Billabong’s “Art of Shaping, Hawaii Edition” and “Bing Surfboards - 50 Years of Craftsmanship and Innovation” Book Signing to Be Featured at September Trade Show

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.  (August 11, 2008) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is pleased to announce two new activities scheduled for the ASR/SIMA Board Builders Pavilion: the “Art of Shaping, Hawaii Edition” presented by Billabong USA, and a book signing by legendary board builder Bing Copeland and author Paul Holmes. The events will be held this September 4-6 at the ASR (Action Sports Retailer) trade show in San Diego, Calif.

The “Art of Shaping, Hawaii Edition” event, presented by Billabong USA, will feature an auction of unique surfboards from some of the top shapers from Hawaii. Featured shapers include Eric Arakawa, Dick Brewer, Jeff Bushman, John Carper, Keone Downing, Greg Griffin, Roger Hinds, Harold Iggy, Barry Kanaiaupuni, Gerry Lopez, Glenn Minami, Steve Morgan, Dennis Pang, Glenn Pang, Tom Parrish, Pat Rawson, Charlie Smith and Wade Tokoro. 

“The concept of the ‘Art of Shaping, Hawaii Edition’ is simple,” said Royce Cansler, Director of Specialty Retailer Relations for Billabong USA. “It is a venue to showcase the talent of Hawaii-based surfboard shapers and craftsmen by allowing them to build boards they dream about making. Shapers are invited and encouraged to make something they have always wanted to make, but may not have had a reason to shape, or to make a board that has had a dramatic impact on them personally or represents historical significance over their shaping career.”

The boards will be on display in the ASR/SIMA Board Builders Pavilion at ASR, where a silent auction will run for the first two days of the show. The auction will go live at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, and each board will go to the highest bidder. All proceeds from the auction will go to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund’s Liquid Nation Ball, the charitable organization chosen for this year’s Billabong ‘Art of Shaping.’ The shaper of the board that secures the highest bid for charity will be named the winner and will also receive a cash prize.

Also featured in the ASR/SIMA Board Builders Pavilion is a book signing by surfboard building pioneer and legend Bing Copeland and author Paul Holmes. Copeland and Holmes will sign copies of their new book, “Bing Surfboards – 50 Years of Craftsmanship and Innovation,” for purchasers from 10:00 a.m. - noon and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on both Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5. The book is a detailed account of the famous Bing Surfboards label and its role in the development of surfboard design and the surfboard industry. Books can be purchased at the signing for $60.

“These activities are a great way to highlight the exciting nature of surfboards,” said Bill Bahne, chairman of SIMA’s Board Builders Committee. “We’re proud to welcome these events to the ASR/SIMA Board Builders Pavilion as they help to signify the continued growth and evolution of this section of the show floor.”

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 18 years, SIMA's Environmental Fund has raised more than $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 in 2006 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.