Board Retailers Association Event Calendar

THE OAKLEY SURF SHOP CHALLENGE 2010 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

 

Series Includes Two New Regional Stops

 

San Clemente, Calif. (March 18, 2010) - SURFER Magazine's Oakley Surf Shop Challenge is back and bigger than ever having grown from five to seven regional events. The 2010 series now includes regional stops at Cardiff, Newport Beach, and Santa Cruz, in California as well as Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Kewalo Basin on Oahu's South Shore.

2009 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Champions Team Sunrise

What started as a single Southern California contest in the early '80s now includes every major retail market in the country, not to mention some of the most renowned surf spots North America has to offer. "The incredible support from Oakley and all the other brands is what really allowed us to add the additional stops," said Group Publisher SURFER and SURFING,Tony Perez. "We're looking forward to seeing which shops come out on top in 2010."

Surf shops play a pivotal role in the success of the action sports retail industry by linking brands to their core consumers. Recognizing the importance of this relationship and supporting these brand ambassadors remains the founding philosophy behind the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge. "By dedicating an entire event to our core accounts, Oakley is acknowledging the huge role they play in the success of our brand and the entire action sports retail industry," says Ronny Nelson, Oakley Surf Marketing Manager. "We're proud to support the healthy competition among surf shops and give back to the employees. We always look forward to the finals in Huntington and the shops look forward to the bragging rights that follow."

Last year's National Champion and grand prize-winning team was Florida's Sunrise Surf Shop, comprised of team riders Ryan Briggs and Asher Nolan and shop employees Garett Carmichael and Dane Jefferys.

With three regional and two national titles now under their belt, Team Sunrise is an undeniable force to be reckoned with on the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge circuit. However, after having tasted the sweetness of a national title race, the other four 2009 regional champs, Heritage from the Northeast, SurfRide from the Southwest, T & C from Hawaii, and Freeline from the Northwest, will be returning to the series hungrier than ever for a victory of their own. But with the addition of the San Diego and the Mid-Atlantic regions, the competition will be more competitive than ever. Stay tuned to find out who will be back for another chance to claim the national title, the $10,000 prize purse, and an entire year of bragging rights.

This year's regional winners will not only earn an expense-paid trip to the national championship, but each will also receive a full-page shop profile in SURFER Magazine, and product from all sponsors.

The regional contests will begin in April and run through the end of August, with the National Championship taking place in Huntington Beach, CA, on September 13, 2010.

For photos, video footage, results and more check out SurfShopChallenge.com.

Special thanks to Oakley and other event partners Muscle Milk, New Era Caps, Firewire Surfboards, Bubble Gum Surf Wax, and Buell Wetsuits for all their support. Without their involvement the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be what it is today.

About Oakley, Inc.
The global leader in performance sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear, Oakley also offers technical and lifestyle apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. The company was created for athletes who see impossibility as just another challenge, and their dedication inspires Oakley to seek out problems, solve with innovation and wrap invention in art. Exceeding the limits of possibility for more than thirty years, Oakley serves the demands of world-class athletes with unbeatable technologies including High Definition Optics® (HDO®). Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.

About SURFER
In 1960, SURFER Magazine began as the original. After a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award winning state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker "the bible of the sport." The SURFER brand has also grown to include Surfermag.com, Fantasy Surfer, The Hot 100, My SURFER Cover and a myriad of SURFER message boards. All of these assets combine to make the SURFER network the most current and reliable channel of information to the surf community. The magazine is published by Source Interlink's Action Sports Group (ASG) which reaches more than 2 million active sports enthusiasts through an integrated network of magazines, online properties, events and television programming.

Media Contacts:

Elishia Matta
SURFER PR Manager
(949) 370-7083
elishia.matta@sorc.com

Tess Weaver
Oakley Sports Marketing Media
541-206-3083
tweaver@oakley.com

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Jason Mraz to be Honored as 2010 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund is proud to announce Jason Mraz as the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year. Mraz will be honored at Liquid Nation Ball 7, the official fundraiser for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, on Saturday, August 14, 2010, in La Jolla, Calif.

Well known as a two time Grammy award winner and for his clever, inspired way with words, Mraz is also known for his selfless dedication to charitable causes. Mraz is proud to consider himself as one of the hundreds of thousands to be motivated by Jesse Billauer of Life Rolls On, an organization that utilizes the sport of surfing to improve the quality of life of young people affected by spinal cord injury. As an avid supporter of Life Rolls on, Mraz has dedicated himself to promoting the organization by garnering public support, serving as an honorary chairman for their events, and performing benefit concerts. In addition to his efforts for Life Rolls On, Mraz's humanitarian work also extends to groups such as Save The Music, Musicares, Free The Children, as well as his hometown arts program, SPARC.

"The SIMA Humanitarian Fund is honored to recognize Jason Mraz as the 2010 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year," said Fernando Aguerre, SIMA Humanitarian Fund President and Liquid Nation Ball Chairman and co-founder. "As a fellow surfer who calls the beaches of San Diego home, Jason is one of our own. He not only inspires us and millions of young people around the world with his amazing musical talent, but we are all immensely impressed by his humble and eager heart to help others and make this world a better place."

Liquid Nation Ball 7 will be held on August 14, 2010, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the ocean-front home of Fernando Aguerre in La Jolla, where one of the best private surfboard collections in the world is on display. The event includes dancing, live music, great food, open bar, and short live auction of unique, one-of-a-kind items to benefit 13 surf-related humanitarian organizations. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors aims to continue the record fundraising legacy of the event and raise a net amount of $250,000 at Liquid Nation Ball 7. For more information visit www.liquid-nation.com. Tickets will be on sale in late June.

"Now in its seventh year, Liquid Nation Ball consistently amazes me each year as it has grown not only in the amount of fundraising support raised, but as a night where the party gets better and more exciting each year," said Aguerre. "Liquid Nation Ball is fueled by a passion for helping others through surfing. I look forward to honoring each of our 13 amazing beneficiaries by raising support for their inspirational work and programs."

Liquid Nation Ball was originally created by Santiago and Fernando Aguerre to support the humanitarian efforts of SurfAid. In 2006 the brothers donated the Ball to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Ball now serves as the official fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund. Since 2004, Liquid Nation Ball has donated more than $1.25 million to surf-related, non-profit humanitarian organizations. All proceeds from Liquid Nation Ball 7 will benefit 13 surf-related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations selected by the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors for their efforts focusing on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. The 2010 Liquid Nation Ball beneficiaries include Keep a Breast, Boarding for Breast Cancer, Surfer's Healing, Jimmy Miller Foundation, AccesSurf Hawaii, Mauli Ola Foundation, Best Day Foundation, Outdoor Outreach, Stoked Mentoring, Life Rolls On, Project Wipeout, SurfAid International and the Sumba Foundation.

For event information, please contact Shannon Park, shannon@sima.com or 949.366.1164 x2. To make a contribution to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, please visit www.liquid-nation.com and click on the donation link.

The first annual L.A. Skate Film Festival was created to focus on the filmmakers, directors and artists within Skateboarding, the lifestyle that cultivated the idea of "brand movies" and "lifestyle documentaries."

For the first time Los Angeles, the birthplace of Skateboarding, will host this International skate film festival dedicated to the best films and the people behind them. The L.A. Skate Film Festival will focus on eight featured categories including: U.S. Film, International Film, Independent Film, Documentary, Skate Shop Video, Emerging Filmmaker, Commercial and Classic.

Behind the scenes awards will also be given out in the categories of Best Photography, Best Editing, Best Soundtrack, Best Intro and Best Skit

Submissions are now open via http://www.withoutabox.com.  Selected submissions will be sent to a panel of judges including skateboarding legend C.R. Stecyk, SkateDaily.net co-founder Bryce Kanights, and French filmmaker Fred Mortagne.

Top nominated films will be publicly screened in Los Angeles on August 31st and September 1st, 2010 at the Downtown Independent Theater followed by an awards ceremony on September 2nd, 2010.
Fuel TV, the "Official TV/Network Partner", will broadcast highlights of the Festival on the "Daily Habit" and the "Weekly Update."

Welcome to Surf Expo, where since 1976 manufacturers and retailers in the surf, skate, water sports, swim and resort industries have come together in a business-first buying and selling environment.

Surf Expo is produced twice annually for manufacturers and retailers in the Board, Beach and Fashion industries. Held in January and September in Orlando, Florida, Surf Expo draws buyers from specialty stores across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world.

Surf Expo features more than 2,000 booths of apparel and hardgoods and a full line-up of special events, including fashion shows, annual awards ceremonies, and skate and other boardsport demos.

Average buyer and exhibitor turnout exceeds 15,000 attendees including retailers, exhibitors and media per show.

Surf Expo is endorsed by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA); the Board Retailers Association (BRA), and the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA).


Connect At Surf Expo
No matter what the market category, Surf Expo is your one-stop place for the latest product and hottest trends.

The Boardsports Category -

Surf - It's the category that launched Surf Expo, the surfing industry's oldest and largest trade show. Features boards, sunglasses and sun protection products, boardshorts, juniors, footwear and fins.

Skate - Surrounding the show's street course and vert ramp, it's got a vibe all its own. Includes boards, trucks, rails, footwear, protective gear and accessories, and apparel for the youth culture.  

Wakeboard & Waterski - THE marketplace for boards, bindings, gear including clothing, helmets and wetsuits, fat sacs and pumps, plus other related accessories. Plus boats and jetskis, towers, pylons, racks, speakers, lights, and biminis.

Kiteboard & Windsurf - Surf Expo is the retailers' resource for all wind-related boarding. Features kites, boards, sails, booms, masts, harnesses, bindings and related accessories.

Stand Up Paddle - Features the boards, paddles and fins, plus accessories, racks and training videos.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SKATEBOARD COMPANIES (IASC) LAUNCHES LOCAL SKATESHOP DAYS

Celebration for Specialty Skateboard Retailers Set for October 9-10, 2010

The International Association of Skateboard Companies is pleased to announce the creation of Local Skateshop Days, two full days honoring specialty skateboard retailers. The celebration, set for October 9-10, 2010, will encourage manufacturers to focus their attention on the front lines of their distribution, the core skateboard retailer. IASC members will take this opportunity to create special promotions for their key retailers and show their recognition of shops worldwide that are the cornerstone of the skateboarding scene in their communities.

"Skate shops have always been essential to the heart, soul and spirit of skateboarding." Says Don Brown, IASC Chairman of the Board. "By creating "Local Skateshop Day" skateboarding, as a whole, can focus on driving awareness, energy, support and friendship to our family on the front lines- the core retailer. It's essential that we do whatever it takes to support these shops in order to keep the true passion and creativity of skateboarding alive. Let the good times roll!"

Local Skateshop Day will utilize many of the successful elements from Go Skateboarding Day, a worldwide celebration of skateboarding created by IASC in 2004 and held every year on June 21.

Look for more information on Local Skateshop Day on Skateboardiasc.org and coming to a skateshop near you!

Contact: Laurie Bergthold Laurie@skateboardiasc.org Ph. 949-455-1112 Fax. 949-455-1217