Waterman's Ball 2009 photos

The 2009 Waterman’s Ball Friday night honored the late SIMA Chairman Emeritus Dick Baker with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Dave Rastovich as Environmentalist of the Year and Rob Machado as Waterman of the Year.

The event moved back to the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, California this year and featured a silent and live auction, dinner, speeches and awards. Una, Ryan and Jack Baker gave moving speeches about Dick Baker and the honorable and generous way he lived his life, and industry leaders such as Bob McKnight and Richard Woolcott praised Dick and his vision in an emotional video tribute.

Dave Rastovich spoke about his mission to stop the commercial killing of dolphins and whales and Rob Machado talked about idolizing Gerry Lopez, who presented him with the award, and his amazement that he went on to become a famous surfer like Lopez.

The annual ball and golf tournament raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for SIMA’s Environmental Fund which donates money to organizations working to protect the world’s beaches, oceans and waves. In the past 19 years, Waterman’s Weekend has raised more than $4.5 million.

Here are some photos from the night. Click here to see Waterman’s Photos Page 2.

Gerry Lopez with Tom Holbrook of Quiksilver

Dave Rastovich, left, SIMA’s 2009 Environmentalist of the Year

At the VIP reception, Dave Rastovich, Rob Machado,
Ryan Baker, Una Baker, Paul Naude and Jack Baker.

Coco Tihanyi, Bob and Shelley Hurley, Izzy Tihanyi

Rip Curl USA President Kelly Gibson and his family

Kim and Vipe Desai

Toby Bost, CEO of the La Jolla Group and O’Neill Clothing, with Michael Tomson

Electric Visual Global Marketing Director Mike Carter and his wife, Kelly

Ryan Baker, Fernando Aguerre, Jack Baker

Volcom CFO Doug Collier and his wife, Wende Zomnir,
a founding partner of Urban Decay cosmetics

Nixon co-founder Chad DiNenna, Vans VP of Marketing and SIMA President
Doug Palladini and Vans Americas President Kevin Bailey

Hurley’s Evan Slater, Ross Garrett of Surfer’s Journal and Jennifer Slater

Reef’s new President Jim Gerson and his wife Mary

 

Craig Stevenson, Quiksilver Americas president

Click here to see Waterman’s Photos Page 2.