Early Bird for Surf Expo Discount! The September Surf Expo will officially be this years AWSI endorsed trade event for 2012. Doug Hopkins, the current AWSI President, was able to negotiate significant discounts for our exhibiting members.  This year's Expo is scheduled to take place the first week of September, with a water demo (wake & SUP) being hosted on the 5th, the show officially runs the 6th- 8th. We are still finalizing details on the 2012 Indusrty Awards party, so stay tuned. To take advantage of the discounted rate for AWSI members, membership must be renewed and verified before May 1st.  Renew here!

!!!Surf Expo Early Bird discount is only through April 2nd!!!  Click here to Reserve your spot!

On Jan. 2, 2012, UPS implemented a net average increase of 4.9% for UPS Air and international services shipments and 4.9% for UPS Ground shipping. FedEx implemented a net average increase of 3.9% on FedEx Express services and 4.9% on FedEx Ground services, effective Jan. 2, 2012.

Offset your shipping costs by joining the AWSI Freight Savings Plan. Call Siriani at 1.800.554.00005 or enroll online at www.siriani.com/awsifsp.

For eligible FedEx^® services and rates, contact your freight savings program provider, Siriani & Associates. All FedEx shipments are subject to the applicable FedEx Service Guide. FedEx service marks used by permission.

Click on the link below to take the survey.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/657219/52303a7f3da5

Thanks!!!

Life can get hectic over the holidays. At fedex.com/holiday you’ll find holiday shipping news including days and hours of operation, exceptions to the money-back guarantee* and last days to ship for timely holiday delivery. Remember, as an AWSI member, you can save up to 26% on your FedEx Express^® shipping and up to 19% on your FedEx Ground^® shipping. Best of all, these are year-round savings. Join the AWSI Freight Savings Plan and save! For more information, call service provider Siriani at 1.800.554.0005.

* For details on the FedEx Money-Back Guarantee, see Our Services at fedex.com.

For eligible FedEx^® services and rates, contact your freight savings program provider, Siriani & Associates. All FedEx shipments are subject to the applicable FedEx Service Guide. FedEx service marks used by permission.

Doug Hopkins, North Sports

Doug is partner and Sales Manager at North Sports in White Salmon, Washington, distributors for North Kites, ION, Aquaglide, and Amundson SUP.  He has been on the board since 2008, and is currently serving as president.

 Running for re-election.

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John Zimmerman, Ocean Rodeo

As Sales & Marketing Manager for Ocean Rodeo Sports Inc, I bring to the AWSI ballot a nice balance of experience working directly with our retailers and overseas production staff. I was a vocal proponent for change within the AWSI and hopes to become more directly involved with the organization through participation on its board in order to ensure the continued positive progression of our sport, its adoption by beginners and its marketability in a manner consistent with the best interests of retailers and manufacturers alike.
 

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Scott Troxel, Hyperflex Wetsuits

I am currently the Brand Manager for Hyperflex Wetsuits.  I have been involved with Hyperflex for the last 8 years.  In my current capacity, I am responsible for the success of the entire Hyperflex line in both the Surfing and Windsports Markets.  This includes Brand Management, Project Management, Product Performance, Product Development, Marketing and Advertising, Sales Management, PR and copywriting.  My professional background also includes retail management, e-commerce management and retail buying.  I have experience on all sides of the manufacturing and retail fence, though my passion is analyzing consumer behavior, brand building and marketing, and product development.  I am very excited to bring a wetsuit/softgoods based background and put it to work for the benefit of our Industry. I feel my diverse background (wetsuits/surf industry rather than kites, sails, harnesses, boards and other hard goods) will allow me to bring a unique perspective and new ideas to help promote growth in the Windsports industry.   For example, I firmly believe that by tapping into the core surf industry (i.e. pulling a fraction of the 17 million US surfers into kitesurfing) we could see amazing growth over the next several years in kite school enrollment and lessons and new gear purchases.  

I am also an avid kitesurfer and live to chase the wind and surf on my directional.  Downwinders rule!   I also have been surfing for 20 years and reside on the coast in Southern New Jersey.

I would appreciate if you would vote for me when the AWSI elections are held next week.   Thanks and I look forward to growing our industry in 2012 with your support.

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Samantha Bittner, American Windsurfing Tour

My passion is windsurfing.  I moved to Maui 3 years ago to pursue my dream of one day becoming a professional windsurfer.  I learned quickly to water start and was in the waves in a year.  I wanted an event or competition to look forward to and there were none.   I organized my first windsurfing competition, the Pistol River Wave Bash in 2010.   That event was a huge success with over 70 competitors.    Everyone was stoked and wanted more, so I continued and expanded with the 5 stop American Windsurfing Tour in 2011.  The tour has just completed with the championships in Maui and I am looking forward to improving on the same tour next year.  The idea of these events is to inspire the future of the sport and to get more people on the water.  I feel that the AWSI has similar inspiration and desires and I am interested in getting on the board and doing what I can for windsurfing and other similar sports to thrive and grow.  

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Dana Cagen, President of SportsInsurance Global, LLC & SportsInsurance Hawaii

I have spent most of my life immersed in the action sports industry, dedicating myself both to the business and as a devoted participant. 

Because much of my life has been dedicated to the action sports industry, I feel that I will offer positive energy, experience and innovative thinking to the AWSI.  When I first started windsurfing over 30 years ago, I also opened my first windsurf school, rental and retail business.  Since that time, I have successfully coached world class athletes, owned and operated successful sports retail businesses, been a manufacturers rep, coordinated events, and been the director of a large ski and snowboard school.  For many winter months, I committed my life to teaching skiing, coaching ski racing, becoming an examiner for PSIA, and working as the Director of Snowsports at Whiteface Mountain.  Because I also became so passionate about windsurfing, in the summer of 1980 I opened my first retail water sport business.  I owned and operated a windsurf school, teaching, renting and selling windsurf equipment.  In 1992, I expanded the summer business and opened Mountain Run, a full service 4 season action sports retail store in Lake Placid, NY.  As a retail owner, I felt it was important to give back to the community by organizing windsurf, water ski, wakeboard or snowboard events, both big and small.  Being drawn to many windsurf destinations over the years, I sold my store and in 2001 moved to Maui opening Kanaha Kai Maui.  I have since become The National Sales Manager with Sportsinsurance.  Working as a representative with Sportsinsurance I maintain a very close connection to sports and members of the AWSI by insuring many Kite, Windsurf, Surf and SUP schools and rental companies across N America. I also insure many snow and land sports, such as skiing, snow-kiting and biking. I continue to teach skiing at the Canyons in Utah for about 1 month/year and continue to maintain a close involvement to the Kite, Windsurf, SUP, Surf athletes and consumers by working part-time at Neil Pryde Maui.  In addition to my experience, in 1992 I earned my Masters Degree in Physical Education and Recreation from the State University of New York.  Given my experience and education, I feel that I would be a true asset to the AWSI and it would be a privilege for me to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. 

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Lydia Snider, Double Dare Consulting

Born and raised in the actual city of Washington, DC I came to action sports a little later in life.  I discovered kiteboarding for the first time when I moved to Santa Cruz and was cruising north of town on Highway 1rounded the corner to Waddell to see a carnival of kites dancing on the water.  Dust flying and tires screeching I fishtailed into the parking lot to find out what this was.  And so began the process of rearranging the rest of my life to spend more time on the water.

When I’m not on the water I’m geeking out on business psychology and the latest in social media guerilla tactics.  I’ve noticed at the conferences I attend that business owners from other fields are there and not once have I ever met a business owner from the action sports industries.  And I also keep hearing this story that there is no money in the kiting or windsurfing business.  I believe there could be and I’d like to bring to this industry information, strategies and mindsets that have worked over and over in other industries.  

The question I bring to the table is how can AWSI generate a rising tide to raise all the ships of the small shops, schools, instructors and pros?  The greater their financial success the greater the market for the manufacturers and distributors. The more readership of kiteboarding based media.  If our industry is going to thrive we must start building collaborations, strategic partnerships and joint ventures outside the industry.  

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Adam Von Ins, Air & Earth

Who Is? Graduating with honors in each of my four degrees, including two masters from Northwestern University, I would have moved on to  PhD, but simply became bored with school and explored a unique career path. It started after earning a Recording Engineering degree and “hitting the road” with a famous rock “hair” band.  Where I learned critical "life stuff" on the road. Half way through the tour, I decided my education was more important than my “almost rock star” status and returned to academics.

After graduate school, I went into business consulting in various industries. My job was simply to understand customers, better. Traveling across Japan, Australia, France, UK and Canada, I managed customer ethnographies, learning everything about their lifestyle and buying habits.   With this information, my goal was in working with top level executive management. Helping them truly learn about their customers.  And, how to serve them better (which = profit).

Things seemed great. Problem was, ever since my dad took me to that first kite shop at 10-years-old, I often found myself in business meetings often gazing out the window hoping to find a flag or some leaves blowing around. Then one day it happened. My passion got the best of me and on July 1st, 2001, I said adios to my business executive career and created air, as a side-off hobby to front my consulting career.

So far, we’ve been very fortunate that people just happen to like what we like, and the lifestyle center we’ve built. We know because our customers supported us during some pretty crazy times. Now back to our double digit growth mode, we have more new customers than ever and are now a $1m+ company! Sales are up. Huge growth is happening (along with growing pains ;-). And, it’s all because of our ability to listen, understand, and serve our clients what they need, and how they need it.

Why me? Two Words: Customer Knowledge. Everything I’ve done is about making lives easier and producing more smiles. It should be the same goal in any business, as maximum profits are only realized once you understand consumer buying patterns and enhancing their lifestyles. Trending what really makes your clients “tick.”  Working in large industries, I have the direct customer experience, research, and knowledge to help AWSI greatly evolve getting to know “who really is the customer,” and “how do we serve them better.” Helping all members grow profitably.

As well, if I understand correctly, the USA East Coast is the largest single profit center for wind & water sports regarding kiteboarding and SUP. Based in Charleston, SC with a large retail front, I can add the business intelligence from North America’s largest growth area.

Oh yeah, retail experience. Having founded, running, and growing Charleston’s largest Action Sports center in less than 10 years . . . I believe my retail background will highly benefit the large number of manufacturers currently on the AWSI board. 

There are four seats up for reelection this year on the board of directors.

Current board of directors including seats up for re-election:

Doug Hopkins, Northsports - board seat up

Steve Gates, Big Winds - board seat up

Ralph Ruffolo, Southport Rigging - board seat up

Brian Goldesberry, Kiteworld Magazine - board seat up

Greg Kish, Slingshot

Gary Siskar, Liquid Force

Matt Aiken, SBC Media  

Nominees must be current AWSI members and can represent kite, windsurf, and/or SUP manufacturers, retailers, schools, or media. Nominees must give permission for their nomination and will be accepted through November 10th. Elections will take place November 10th - 20th.

Section 1- Board Role, Size, and Compensation: The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the association, and delegates’ responsibility of day-to-day operations to the staff and committees.  The board shall have seven members.  The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses. 

Section 2- Terms: All Board members shall serve staggered two-year terms, and shall be eligible for reelection.  

http://www.surfexpo.com/LinkCl​ick.aspx?fileticket=frA6y57I_U​w%3d&tabid=76

Surf Expo S11 Show Guide

www.surfexpo.com