OC surf brands take majority of awards at SIMA
October 5th, 2009, 1:55 pm · · posted by Laylan Connelly, staff writer
We all know Orange County dominates the surf industry, and that was proven again at this year’s SIMA Image Awards held down in Cabo San Lucas last week.
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) has put on the awards for seven years, and allows the surf industry the chance to recognize fellow surf companies for their contributions to the culture.
According to SIMA, the goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. There were 15 categories, and here were some of the OC standouts:
It was a huge year for Newport Beach-based Atwater, which took home the win for Breakthrough Brand of the Year. This brand has blown up in the past few years, and will no doubt continue to grow. The segment recognizes the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced breakthrough growth the previous year. Atwater beat out brands such as Skullcandy and Von Zipper.
Scott Madison and Dean Bradley of Atwater accept their award
Billabong, headquarters in Irvine, took home a number of awards, including Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year, and Environmental Product of the Year for their Recycled Boardshort.
Hurley won the segment for Men’s Boardshort of the Year with their Phantom design, and if were anywhere near the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing this year or the Hurley Pro, you should be pretty familiar with the boardshorts. Here’s an image of HB’s Brett Simpson in an ad for the product. The segment recognizes the most exciting design, appeal or innovation in 2008.
Surfside Sports in Costa Mesa won the Men’s Retailer of the Year award, and Huntington Surf & Sport took home the win for Women’s Retailer of the Year.
Make sure to check out the brand L*Space, based out of Irvine. They won two awards this year, beating out major companies Billabong, Hurley, Roxy and Volcom for the Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year, and also took home the award for Women’s Swim Brand of the Year against the big brands.
Irvine-based Lost won the Men’s Marketing Campaign, and O’Neill captured the win for the Wetsuit of the Year for their Psychofreak by O’Neill Wetsuits.
Accessory product of the year went to San Clemetne bsed Electric Visual for their iPhone Application.
Congrats to all our local companies for an extrodinary year! Check out the coverage done by shop-eat-surf.com at the event.
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BEACHAPEDIA – your guide to the coast
Local surfers recognized
Nice – you left off the fact that Lost won men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year. L Space only won for Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year. You also failed to mention O’Neill winning for Wetsuit of the Year!! Get the facts straight and give props where props are due to other manufacturers in the industry – not just those who advertise!
Thanks pjpr72 – you’re right, should have added those in, a total oversight. Added now.
Congratulations to all of the winners of this years SIMA Awards and all of those that contributed. Keep up the momentum with great advertising and marketing.