A few brands continued their dominant streaks at the SIMA Image Awards last night at The Grove in Anaheim and the evening also contained some surprises.
The Grove was packed last night for the annual awards ceremony, with about 850 to 900 people in the audience.
Hurley won the coveted Boardshort of the Year award for the fifth straight year.
L*Space won again for Swim Brand of the Year. Impressively, L*Space is the only brand to win the award since its inception in 2007.
Channel Islands also continued its dominance in the Surfboard of the Year award, winning for the fifth year straight.
Quiksilver Girls, a new brand under the Quiksilver umbrella, unseated Billabong Girls for the Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year. Billabong had won the award four times in a row before Quiksilver’s win.
Another Quiksilver brand, Roxy, won Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year, and O’Neill took the marketing honor in Men’s for its 60 Years of Innovation campaign.
RVCA won again for Men’s Apparel Brand of 2012, an award it also earned in 2011, 2010 and 2008.
Brixton, an up-and-coming brand with a ton of momentum that seems to be capturing the aesthetic of the moment, won the coveted Breakout Brand of the Year award.
See the complete list of winners in our live report from the Image Awards. See photos from the evening above in our slide show.
See Page 2 for SIMA’s official press release recapping the evening
Press Release:
SURF INDUSTRY’S BEST PRODUCTS, BRANDS AND RETAILERS RECOGNIZED AT THE 10th ANNUAL SIMA IMAGE AWARDS CEREMONY
ANAHEIM, Calif. (February 8, 2013) —Eighty nominees representing the best of the surf industry from 2012 were honored last night at the 10th annual SIMA Image Awards ceremony. More than 800 attendees from surf companies and specialty retail shops packed The Grove in Anaheim, Calif., to celebrate the outstanding innovations and contributions made by the SIMA Image Awards nominees, and to see the winners announced.
“The Image Awards is arguably one of SIMA’s most important initiatives,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and Vans’ Vice President of Marketing. “Innovation and excellence help keep the surf industry vibrant, and to recognize those achievements in our products, businesses, and our employees – the creative minds that keep our products and brands original – is very important. We’re proud to see the SIMA Image Awards program continue to grow in prominence with more and more entries each year. It’s really a competitive program. All of the nominees honored here tonight should be very proud of their accomplishments in advancing our industry.”
The SIMA Image Awards nominees were celebrated with a high-energy ceremony hosted by TV personality Pat Parnell, who was accompanied on stage by DJ Tina T who provided music for the winners’ victory lap. Award winners accepted their honors from the likes of celebrity guest presenters, including lead singer of Pennywise, Jim Lindberg; Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink of Foster the People; and, skateboard legend Christian Hosoi. A special thanks to Audi for their supporting sponsorship and helping to make this a stellar night for the surf industry.
As the only awards program of its kind, the goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry during the past year. This year, companies were recognized in the following 16 categories:
2012 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS WINNERS
OVERALL AWARDS
Breakout Brand of the Year: * winner – Brixton
Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced break out growth between January 1 and September 1, 2012. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have annual U.S. sales of at least $1 million and no more than $20 million. (Previous winners of this category are no longer eligible for five years.)
Brixton*
Lost
RAEN
Sun Bum
VSTR
Breakout Retailer of the Year: * winner – Surf Ride, San Diego
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in 2012, between January 1 and September 1. Consider the specialty retailer that had a break out year in terms of sales and increased store recognition and appeal. (Previous winners of this category are no longer eligible for five years.)
Hanger 94, San Diego
Proof Lab, Mill Valley
The Room Surf Shop, Puerto Rico
Spyder, Hermosa Beach
Surf Ride, San Diego*
MEN’S AWARDS
Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year: * winner – RVCA
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1, 2012.
Billabong
Hurley
Quiksilver Waterman Collection
RVCA*
Volcom
Men’s Boardshort of the Year: * winner – Phantom Fuse by Hurley
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
John John Signature Hyperfreak by O’Neill
Nanolater V4S by Volcom
Original Scallop Collection by Quiksilver
Phantom Fuse by Hurley*
Recycler Series by Billabong
Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year: * winner – “60 Years of Innovation” by O’Neill
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2012. Consider men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1 and September 1, 2012 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)
“60 Years of Innovation” by O’Neill*
“Archive Campaign” by Nixon
“Life’s Better in Boardshorts” by Billabong
“Phantom Fuse” by Hurley
“Pure FUNction – Kills Boredom Dead” by Volcom
Men’s Retailer of the Year: * winner – Hansen’s, Encinitas
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix and merchandising in the men’s category between January 1 and September 1, 2012.
Froghouse, Newport Beach
Hansen’s, Encinitas*
Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach
Jack’s Surfboards, Huntington Beach
Surf Ride, San Diego
WOMEN’S AWARDS
Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year: * winner – Quiksilver for girls
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1, 2012.
Billabong
Insight
Quiksilver for girls*
Roxy
Volcom
Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year: * winner – “Let the Sea Set You Free” by Roxy
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2012. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1 and September 1, 2012 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic magazines.)
“#5STEPH” by Quiksilver for girls
“I’ll Go If You Go” by Billabong
“Let the Sea Set You Free” by Roxy*
“My Bikini” by Rip Curl
“Volcom Brand Jeans Road-Tested” by Volcom
Women’s Swim Brand of the Year: * winner – L*Space by Monica Wise
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s swim brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1, 2012.
Billabong
L*Space by Monica Wise*
Rip Curl
Roxy
Volcom
Women’s Retailer of the Year: * winner – Jack’s Surfboards, Huntington Beach
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix and merchandising in the women’s category between January 1 and September 1, 2012.
17th Street, Virginia Beach
Hanger 94, San Diego
Jack’s Surfboards, Huntington Beach*
South Coast Wahines, San Diego
Surf Diva Boutique, La Jolla
PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year: * winner – Supertide Watch by Nixon
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.
Captain Ahab by Electric Visual
Puppet Socks by Volcom
Pro by Sun Bum
Retina Revolutionaries! by Von Zipper
Supertide Watch by Nixon*
Environmental Product of the Year: * winner – Recycler Boardshort Series by Billabong
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012). Consider apparel, footwear, accessory, wetsuit, surfboard or any other surf-related product that was created to lessen the impact on the environment, whether through its manufacturing process, materials or usage of the product itself.
Bella Costas We Heart Collection by Reef
Recycler Boardshort Series by Billabong*
H2O Tee by Hurley
Nexpa Pro by Vans
Reclaim V.Co-Logical Sandal by Volcom
Footwear Product of the Year: * winner – Van Doren Series by Vans
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Drop-In Heel by Olukai
Recliner Sandal by Volcom
RESRV Collection by Reef
Sidewalk Surfers by Sanuk
Van Doren Series by Vans*
Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year: * winner – Drylock Boot by Xcel
Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as fins, leashes, boardbags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories can be considered.
DNA Flex Mold Leash by Creatures of Leisure
Drylock Boot by Xcel*
ILT Box by Futures
Neo Goo Boot by Quiksilver
Psychofreak ST Boot by O’Neill Wetsuits
Surfboard of the Year: * winner – Neckbeard Squash by Channel Islands
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Bali Single by Rusty Surfboards
Bottom Feeder by Lost
Bowl Series by Lib Tech
Neckbeard Squash by Channel Islands*
Potatonator by Firewire
Wetsuit of the Year: * winner – FLASHBOMB by Rip Curl
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Cypher Fuseflex by Quiksilver
Drylock Power Seam by Xcel
FLASHBOMB by Rip Curl
Psycho Series with TechnoButter by O’Neill Wetsuits
Surf Capsule by Billabong
All regular and board builder SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own companies or brands, and retailers, in any qualifying categories. These entries were then reviewed and voted upon by an industry panel of experts comprised of both manufacturers and retailers. The outcome of the panel vote determined the five nominees in each category. Winners are determined by a final vote open to all SIMA member companies, as well as specialty retailers. A complete description of awards criteria, as well as a detailed explanation of the entry and voting processes and materials required can be found at www.simaimageawards.com.
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 23 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $6.2 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 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. Since 2004 the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised and donated more than $1.58 million to surf-related non-profit humanitarian organizations. For more information regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com. Follow SIMA at Twitter.com/SIMA_SURF.
