The action sports industry said good-bye to several peers and former colleagues in 2023.
Visionaries and entrepreneurs were remembered for not only their roles in helping shape or move the industry forward, but the marks they made on those who had the chance to work with them.
SES takes a look back at the individuals across surf, skate, and snow who passed away in 2023.
Ken Block, Co-founder DC Shoes and Hoonigan, Champion Rally Car Driver
Ken Block
Industry visionary Ken Block was remembered by many not just for his athletic talents but his skilled ability at building global brands first with DC Shoes and then Hoonigan among many others.
Block, who passed away in January from a snowmobile accident, was remembered by longtime Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight as “a master at his craft of inventing groundbreaking ideas in the action and motor sports theater.” To read the full remembrance for Block, click here.
Jim Jenks, Founder Ocean Pacific
Photos of Jim Jenks courtesy of Junior Jenks. Op shorts courtesy of SWOF.
Jenks launched the Ocean Pacific apparel label in 1972 with Don Hansen, Robert F. Driver, and Chuck Buttner, creating a brand that bridged surf, fashion, art, and music. At its height, Op generated roughly $400 million in revenue.
Jenks would later move on to build Newport Blue, a men’s diffusion line from Op, taking that business to about $20 million in sales.
Executives from across the industry shared their stories of Jenks, who passed away in March. The full story can be read here.
Jim Chick, Chick’s Sporting Goods
Photos of Jim Chick courtesy of Jimmy Chick.
Jim Chick built a regional chain likened to the Nordstrom of sporting goods stores that would go on to be bought by Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2007. Chick’s had about $120 million in sales and 15 stores at the time of the acquisition.
Former co-workers and others in the industry recalled Chick’s brand loyalty and merchant abilities following his passing in March. The full remembrance can be read here.
Will Howard, Founder, Dragon Alliance
Photos courtesy of Dragon Alliance.
Will Howard is the former Oakley employee who grew his garage start-up Dragon Alliance to a global brand that was at one time owned by Oakley and later sold to Marchon Eyewear. Friends, athletes, and former co-workers remembered Howard for his mentorship and leadership after Howard passed away in April following a battle with cancer. The full story can be found here.
Won Suh, Senior Buyer, Evo
Won Suh. Photo courtesy of Evo.
Evo senior buyer Won Suh was a Notre Dame business major who got his start at accounting firms before making the pivot to the snow industry beginning with 686 and eventually finding his way to evo in 2015. Several executives from the snow industry shared their memories of Suh, who passed away in May following a mountain biking accident. Read the full piece here.
Dave Hollander, Co-Founder, Becker Surfboards
(Left): Dave Hollander. Photo courtesy of Carol Nielsen. (Top right): Tony Giordano of Ocean Hut Surf Shop, Kelly Sorensen of On The Beach, Dave Hollander, and Mikke Pierson of ZJ Boarding House pictured in 2009. Photo courtesy of John Vance. (Bottom right): Dave Hollander. Photo courtesy of John Vance.
Dave Hollander was one part of the trio that started South Bay specialty retailer Becker Surfboards, a multi-chain purveyor of surf goods. Billabong International would later buy the business in 2010. Hollander was remembered by friends and colleagues just as much for his humor as his relentless pursuit to iterate on the business in this remembrance that ran in November.
