Waterman's Ball Raises $200,000
by John Stouffer
(8-18-98)

Once a year, the Southern California-based surf industry dresses up in formalwear (at least formal for surfers), awards members for lifetime achievement, participates in a silent auction for some great trips and products, eats a nice dinner, and parties late into the night.

This year's Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Waterman's Ball exceeded all expectations and raised more than 200,000 dollars for charitable donations to organizations such as the Surfrider Foundation,

ASR's Court Overin and Rusty's Brad Drew. Photo: Stouffer

American Ocean's Campaign, and the Orange County Marine Institute. Since its inception nine years ago, the event has raised more than a million dollars for different environmental organizations.

Held at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, California, the "creative black-tie" event had a sold-out crowd of surf, snowboard, skateboard, and related industry executives that numbered more than 950. Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight and Rusty Marketing Director Peter Townend hosted the silent auction where such items as snowboards, surfboards, mountain bikes, skateboards, trips to Cabo and Tavarua, and surf art were bid on by the crowd.

The Waterman's award went to Greg Noll for his early pioneering of big-wave riding and surfboard business, while Kelly Slater was honored as Surfer of the Year for winning more world titles than any other surfer. Patagonia Owner Yvon Chinnard was given the environmental award for his efforts to manufacture apparel from non-treated cotton and for building recyclable surfboards.

As the swinging tunes of the B-Side Players entertained the dancing crowd at the end of the evening, it became apparent that the people in attendance were thankful to work in an industry where their job is to help people have fun living the surf, snowboard, and skateboard lifestyle.

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