Surf Group Moves Image Awards
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association has announced a major venue change for its annual Image Awards, the awards ceremony that honors the top brands and retailers in the surf industry.
Traditionally held each May in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on the final day of SIMA’s yearly industry conference, Surf Summit, the Image Awards will now be held somewhere in Southern California in early 2011. Surf Summit will still be held in Mexico.
A release from SIMA said the venue change for the Image Awards was made because the foreign location limited the number of industry figures who could attend.
“The SIMA Image Awards have grown to be a very influential and important program to our industry,” said Doug Palladini, president of SIMA and vice president of marketing for Vans, in a statement. “There are so many people involved with the products and brands nominated for SIMA Image Awards each year—from designers to sales reps, to marketing coordinators and retail shop staff—and not all of these people can be in Cabo at Surf Summit for the final awards ceremony.
“The SIMA board of directors feels it is important to bring the Image Awards ceremony to a more accessible location in an effort to include more people from more of our member brands and retail partners and have them join in the celebration of seeing the products they’ve worked countless hours on be honored in front of their peers and the media.”
Products from SIMA members that are at market from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010, are eligible for the 15 award categories. Those categories include Breakthrough Brand of the Year, Breakthrough Retailer of the Year and Accessory Product of the Year.—Erin Barajas
