Congratulations to all our 2017 Finalists
The finalists for the 2017 Australian Surf Industry Awards have been decided! With over 120 nominations across 30 categories ranging from State Retailers to Men’s and Ladies Brand of the Year, the Awards are a true celebration of industry achievement.
Launched in 2011, the annual awards winners will be announced at the gala SBIA Banquet being held at Crown Plaza Coogee, Sydney, on Thursday May 25th. The evening also recognise outstanding Service to the Industry, last year saw Mark Richards inducted into the Honour Roll. SBIA’s Dylan Beach added “we are really excited about this years Service to the Industry award, the recipient is very deserving of the recognition to our industry and sport”.
Vissla and RVCA have continued their momentum after taking out the top two places in the Breakthrough Brand of the Year in 2016, and are now for the first time ever in the running for Mens Brand of the Year. Vissla will also be looking to do one better in the Wetsuit of the Year after coming second behind Rip Curl’s Flashbomb in 2016.
The past year has been big for new and establishing brands in the Australian Surf Industry. The ladies fashion and swimwear brand, Tigerlilly is one such brand that has been making their impact on the Australian surf market, and this year the hard work looks to be paying off with a final placing in the Swimwear Brand of the Year and Ladies Brand of the Year, going up against the likes of Roxy, Rip Curl, Billabong and O’Neill.
One of the biggest movers from a new brand is Slater Designs. The surfboard brand of 11-time world champion Kelly Slater has made a big impact with his range of boards and accessories, and is a finalist in the Breakout Brand of the Year, Surfboard of the Year, and their Algae Traction Pad is also up for the Surf Accessory of the Year and Product Innovation of the Year. Impressive stuff!
Voting for the awards was conducted throughout a 3-week period, in which the voting premise was simple: Brands and Manufacturers vote for Retailers, and Retailers vote for Brand, Product and Service Awards. This years Marketing awards will be judged by an expert panel from POPAI, The Global Association of Marketing for Retail.
The 2017 Surf Industry Banquet and Awards night is a great opportunity for Australia’s brands and retailers to get together to celebrate the amazing surf and boardsports industry. The 2017 Banquet and Awards night is being held on the 25th May 2017 at the Crown Plaza at Coogee in Sydney.
| NSW Retailer of the Year | Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year Award |
| Aquatique | Billabong: Life’s Better In Boardshorts |
| Coopers Surf Australia | Patagonia: 100% For The Planet |
| Saltwater Wine | Stormriders | Quiksilver: Mongrel Mike |
| Sanbah Surf Shop | RVCA: Inspired By… |
| Southern Man | Vissla: Creators & Innovators Dream Steeple Campaign |
| QLD Retailer of the Year | Ladies Marketing Campaign of the Year Award |
| Beach Beat | Amuse Society: Beach Vida Bling |
| Crave Surf Industries | Billabong: A Bikini Kinda Life |
| Freetime Surf | Rip Curl: My Bikini |
| Suburban Surf | Roxy: POP Surf |
| Tript Port Douglas | Volcom: Caught Up In A Good Thing |
| SA/NT Retailer of the Year | Breakout Brand of the Year |
| Beaches Apparel | Afends |
| Extreme Boardriders | Creatures of Leisure |
| JR’s Surf & Ski | Patagonia |
| JT Surf & Skate | Reef |
| The Surf Shop | Slater Designs |
| VIC/TAS Retailer of the Year | Ladies Brand of the Year |
| Inland Surf | Billabong |
| Passport Surf | Rip Curl |
| People | Roxy |
| Red Herring Surf | Rusty |
| Strapper Surf | Blunt Skateboarding Co | Tigerlily |
| WA Retailer of the Year | Mens Brand of the Year |
| Clear Water Surf | Billabong |
| Destination Surf | Quiksilver |
| Evolution Surf | Rip Curl |
| Hillzeez | RVCA |
| Vidlers Surf | Vissla |
| Core Boardstore Award | Environment Award |
| Aloha Surf, Manly | Billabong |
| Sanbah, Mereweather | Firewire |
| Cooly Surf, Coolangatta | Patagonia |
| Kirra Surf, Kirra | Rip Curl |
| Strapper Surf, Torquay | Slater Designs |
| Quiksilver Boardriders, Coolangatta | Volcom |
| Sales and Customer Service Office of the Year | Breakout Retailer of the Year |
| Creatures of Leisure / Otis Head Office | Coopers Surf, NSW |
| Quiksilver Head Office | Extreme Boardriders, SA |
| Rip Curl Head Office | Hillzeez, WA |
| Rusty Head Office | Sanbah, NSW |
| Volcom Australia Head Office | The Board Store, WA |
| Account Manager of the Year – NSW | Product Innovation Award |
| Dayyan Neve: Surf Hardware International | Afends: Hemp Revolution |
| Jodie Watson: Rip Curl | Nixon: “Mission” Smartwatch |
| Michael Peters: Rip Curl | Oakley: Prizm Lens Technology |
| Nathan Marsh: Creatures of Leisure / Otis | Patagonia: Mens Reversible Bivy Down Vest – 100% Recycled Down |
| Ross Curtin: RC Agencies | Slater Designs: Algae Traction Pad |
| Account Manager of the Year – VIC/TAS | Shop Fit out of the Year Award |
| Lachlan McDonald: Oakley | Nixon, Bondi Junction, NSW |
| Lahnee Firth: Roxy | Rip Curl, Torquay, VIC |
| Lucas Nicol: Billabong | Sanbah, Mereweather, NSW |
| Paul Sunderman: Creatures of Leisure / Otis | Strapper Surf, Aireys Inlet, VIC |
| Rob Cottrell: Lark Agencies | The Board Store, Vasse WA. |
| Account Manager of the Year – QLD | Boardshort of the Year |
| Bryan Balthazaar: Quiksilver | Billabong: Tribong Boardshort |
| Drew Petrohilos: Havaianas | O’Neill: Hyperfreak Jordy Boardshort |
| Jess Hitchcock: Roxy | Quiksilver: New Wave Highline Boardshort |
| Joel McCabe: Inspired Youth Agency | Rip Curl: Mirage MF Focus 21 Boardshort |
| Kent Wright: Afends | Vissla: Upcycled Coconut Boardshort |
| Simon Bonny: Billabong | |
| Account Manager of the Year – SA/NT | Wetsuit of the Year |
| Paul Bock: Havaianas | O’Neill: Psychofreak |
| Prue Staude: Roxy | Patagonia: Mens R1 Yulex Front Zip Full Suit |
| Ryan Anderson: Instant Agencies | Quiksilver: Syncro High Dye Wetsuit |
| Travis Ochota: Bishop Agencies | Rip Curl: Flashbomb Chest Zip Wetsuit |
| Will Mills: Will Mills Agency | Vissla: Vissla 7 Seas Wetsuit |
| Account Managers of the Year – WA | Surfboard of the Year |
| Ainslie McLean: Roxy | Firewire: Greedy Beaver |
| Brad Fraser: Creatures of Leisure / Otis | JS: HYFI Monstabox |
| Kerry Whitford: Rip Curl | Rusty: Smoothie |
| Marty Farrow: Quiksilver | Slater Designs: Sci-Fi |
| Mike Maxted: Onboard Agencies | |
| Surfing Accessory of the Year | Sunglass Style of the Year |
| Creatures: Triple Shortboard Cover | Arnette: Cornerman |
| FCS: Essential Series Surfboard Covers | Dragon: Monarch |
| Futures Fins: Alpha Series | Electric: Swingarm |
| Rip Curl: F-Light Global Stacka Travel Bag | Otis: Youngblood |
| Slater Designs: Algae Traction Pad | Oakley: Holbrook |
| Footwear Brand of the Year | Swimwear Brand of the Year |
| DC | Billabong |
| Havaianas | O’Neill |
| Kustom | Rip Curl |
| Reef | Roxy |
| Vans | Tigerlily |
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION AND TICKETS TO THE 2017 BANQUET AND AWARDS NIGHT CLICK HERE
About the SBIA
The Surf & Boardsports Industry Association Inc (SBIA) is a non profit organisation, founded by, and run by Surf & Boardsports Retailers and Industry Brands. The association serves as the preeminent voice on a grassroots level with manufacturers, suppliers, and other associations.
The SBIA is run by its members, who through the elected Board determines policies and sets strategic goals. The Board is directed and maintains its strength and focus through the input of its members and is the public voice of the Association.
The Association’s vision is to “Support the development of the Surf & Boardsports Industry” and does this through it’s Industry Awards, forums, summits, research and communications.
Thanks to our 2017 Award Sponsors
