Press release:
ORLANDO, FL (September 10, 2013) – The second annual Stokes Me Surf Contest raised upwards of $35,000 on Saturday, more than doubling last year’s contest funds and positioning the SIMA Humanitarian Fund’s Stokes Me campaign to be off to a successful start. The contest, held during the Surf Expo Industry Party presented by Sanuk at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, saw 15 surf industry teams compete for the crowd’s approval for the best – or most unique – surfed wave.
This year Asher Nolan and Zach Hartley were deemed the Stokes Me Surf Contest winners, surfing the contest for the Hurley Team. Team Liquid Tribe (Aguerre Bros) contestants, Chris Clark from Shaper Studios and Mark Pontius from Foster The People, were awarded the Best Dressed team as they surfed in the contest while wearing Christmas onesies purchased on the Surf Expo show floor. Other fan favorites included Dave Rastovich surfing the wave pool on a board with no fins, the legendary duo Gregory Harrison (“Chandler” from the cult-classic film North Shore) and Jeff Clark making an appearance in the pool. And Sanuk team members, Jeff Booth and Bob Soven, shook things up by riding tandem. The memorable contest was emceed by Peter “PT” Townend and Scott Bass and all boards were provided by Scott Guinto Surfboards and BIC Surfboards.
The Stokes Me Surf Contest served as the kick-off to the main component of the Stokes Me fundraiser, a month-long campaign in which surf industry retailers, brands and consumers join forces to raise funds for the 2013 SIMA Humanitarian Fund beneficiaries. Throughout the month of September, participating retailers will ask their customers to add a dollar to their purchases to support the humanitarian efforts of the beneficiaries. While retailers and consumers are committed to raising funds on their end, surf industry brands have also committed to donate anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 to Stokes Me.
All of the funds raised during Stokes Me will be given directly to 11 surf-related humanitarian organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. For a complete list of beneficiaries and more information on how to get involved, visit www.stokesme.org.
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 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 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.
