SIMA hosted the eighth annual Liquid Nation Ball on Saturday night, raising $128,000 for 13 different surfing related charities. Over 400 members of the surf industry came out to the event, and honor the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year, CEO and Co-founder of Keep a Breast, Shaney Jo Darden. The event featured an auction with some very unique gifts, including a diorama of ten-time world tour winner Kelly Slater’s surfboards, and one-of-kind Lakers game experience with NBA legend Bill Waton, and Ball founder Fernando Aguerre’s pants, something that has become tradition over the past eight years.
A sold-out crowd of more than 400 surf industry executives, surf stars, and VIPs gathered together on Saturday, September 17, at Liquid Nation Ball 8, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund’s annual fundraiser. Over the past eight years, the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised more than $1.58 million dollars for global medical relief, urban youth outreach, injury prevention and assistance, and health education and awareness. The event honored Shaney jo Darden, Co-founder and CEO of Keep A Breast, as the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year, as well as raised a net amount of more than $128,000 which will all go directly to 13 very deserving surf-related humanitarian organizations.
As one of the surf industry’s hottest parties of the year, Liquid Nation Ball 8 boasted a guest list of pro surfers including: Jordy Smith, Brett Simpson, Tanner Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, former world champion Rabbit Bartholomew, Miguel Pupo, Adrian Buchan, Mitch Crews, Pat O’Connell, and more.
One of the highlights of the night was when Sal Masekela, ESPN X Games host, presented Shaney jo with the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year award. Greeted by a large and cheering crowd, Shaney jo accepted her award with immense humility and joy.
The event, held at the ocean-front home of Aguerre, where one of the world’s best private surfboard collections is located, also included a live auction of one-of-a-kind items, dancing, great food, an open bar and live music. Always a highlight, the live auction featured items such as a private island dream trip for two to the exclusive Ninamu Resort in French Polynesia; a luxurious surf and yoga adventure for six to Nicaragua’s premiere surf zone; a one-of-a-kind 9’2” solid balsa board with redwood inlay shaped by Greg and Jed Noll and packaged with a limited edition “Da Bull” boardshorts from Billabong; and a surfboard tribute diorama of ten-time world champion Kelly Slater’s surboards by master modeler Malcolm Wilson. The highest bid of the night of $16,000 went towards the once-in-a-lifetime Lakers game experience for four with NBA Legend/Hall of Famer Bill Walton. The winner will enjoy being picked up by Bill to be driven to dinner and the game, as well as hanging out in the locker room and meeting the celebrities and players at the game, all while getting the behind the scene scoop from Bill himself! As has been the tradition for the past eight years, the bidding at Liquid Nation Ball 8 concluded with Aguerre auctioning off his pants – which this year were custom dyed, pink Loudmouth golf pants – which he sold for the sake of humanity. Aguerre’s pink outfit was a tribute to Keep A Breast and breast cancer awareness and included a custom painted Panama hat, pink 70’s flowered jacket, and hot pink canvas shoes.
In addition to the funds raised during the live auction, the proceeds from the Billabong Art of Shaping auction will go directly to Liquid Nation Ball’s 13 beneficiaries. The auction of one-of-a-kind surfboards will take place during the Sacred Craft trade show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on October 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. As the fourth installment of the Billabong Art of Shaping auction, 24 surfboard shapers have been selected from the Los Angeles area to build gorgeous and iconic surfboards for public auction. For more information about the Billabong Art of Shaping, Los Angeles County Edition, please visit: http://sacredcraftexpo.com/art-of-shaping-los-angeles-county-edition
