SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
NOMINEES FOR SIMA IMAGE AWARDS
 
- Surf Industry Recognizes the Best of the Surf Industry from 2010 -
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (November 29, 2010) -The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the list of nominees for the SIMA Image Awards, which will honor the best of the surf industry from 2010. In its eighth year, the SIMA Image Awards is the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry. 
"On behalf of the SIMA Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate each SIMA Image Awards nominee on the accomplishment of being recognized by your industry peers for your hard work and innovation," said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and VP of Marketing for Vans. "Image Awards is the perfect time to reflect on the excellence of our industry, celebrate the success of today and be inspired for the future. We look forward to honoring the nominees as well as the winners in February."
The winners will be announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony, which will be held for the first time stateside on Thursday, February 3, 2011, at the House of Blues Anaheim.
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 over the past year. This year, companies will be recognized in the following 15 categories.

SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES

OVERALL AWARDS

Breakthrough Brand of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men's or women's brand that experienced breakthrough growth between January 1 and September 1, 2010. 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 $25 million.
   ambsn        
   Analog Clothing           
   OluKai
   Quiksilver Waterman Collection
   Rusty
          
Breakthrough Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in 2010 between January 1 and September 1, 2010. Consider the specialty retailer that had a breakthrough year in terms of sales and increased store recognition and appeal.
   Brave New World
   Coastal Edge
   Farias Surf & Sport
   Hanger 94
     Hobie
           
MEN'S AWARDS

Men's Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men's apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2010. 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 2010 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)
   .Lost's "shitty & witty" Campaign
   Hurley's "Phantom: True Performance" Campaign
   Nixon's "Impressions" Campaign           
   Rip Curl's "MIRAGE: Like Wearing Nothing" Campaign
   Sanuk's "Cut & Paste" Campaign
 
Men's Apparel Brand of the Year
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, 2010.
   Billabong           
   Hurley
   Quiksilver
   RVCA
   Volcom

Men's Boardshort of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
   Cypher Brigg by Quiksilver
   Hyperfreak by O'Neill
   MIRAGE Boardshort by Rip Curl
   Phantom by Hurley
   PX1 by Billabong
                       
Men's Retailer of the Year
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, 2010.
    17th Street Surf Shop
   BC Surf & Sport, Fort Lauderdale
   Jack's Surfboards, Huntington Beach           
   Spyder Surf Shop, Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach
   Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa
                                   
WOMEN'S AWARDS

Women's Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women's apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2010. 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, 2010 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)
   Billabong's "Almost Famous" Campaign
   Insight's "Repeat After Me: I Am Free" Campaign
   Nixon's "Impressions" Campaign
   Roxy's "Cynthia Rowley for ROXY" Campaign
   Volcom's "Five Speed Fever" Campaign     
                              
Women's Apparel Brand of the Year
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, 2010.
   Billabong
   Insight
   O'Neill Girls
   Roxy
   Volcom

Women's Swim Brand of the Year
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, 2010.
   Billabong
   Hurley           
   L*Space
   Vitamin A by Amahlia Stevens
   Volcom
            
Women's Retailer of the Year
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, 2010.
   Hansens Surfboards, Encinitas
   Jack's Girls, Huntington Beach
   Surf Diva Boutique, La Jolla
   Surf Ride
   Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa
           
PRODUCT AWARDS

Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, bags, fins, etc. can be considered.
   CERAMIC 51-30 by Nixon
   Cypher PS+ Heat Vest by Quiksilver
   Infiniti Drylock Boot by Xcel
   Roc Nation Aviator by Skullcandy
     SurfSkates by .Lost           
 
Environmental Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010). 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.
   Green Foam Blanks by Green Foam
   RASTA Project by Sanuk
   Recycled Boardshort Series by Billabong
   The Ugandal by Reef
   V.co-logical T-shirts with a Reduced Carbon Footprint by Volcom
           
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
   Kia'i Trainer by OluKai
   Lucent Creedlers by Volcom
   Playa Negra by Reef
   Vans Surfsiders by Vans
   Yoga Mat Sandal by Sanuk

Surfboard of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from the Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
   Dwart by Rusty           
   The Dominator by Firewire
   The Dumpster Diver by Channel Islands Surfboards
   Scorcher Series by .Lost
   SUP 12'6 Race by C4 Waterman

          
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2010 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2010) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
   Cypher DS by Quiksilver
   E-Bomb Pro by Rip Curl
   Infiniti Drylock by Xcel
   Psycho RG8-Regenerate by O'Neill
   SGX Chest Zip 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 will be determined by a final vote open to all SIMA member companies, as well as specialty retailers. The main contact at each SIMA member company can expect information via email for final voting this week.
 
More information about the ceremony and how to access tickets will be available in the coming months. SIMA member brands and industry retail partners are encouraged to save the date, rally their teams and bring their cheering sections to what will be an exciting evening honoring excellence and innovation in the surf industry.
 
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 21 years, SIMA's Environmental Fund has raised more than $5.4 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. Liquid Nation Ball serves as the annual fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, and since 2004 has raised and donated more than $1.45 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.