Winners to be announced at ceremony on March 11, 2020 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif.
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (February 11, 2020) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the finalists in all 19 categories of the 16th Annual SIMA Awards, a program that strives to identify the surf industry’s most influential and innovative companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry in 2019.
The SIMA Awards is the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize their peers for their outstanding contributions to the industry. Regular, Board Builder, and applicable Associate SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own brands and products for consideration in qualifying categories. Additionally, specialty retailers that carry surf products with 15 doors or less were able to enter one of their storefronts for consideration in the four geographic Retailer of the Year categories.
All entries were then reviewed and voted on by SIMA members and select, top specialty retailers. The outcome of the voting determined the five finalists in each category, which are listed below by category. The top finalist in each category based on points awarded in voting will be declared the winner and announced on March 11 at the SIMA Awards ceremony at The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now and can be purchased here.
The following outstanding products, brands, media and specialty retailers have been selected as the finalists in the 16th Annual SIMA Awards (finalists listed in alphabetical order):
2019 SIMA AWARDS CATEGORIES
PRODUCT
- Accessory Product of the Year
Awarded to the accessory product style or collection (whether a single product or multiple products featuring the same technology or attributes) at retail between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, hardgoods accessories (fins, leashes, etc.), headphones, socks, and other accessories other than eyewear can be considered.
FinPuller by FinPuller
Search GPS2 Watch by Rip Curl
Surf Sessions by Surfline
The 4ocean Bracelet by 4ocean
Surf Boot Mid by Vans
- Environmental Product of the Year
Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product style or collection (whether a single product or multiple products featuring the same technology or attributes) at retail between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. 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.
Billabong Recycler by Billabong
Men’s & Women’s Yulex Wetsuits by Patagonia
Algae Traction by Slater Designs
The 4ocean Bracelet by 4ocean
Upcycled Coconut Boardshort Collection by Vissla
- Footwear Product of the Year
Awarded to the footwear product style or collection (whether a single product or multiple products featuring the same technology or attributes) at retail between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Alapa Li by Olukai
Rivi Slide by Quiksilver
Cushion Bounce Collection by Reef
Sanuk – Pair O Dice
UltraRange Hi DL MTE by Vans
- Eyewear Product of the Year
Awarded to the eyewear product style or collection (whether a single product or multiple products featuring the same technology or attributes) at retail between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Sampan by Costa Sunglasses
Rob Machado Resin Collection by Dragon
JJF12 by Electric
OMAR by Otis Eyewear
- Wetsuit of the Year
Awarded to the wetsuit style or collection (whether a single product or multiple products featuring the same technology or attributes) at retail between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Hyperfreak Series by O’Neill
Flashbomb Heat Seeker by Rip Curl
7 Seas Wetsuit Collection by Sisstrevolution
7 Seas Wetsuit Collection by Vissla
Infiniti LTD by XCEL Wetsuits
SURFBOARD
- Performance Shortboard Model of the Year
Awarded to the shortboard model available to customers from January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019 that best catered to the competition-minded customer through exciting design, appeal and/or innovation.
Monsta Box Hyfi by JS Industries
Shadow by Pyzel
The Blade by Rusty Surfboards
FRK by Slater Designs
Disco Inferno by Surftech x Sharp Eye
- Alternative Surfboard Model of the Year
Awarded to the surfboard model available to customers from January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019 with the most exciting design, appeal and/or innovation that does not qualify as a performance shortboard. Examples include, but are not limited to: longboards, fishes, mini Simmons, quads, gliders, single-fins, and mid lengths.
Seaside by Firewire Surfboards
Black Baron by JS Industries
Astro Pop by Pyzel
419Fish by Rusty Surfboards
Cymatic by Slater Designs
MEN’S
- Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Awarded to the men’s apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods or accessory brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2019. Consider men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in areas such as digital, social media, print, and/or point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in the market between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Generations of Quiksilver by Quiksilver
Cushion Bounce Collection by Reef
Vol 17: Scotland “Songs of the Scuttled” by Roark
Outside the Lines by Vans
Rising Seas by Vissla
- Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Awarded to the men’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Billabong
Roark
RVCA
Salty Crew
Vissla
- Men’s Boardshort Brand of the Year
Awarded to the men’s boardshort brand that featured the most exciting designs, appeal, and innovation between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Billabong
O’Neill
Roark
RVCA
Vissla
WOMEN’S
- Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Awarded to the women’s apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods or accessory brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2019. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in areas such as digital, social media, print, and/or point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in the market between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Sincerely Jules, A Bikini Kind of Life by Billabong Women’s
Grit Meets Grace by O’Neill Women’s
Cushion Bounce Collection by Reef
My Bikini by Rip Curl
Make Waves Move Mountains by ROXY
- Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Awarded to the women’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Billabong Women’s
O’Neill Women’s
Rip Curl
Sisstrevolution
- Women’s Swim Brand of the Year
Awarded to the women’s swim brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Billabong Women’s
O’Neill Women’s
Rip Curl Swim
ROXY SISTER Collection
Seea
OVERALL
- Breakout Brand of the Year
Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced break out growth between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Companies can be new or established brands, but must have annual U.S. sales of at least $1 million and no more than $10 million (previous winners of this category are no longer eligible for five years).
Buell Wetsuits
Otis Eyewear
Salty Crew
Simbi
Sisstrevolution
MEDIA
- Consumer Media Feature of the Year
Awarded to the print, digital, or multi-platform feature, collection, or series in a consumer-facing print or online media outlet that displayed the most creativity in concept, content, and/or execution, that best represented surfing as a cultural force, best represented the essence of surf culture, and best served the surf consumer, between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Once Upon a Time in New Zealand by BeachGrit
The Pick Up by Stab Magazine
Handmade 2 by SURFER
RETAIL
“Specialty Retail” is defined as a stand-alone store or retailer with 15 doors or less that carries surf products. The entry is to be for one storefront location/address that must be specified when the entry is submitted. Stores owned by surf brands/manufacturers are not eligible.
- Retailer of the Year – East Coast
Awarded to the East Coast specialty retail storefront (in the following states: ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, and PR) carrying surf products that featured the best merchandising, customer experience, innovation, creativity, and community involvement between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
17th Street Surf Shop (Virginia Beach VA)
BC Surf & Sport (Fort Lauderdale FL)
Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co. (Hampton NH)
Heritage Surf & Sport (Ocean City NJ)
Island Water Sports (Deerfield Beach FL)
- Retailer of the Year – Inland America
Awarded to the Inland America specialty retail storefront (in the following states: AL, AZ, AR, CO, DC, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, ND, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WI, and WY) carrying surf products that featured the best merchandising, customer experience, innovation, creativity, and community involvement between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
BC Surf & Sport (Denver CO)
Benjamin Surf n Skate (Corpus Christi TX)
Tyler’s (Fort Worth TX)
- Retailer of the Year – West Coast
Awarded to the West Coast specialty retail storefront (in the following states: CA, OR, WA, and AK) carrying surf products that featured the best merchandising, customer experience, innovation, creativity, and community involvement between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
Hansen Surfboards (Encinitas CA)
Huntington Surf & Sport (Huntington Beach CA)
Jack’s Surfboards (Huntington Beach CA)
Spyder Surf (Hermosa Beach CA)
Val Surf (Valley Village CA)
- Retailer of the Year – Hawaii
Awarded to the Hawaii specialty retail storefront carrying surf products that featured the best merchandising, customer experience, innovation, creativity, and community involvement between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
HIC/AM Surf (Ala Moana, HI)
Hi-Tech Surf Sports (Kahului, HI)
T&C Surf Designs (Al Moana, HI)
About SIMA
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of 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 29 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $7 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 $1.7 million to surf-related non-profit humanitarian organizations. For more information regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com.
