ASB MAGAZINE 116 nominees representing 2018’s best from the surf industry were honored this week at the 15th Annual SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association) Awards celebrating their outstanding innovations and contributions made to the industry. More than 500 attendees from surf companies and specialty retail shops were in attendance at the sold out and newly revitalised awards. Billabong emerged victorious and together with founder Gordon Merchant took to the stage five times on the evening.
The SIMA Awards nominees and winners were recognized throughout the lively ceremony, hosted by Pat Parnell. The event moved to a new venue, The Observatory, which provided the perfect setting to celebrate the industry’s best brands, products, retailers and media. The ceremony also served to honor specialty surf shops that have been in business for more than 50 years. Now in its fourth year, the 2019 SIMA Surf Shop Gold Wave Award recognized Farias Surf and Sport of Ship Bottom, NJ, Nomad Surf Shop of Boynton Beach, FL, Village Surf Shoppe of Garden City Beach, SC and Wise Surfboards of San Francisco, CA.
The goal of the SIMA Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and products, and recognise their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. The following companies were recognised in 19 categories for the 2018 calendar year. The evening was made possible by Surf Expo, Audi and Sync who supported the event with generous sponsorships.
SIMA AWARDS NOMINEES AND WINNERS
PRODUCT
Accessory Product of the Year-winner: FCS Freedom Leash by FCS
EVAC by Billabong
FCS Freedom Leash by FCS*
Unbound series pack & tote by Hydro Flask
The Regulus by Nixon
HIGHLINE AIRLIFT VEST by QUIKSILVER
SearchGPS 2 by Rip Curl
Drylock Boot by XCEL Wetsuits
Environmental Product of the Year- winner: Recycler Boardshorts by Billabong
Recycler Boardshorts by Billabong*
Untangled Collection by Costa Sunglasses
MIZU 360 Personal Filtration and Purification System by Mizu
Men’s & Women’s Fall 18 Yulex Wetsuits by Patagonia
QUIKSILVER X REPREVE BOARDSHORTS by QUIKSILVER
The Eco Leash by Slater Designs x Revolwe
Upcycled Coconut Boardshort by Vissla
Footwear Product of the Year-winner: UltraRange Rapidweld by Vans
Nalukai Kapa Boot by OluKai
QUIKSILVER TRAVEL OASIS SANDAL by QUIKSILVER
CUSHION BOUNCE by REEF
Chiba Quest by Sanuk
UltraRange Rapidweld by Vans*
Eyewear Product of the Year- winner: John John Signature Series by Electric
Untangled Collection by Costa Sunglasses
Baile H20 by Dragon
John John Signature Series by Electric*
ROVE Polarized Collection by Kreedom Eyewear by Fortress
Latch Key by Oakley
A Day Late by OTIS Eyewear
Wetsuit of the Year- winner: HyperFreak Series by O’Neill
Furnace Revolution by Billabong
HyperFreak Series by O’Neill*
Men’s R2 Yulex Front-Zip Full Suit by Patagonia
Flashbomb Heat Seeker by Rip Curl
Seea x Yulex Collection by Seea
7 Seas Wetsuit by Vissla
Comp X by XCEL Wetsuits
SURFBOARD
Performance Shortboard Model of the Year- winner: The Ghost by Pyzel Surfboards
Fever by Channel Islands Surfboards
SKX by Firewire Surfboards
Monsta Box HYFI by JS Industries
The Ghost by Pyzel Surfboards*
SD by Rusty Surfboards
Cymatic by Slater Designs
Disco Inferno Dual-Core by Surftech x Sharp Eye
Alternative Surfboard Model of the Year- winner: Go Fish by Firewire Surfboards
Rocket Wide Spine-Tek (construction) by Channel Islands Surfboards
Go Fish by Firewire Surfboards*
Chupacabra by Rusty Surfboards
Modern 2 by Surftech x Sharp Eye
Captains Log by Wave Riding Vehicles
MEN’S
Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year- winner: Life’s Better in Boardshorts by Billabong
Life’s Better in Boardshorts by Billabong*
Quiksilver Generations Of Adventure By Quiksilver
Beach Freely by Reef
Kingston Deadbeats by Roark
Uncover the Uncommon by Stance
UltraRange by Vans
Creators & Innovators by Vissla
Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year- winner: Vissla
Billabong
O’Neill
QUIKSILVER
Roark
RVCA
Vans
Vissla*
Men’s Boardshort Brand of the Year- winner: Billabong
Billabong*
O’Neill
QUIKSILVER
Rip Curl
Roark
RVCA
Vissla
WOMEN’S
Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year- winner: A Bikini Kinda Life – New Wave Campaign by Billabong Women’s
A Bikini Kinda Life – New Wave Campaign by Billabong Women’s*
Elevate by Electric Women’s
OCEAN IS CALLING by O’NEILL
BEACH FREELY by REEF
Make Waves Move Mountains by ROXY
Generations by Seea
Uncover the Uncommon by Stance
Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year- winner: Billabong Women’s
Billabong Women’s*
O’NEILL
Rip Curl
RVCA
Vans
Women’s Swim Brand of the Year- winner: Seea
Billabong
L*SPACE
O’NEILL
Rip Curl
ROXY
RVCA
Seea*
OVERALL
Breakout Brand of the Year- winner: Seea
Duvin Design Co.
Jetty
Maui and Sons
MIZU
OTIS Eyewear
Seea*
MEDIAConsumer Media Feature of the Year- winner: The Electric Acid Surfboard Test by Stab Magazine
The Electric Acid Surfboard Test by Stab Magazine*
Shed Sessions by SURFER
Wave of the Winter by Surfline/Wavetrak Inc.
Alternativa by The Inertia
RETAIL
Retailer of the Year – East Coast- winner: Heritage Surf & Sports (Sea Isle City, NJ)
Aqua East Surf Shop (Neptune Beach, FL)
BC Surf & Sport (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co. (Hampton, NH)
Heritage Surf & Sports (Sea Isle City, NJ)*
REAL Watersports (Waves, NC)
Ron Jon Surf Shop (Cocoa Beach, FL)
Warm Winds Surf Shop (Narragansett, RI)
Retailer of the Year – Inland America- winner: evo (Denver, CO)
BC Surf & Sport (Denver, CO)
Benjamin Surf N Skate (Corpus Christi, TX)
evo (Denver, CO)*
Tyler’s (Fort Worth, TX)
Retailer of the Year – West Coast- winner: Surf Ride (Oceanside, CA)*
evo (Portland, OR)
Huntington Surf & Sport (Downtown Huntington Beach, CA)
Jack’s Surfboards (Huntington Beach, CA)
SPYDER SURF (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Sun Diego Boardshops (Carlsbad, CA)
Surf Ride (Oceanside, CA)
Val Surf (Valley Village, CA)
Retailer of the Year – Hawaii- winner: Hi-Tech Surf Sports (Kahului, HI)
Hawaiian Island Creations (Haleiwa, HI)
Hi-Tech Surf Sports (Kahului, HI)*
Surf N Sea (Haleiwa, HI)
T&C Surf Designs (Honolulu, HI)
Download event and winner photos here.
About SIMA Awards
Introduced in 2003, the goal of the SIMA Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. Eligible SIMA members and specialty retailers are able to enter their brand and products in the appropriate categories. All entries are then reviewed by an industry panel that includes both manufacturers and retailers, who vote to determine the nominees in each category. All paid SIMA member companies and a select list of specialty retailers are then able to vote to determine the winners of the year. For detailed information on the voting process, visit www.sima.com/about-sima-
About SIMA
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 24 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $8 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in 2006 to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people.
