In honor of founder Jack O’Neill and his numerous contributions to the world of surfing and action sports, O’Neill recently released a gorgeous coffee table book, Jack O’Neill: It’s Always Summer on the Inside, which celebrates the contributions and innovations O’Neill has brought to both action sports and surfing, and the company’s up and coming 60th anniversary.

Jack O’Neill is a maverick, a pioneer and the legendary man behind the wetsuit and first surf shop. In the mid 20th century, surfing was pretty much confined to warm-water latitudes and summer seasons. By the end of the century, however, and due to O’Neill’s invention of the wet suit, surfers were riding waves in some of the most remote coldwater corners of the world in the dead of winter!

The book features 256 pages filled with stories and anecdotes of Jack O’Neill’s legendary adventures. Each chapter is a compilation of short narratives and impactful historical imagery, from his early years in Southern California and Oregon to San Francisco, where he invented the surfing wetsuit, to Santa Cruz, where he built an international business by effectively defying the seasons. The story is told in Jack’s own words as well as dozens of contributors, including Bruce Brown, Shaun Tomson, Robby Naish, Tom Curren, Phil Edwards, Fred Van Dyke, Mike Doyle, Martin Potter, Ken “Skindog” Collins, Dane Kealoha, Joey Buran, Jim Philips, Jim Foley, Jack LaLanne, and Jordy Smith.

“My motivation has always been fueled by the waves and the ocean,” said Jack O’Neill. “In fact, I’ve been working for most of my life to find ways that we can all better appreciate and enjoy this fantastic planet. To have a book telling the story of my life and my journey is a true honor,” he added, “but, more importantly, I hope my story will inspire others to look past their limitations and to think toward the future with greater respect for Mother Nature.”

A percentage of the book’s sales will be donated to the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental education program. Of course, you can find the book here at Becker: http://beckersurf.com/oneill/40340

A truly inspirational read! Continue reading →

It is official been 1 month since the new year started. How are ya’ll coming along with your new year surf resolutions? If you haven’t been in some water it’s better now then never! In the meanwhile, enjoy this baby cresting the waves.

Happy 2012 everyone – hope it’s a wave-kicking year for all. Continue reading →

A new year means a possible new ASP World Champ… and we’re ready! Let the games begin. Yeah, Kelly won his 11th, but it’s a whole new contest with the 2012 ASP World Title truly up for grabs. With the deactivation of the midyear rotation for 2012, the current ASP Top 34 will compete for the entirety of the season, starting with the season-opening, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast from February 25 – March 7, 2012. Here’s the year’s schedule below.

Who do you think will nab the title this year? Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Owen Wright, Taj Burrow, Adriano De Souza, or someone else? Who’s your pick?

2012 ASP WORLD TITLE SCHEDULE:
- Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (February 25 – March 7, 2012)
- Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (April 3 – 14, 2012)
- Billabong Rio Pro (May 9 – 20, 2012)
- Volcom Fiji Pro (June 3 – 15, 2012)
- Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (July 11 – 21, 2012)
- Billabong Pro Tahiti (August 16 – 27, 2012)
- Hurley Pro at Trestles (September 16 – 22, 2012)
- Quiksilver Pro France (September 28 – October 8, 2012)
- Rip Curl Pro Portugal (October 10 – 21, 2012)
- O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz (November 2 – 12, 2012)
- Billabong Pipe Masters (December 8 – 20, 2012)

For more information, log onto ASPWorldTour.com.
Image Source: bnqt.com Continue reading →

The Billabong World Junior Championships are going on this week, and we’ve been up on the world’s most prestigious junior surfing tournament!

From January 21^st – 29^th, Australia’s Burleigh Heads will play host to the to the third and final event of the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour, bringing together the world’s top 45 male junior surfers (plus three wildcards) (aged 15-20) and the top 17 rated junior women’s surfers (plus one wildcard) from countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, including the USA, Brazil, Japan, Tahiti, South Africa, France and Portugal.

It will be the first time the event has been held on the Gold Coast, which happens to be just a mile down the road from Billabong’s headquarters. Former venues include Sydney’s North Narrabeen, Victoria’s Phillip Island and Maui’s Honolua Bay.

The Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast decides the Men’s and Women’s ASP World Junior Champions. The men’s total prize pool for the men’s division is $100,000 with the winner receiving $25,000. The women’s total prize pool is $25,000 with the winner receiving $5,000.

The men’s and women’s world junior champions will be crowned alongside ASP Men’s champion Kelly Slater (USA) and ASP Women’s champion Carissa Moore (Haw) at the upcoming ASP World Champions banquet on the Gold Coast, February 23rd.

Every heat from the Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast will be webcast live. If you can’t get to the beach, enjoy the action via www.billabongpro.com. There will be loads of expert commentary, replays, stats, multiple camera angles, viewer interactivity and more.

Good luck to all!

Continue reading →

The SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association) Image Awards are set for February 9^th at the Grove in Anaheim. The Image Awards are now in their ninth year, and is meant to “identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year,” according to their press announcement.

There are 16 categories honoring brands and stand out companies for breakthrough brand of the year, to the best retailer, and even the best marketing campaign.

Tickets are available for the SIMA Image Awards on a first-come first-served basis. General Admission Tickets are $35 per person and VIP Tickets are $100 per person. VIP Tickets will include access to an exclusive lounge-style seating area for the ceremony – up front and close to the action, VIP after-party and a complimentary cocktail with table service. Tickets are required for entry into the event and lost tickets will not be refunded. The deadline to buy tickets is Jan. 30.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.simaimageawards.com.

Now, here’s a shout out to some of the nominees, with a link to the brands you can find right here at Becker!

MEN’S AWARDS
Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1, 2011.

• Billabong
• Hurley
• Quiksilver
• RVCA
• Volcom

Men’s Boardshort of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

• Bruce Annihilator by Volcom
• Cypher Alpha by Quiksilver
• MIRAGE by Rip Curl
• Phantom 4D by Hurley
• Platinum X Recycler Series by Billabong
  

Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2011. Consider men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1 and September 1, 2011 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)

• “Collection Campaigns” by Nixon
• “Destroys Boredom” by Volcom
• “I Surf Because…” by Billabong
• “Kelly Slater 10x World Title” by Quiksilver
• “True Innovation” by Hurley
  

WOMEN’S AWARDS
Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1, 2011.

• Billabong
• Insight
• O’Neill
• Roxy
• Volcom

Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2011. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1 and September 1, 2011 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic magazines)

• “Beach You To It” by Roxy
• “Create Your Mark” by Vans
• “New Wave” by Billabong
• “Untitled” by Insight
• “Volcom Brand Jeans” by Volcom

PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.

• The FIX by Skullcandy
• Knoxville by Electric Visual
• Sun Care by Sun Bum
• The TPS by Nixon
• Volcom X Krochet Kids Collab Beanie by Volcom

Environmental Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011). Consider apparel, footwear, accessory, wetsuit, surfboard or any other surf-related product that was created to lessen the impact on the environment, whether through its manufacturing process, materials or usage of the product itself.

• Green Flex by FCS
• Recycled Boardshort Series by Billabong
• RG8 (Re-Generate) Recycled Series by O’Neill Wetsuits
• Shift Into Neutral Collection by VonZipper
• V.Co-Logical Fall 2011 Dress by Volcom

Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

• Cruisers by Roxy
• Evolution Series by Kustom Footwear
• Jimbo Phillips V.Co-Lab Vocation Creedlers by Volcom
• Mea Ola by OluKai
• Surfsider by Vans

Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year (new category)
Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as fins, leashes, bags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories can be considered.

• Cypher PS+ Heat Vest System by Quiksilver
• DNA Flex Mold Leash by Creatures of Leisure
• Drylock TS Boot by Xcel
• H-Bomb Heated Vest by Rip Curl
• Techflex by Futures

Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

• Cypher Fuseflex by Quiksilver
• Drylock by Xcel
• FLASHBOMB by Rip Curl
• Psycho by O’Neill Wetsuits
• Solution Xero by Billabong

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/34593028?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0″ width=”550″ height=”309″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/34593028″>SIMA IMAGE AWARDS 2011</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user9884284″>SIMA</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

Good luck! We can’t wait to see who takes home the awards!

Image Source: www.isurfbecause.com and www.simaimageawards.com Continue reading →