Surf industry awards announced tonight

REPRESENTATIVES from Australia’s surf and boardsports retailers will descend on Coogee Beach tonight (Thursday, October 25) for the industry’s annual awards, and several businesses with a presence in Torquay are in the running.

The Surf and Boardsports Industry Association has released the lists of finalists ahead of tonight’s banquet and awards night, with awards split into voted and judged categories.

The Boardriders and Rip Curl customer service offices in Torquay are both contenders for Sales and Customer Service Office of the Year (a voted award), alongside Billabong’s Burleigh Heads office, Rusty’s Osborne Park office and Volcom’s head office in Balgowlah.

There are five Victorian finalists for the best-voted Account Manager of the Year – Ben Griffiths (Rip Curl), Daniel Jenkin (Rip Curl), Joel Reid of Easey Street (Volcom), Josh Grimshaw (Quiksilver) and Lahnee Firth (Roxy).

In the judged awards, Strapper Surf is one of five finalists for Australian Breakout Retailer of the Year, along with Coopers Surf, Jungle Surf, Sanbah and Surf Esteem.

Visitors to this year’s Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach may remember Rip Curl’s #cheersmick campaign, which is a finalist in Men’ Marketing Campaign of the Year.

The surf brand ran a competition asking people to show their appreciation for Fanning and include the #cheersmick hashtag to win one of seven rash vests signed by the surfer. One of the winners was a picture featuring Jan Juc youngster Lucius White jumping in front of his house.