SIMA MEMBER INITIATIVES
PARTNERS
#SURFONOMICS
The surf industry is driven by a growing, passionate, and vibrant customer base of participants in the United States.
Surfonomics is how we define the financial and social scale of surfing on the global economy.
SURFING IS THE FASTEST GROWING WATERSPORT IN AMERICA
THE SIMA ENVIRONMENTAL FUND HAS DONATED MORE THAN $10 MILLION TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
A HEALTHY SURF ZONE CAN GENERATE AN AVERAGE OF $18 MILLIONS IN LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Latest Happenings
What a 400-Year-Old Brand Can Teach the Surf Industry About Relevance
For surf brands and retailers, the Zildjian story is a reminder that staying relevant isn’t about chasing what’s trendy, it’s about building a foundation that lasts. Quality, authenticity, and adaptability never go out of style. The surf industry’s most resilient brands will be the ones that honor their roots, invest in their communities, and evolve with purpose, just like Zildjian has for nearly 400 years.
Q&A with Vipe Desai, Executive Director of the Surf Industry Members Association
I started my career in 1991 when I bought a small surf shop with little experience, learning quickly from mentors who taught me the business from the ground up. That experience led to opportunities in marketing, helping brands like Red Bull connect authentically with action sports and discovering the power of giving back through nonprofit work. Today, as Executive Director of SIMA, I focus on supporting the entire surf industry—from startups to global brands—by strengthening the business, culture, and sustainability of surfing.
The Value of a Wave: Surfing’s $194M Impact on Santa Cruz
A new report from Save The Waves Coalition reveals that surfing generates an estimated $194.7 million a year for Santa Cruz’s economy, driven by over 783,000 annual surf visits, local gear purchases, and visitor spending.
RECAP: Surviving 2025: Brands and Retailers Share Their Strategies
The power-packed webinar, moderated by Tiffany Montgomery from Shop-Eat-Surf-Outdoor, focused on the impact of tariffs on the active lifestyle industry featuring insights from industry leaders including Josee Larocque, Paul Naude, Bryce Phillips, and Matt Powell. Discussions covered supply chain adjustments, pricing strategies and consumer sentiment amidst ongoing economic uncertainty.
#SURFINDUSTRY
