Stephanie Gilmore is the 2015 Waterman of the Year by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). Or, if you prefer, Waterwoman of the Year.
The Australian surfer will be honored at the 26th Annual Waterman's Weekend, scheduled to The Ritz-Carlton, in Dana Point, California, between August 14th-15th."Steph has been one of surfing's most dominant forces in the decade. Not only is she a fierce competitor and gifted athlete in the water, but she's also a great representative for surfing culture at large and an excellent role model," underlines Doug Palladini, president at SIMA.
Stephanie Gilmore is a six-time world surfing champion. She was born and raised in northern New South Wales, Australia. Gilmore won her first world title as a rookie and collected a Laureus World Sports Award (2010), and an ESPN ESPY for Best Female Action Sports Athlete (2011 and 2013).
SIMA will also honor Jane's Addiction frontman, Lollapalooza creator and environmental activist Perry Farrell as Environmentalist of the Year. The musician is an avid surfer and long-time supporter of Surfrider Foundation.
The late Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, the patriarch of surfing's first family, will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. A graduate of Stanford Medical School in 1946, Doc's life as a traditional, for-profit physician was somewhat short-lived as the desire to surf became a stronger calling.
