season came to a close in St Petersburg, a race that normally opens the season in March, it finished strong, with 20,000 fans watching world-class racing live! The highly anticipated showdown between Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Chip Ganassi Racing’s driver, Scott Dixon was a nail biter, as Newgarden took the checkered flag and Series runner-up title to Dixon who clinched his sixth IndyCar Series championship title. Dixon came into the final with 4 race wins bringing his total to 50, the most wins of any active IndyCar driver, ranking him third on the all-time list! Even though 2020 was an unforgettable year, and a year we will probably remember as one to forget, the IndyCar Series made life seem normal for a moment and showed that change is possible.

Pro climber, DANIEL WOODS: A lot of rap and electronic. I am big into Boris Brejcha, Omnom, Mind Against, Fisher, Stephan Bodzin. Future, Travis Scott, Three 6 Mafia, Weekend, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage, The Game. Extreme E race car driver, SARA PRICE: Oh boy, ask anyone that hangs around me, especially my friends, and they’ll tell you my playlist is all over the place. When I say all over the place, that is an understatement. I pretty much love everything from country music to rap to punk rock. Oakley designer, JOHAD ELLIS: Ha! This is always changing! I was recently in Korea, and to my surprise, I’ve picked up a few energetic K-Pop songs I enjoyed listening to while working with some of the designers over there. I also have a fair share of house music, which I’ve been interested in since the early 90’s. Carl Cox’s Ibiza sets are at the top of that list.

what’s pumpin’ thru your headphon The Black Moods, JOSH KENNEDY: I’ve been listening to mixes from our new record. A lot of Queens Of The Stone Age. We also crank Boston’s debut record at the studio a lot. The Eagles One Of These Nights has been on regular rotation too. My playlists are very diverse. The Black Moods, JORDAN HOFFMAN: I’ve been revisiting every song Chris Cornell has been a part of, plus some other albums including Marcus King’s El Dorado, Foo Fighter’s Medicine at Midnight and Kings of Leon’s When You See Yourself. The Black Moods, CHICO DIAZ: The Deadly Syndrome’s “I Hope I Become A Ghost” is literally what’s playing on my iTunes right now!

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On location in LA at Fortune Andrea Mead Cross at work Gym. with pro racing driver, Sara Price.

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Photographer Andrea Mead Cross in the studio with The Black Moods.

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Behind the scenes with The Black Moods.

IndyCar in the pit.

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Dixon taking his sixth IndyCar Championship.

CREDITS+THANk YOU’S This May/June 2021 issue is super hot! Our features include, Extreme E Series driver, Sara Price, world-class pro climber, Daniel Woods, and a killer rock band from Phoenix, Arizona called The Black Moods. These feature stories are all about determination, innovation, and motivation; going from zero to one hundred on a non-stop adrealine rush! Thank you all for sharing a piece of your world with us! NowVIZ editor and writer, Hilary Stunda brings her wealth of creativity and experience to our team having worked as producer for The Outdoor Life Network, Editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Aspen, writing for Lexus, Art in America, Interview, ARTnews, just to name a few. For this issue, she writes Intro’s for pro climber, Daniel Woods, one of the most accomplished boulderers in the world and The Black Moods, an edgy rock band with an incredible vibe and sound. Also on this issue is NowVIZ writer, Mark Staffieri as he takes a look into the life of racer, Sara Price, having competed in motocross, rallying, the X Games, Stadium Super Trucks and racing for Chip Gannassi Racing in the Extreme E Series. We’d like to thank the following individuals, Kelly Walsh at SRO PR in LA for her efforts and guidance. Additionally, Kelby Krause and Davis Shaefer, public relations at Chip Ganassi Racing, for their continued hospitality and awesome opportunities. And a big shout out and thank you to Shawn Pulley at BigFinBuilds.com in Phoenix, Arizona for allowing us the pleasure of using his incredible 1959 Cadillac Coupe! And to photographer Andrea Mead Cross who has been essential in the development and success of NowVIZ magazine! Her vision and creativity continue to exceed expectations! Design and layout for this issue is by Kelley Kwiatkowski. Hope you enjoyed the ride!

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