A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It's been a busy two months, hard on the heels of the Amgen Tour of California and the Bill Walton statue dedication. Elsewhere in the newsletter you will find the run down on the new Star Brand Award and Capital Forum that went with it. We had six member companies “pitching” our celebrity panel. Kudos to the all…the presentations were really tight and compelling. If an agent from Shark Tank swooped in at the last minute and asked if any of the presenting companies could be ready for national Shark Tank in 5 minutes, the answer would have been a universal “YES!” Everyone was really well prepped…the celebrity judges were fun…and VerifiR and Hookit took home the Star Brand award. Sully Sullivan was the host and he brought the film crew from his Big Biz Show with him…cannot wait to see the final video!

61, $47,500,000, 89% and 400…quick, what are these numbers? The answer is metrics of our SDSI Springboard Grads. 61 graduates have raised $47.5M, 89% of all grads are still in business and they have created 400 jobs since they launched their companies. Amazing. The current SDSI Springboard application period is 98% closed but if you have a strong candidate, call Renne asap. This is the best “deal” in sports business. Cost? Zero, but you got to be an SDSI member.

Now that I think about it, June actually was a great month…I was really into the Chew n Chat meet up at AmericanWave Machines. Pretty awesome to see your favorite wave type generated before your very eyes…no paddling required! Our hosts, Bruce and Marie McFarland, gave us an awesome demo and also started a conversation about the Destination Resort of the Future. Imagine Sea World replaced with a resort that has a wave pool by AmericanWave Machines, an indoor skydiving tunnel like Airborne, a climbing wall from Mesa Rim, a cool skate facility like the Mission Valley YMCA skate park, BMX track, coffee bar from Lofty Coffee…you get the picture. It’s not a fantasy…there are plans around the world to make these types of new destinations reality. Among the parties interested in the space is the one and only Jimmy Buffet, recently described by the NYT as the “Patron Saint of the Unconcerned!” I don’t know about that but he has his recreational business figured out. Maybe we could arrange a trade out!

~Bob

SDSI Welcomes back renewing members Procopio, SKLZ, Barney & Barney and new member Replica Printing Services
Procopio, San Diego’s largest law firm and one of the most well established in the western region, is proud to be a returning member of SDSI. We applaud SDSI’s phenomenal efforts in making San Diego THE central hub for the SAL industry. The unique opportunities and connections that SDSI continues to create for these companies are vital to the success of our community, and Procopio’s sports and active lifestyle attorneys are equally committed to fostering their growth and advancement. Our attorneys have diverse practices and experience and possess an in-depth understanding of the challenges and needs faced by companies in the industry. We pride ourselves on not only delivering friendly, top notch legal services, but also acting as your business partner. Feel free to stop by or drop us a line any time! We have offices in Del Mar Heights and downtown San Diego – or you can catch us surfing, skating, biking, running, skiing, snowboarding or horseback riding around town. www.procopio.com

SKLZ prepares athletes to be ready for their sport, defining the new category of Sport Training through skill and performance training products and programs. Working across multiple sports, SKLZ is inspiring the next generation of competitive athletes. Top professional athletes, including Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Evan Longoria, Tony Finau, Anna Nordqvist, Kenny Stills and Jason Verrett, as well as world-renowned performance experts, like the team at EXOS, have partnered with SKLZ to support their own training and bring breakthrough innovations to athletes of all levels. Based in Carlsbad, California, SKLZ products and programs are available around the world at major sporting goods retailers, specialty retailers and SKLZ.com. 

Barney & Barney, a Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency LLC company, is one of the nation’s leading insurance brokerages, offering a comprehensive line of risk management and employee benefit solutions. The firm specializes in commercial property and casualty insurance, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, compensation consulting, executive liability, personal lines and surety. Barney & Barney/MMA serves clients from our California offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, and Orange County. For more information, visit www.barneyandbarney.com, or call 800.321.4696.

Replica Printing. For over 15 years Replica Printing has been customer focused on providing project print services for the San Diego business community. Since moving into our new commercial space in February 2012, Replica has sharpened that focus on the same day/next day print project segment of the print market. Our project printing & business collateral printing includes: business cards, catalogs, mailings, training materials as well as large format posters/banners and the like on quick and consistent turnaround times. We manage urgent need projects with same day/next needs as well as projects with more traditional lead times. Where time permits we offer free printed proofs on various print items. Along with our free proofing we offer free delivery in San Diego County with minimum order. To cater to those who's day doesn’t end at 5pm we are open till 8pm during the week as well as weekends, with a dedicated account manager available to take your call email or text. We service a wide variety of business customers from Marketing, Retail, Real Estate, Construction and Training Organizations.  www.replicaprinting.com

SDSI research identifies San Diego County as potential capital of North America’s Cycling Industry
What started as a simple attempt to quantify the number of cyclists who ride by the SDSI offices in Solana Beach, turned into a full-fledged research project to identify the size and impact of the San Diego County cycling industry. With the generous support of sponsors Willis Insurance Services and Lucky Duck Foundation, SDSI enlisted the expertise of Stitch Marketing + Research to put some numbers behind the industry. What did we find? The numbers are worthy. San Diego has seen an 84% increase in bike commuters since 2000. There are 1.1M cyclists in San Diego which is greater than the total population of other cities known for their great outdoor lifestyle such as Portland OR and Boulder CO. San Diego’s cycling industry produces annual revenues of $547M, is home to more than 50 cycling manufacturers and 227 specialty bike shops. As far as we are concerned, this puts San Diego on the map for being the capital of North America’s cycling industry. Check out the info graphic summary report for more impressive stats.

$10,000 cash purse and Star Brand Award presented to Hookit and VerifiR
Last month, at SDSI’s inaugural Star Brand Award and Capital Forum presented by KPMG and Saltus Capital Consultants, six SDSI Springboard graduates competed for a $5,000 cash prize and the honor of being dubbed the 2016 SDSI Star Brand. The presentations were so compelling, the panel of celebrity & investor judges selected two winners, Hookit and VerifiR. Thanks to our generous sponsors not just one, but two $5,000 checks were presented and both companies were named SDSI’s 2016 Star Brands. Judges included; SDSI’s Bill Walton; Tony Finn, founder of Liquid Force; Beaver Theodosakis, founder of prAna; and Robert Reynolds, Director at Park Lane sports investment bank. Read the full story at TransWorld Business and see event photos here. Interested in participating in the next SDSI Star Brand Award? All potential participants must graduate SDSI Springboard. Applications for Springboard are being accepted through Tuesday, June 5, 9am. Apply now.

Voit Real Estate Services and Vantage Point Advisors to sponsor SDSI Springboard
Determining your business’s valuation and finding a physical space to meet your company’s growing needs are two major challenges companies of all sizes face. Voit Real Estate Services and Vantage Point Advisors will provide a unique opportunity, through hands on workshops, for SDSI Springboard Class 8 participants and the talented mentor group to gain insights into these two important business topics, and help companies get set on a trajectory for growth. Apply now! SDSI Springboard application deadline has been extended through Tuesday, June 5, 9am. Questions? Contact Renne@sdsportinnovators. 

Event recap: SDSI Chew n Chat at AmericanWave Machines 
SDSI’s general membership gathered at AmericanWave Machines’ (AWM) Solana Beach headquarters for the bimonthly Chew n Chat breakfast meeting. Founder Bruce McFarland provided and an eye opening education on the artificial wave technology industry and the group saw a demonstration of AWM’s PerfectSwell and SurfStream wave technologies. When asked what AWM thought of pro surfer Kelly Slater’s recent artificial wave unveiling, AWM Principal Marie McFarland responded enthusiast that it although they initially though it would be the end of AWM, “the phones have been ringing off the hook! Slater is shedding light on the entire industry and that is good for everyone! Our hats are off to the team at KSWC.” AWM SurfStream standing wave technology is up and running in eight global locations. Their PerfectSwell traveling wave is under construction in two locations. See event photos here. Read this recent article on Nautilius.us, where you will find AWM at the forefront in the pursuit of the perfect wave.
Advntur featured on Big Biz Show
Matt Doran, Co-founder of 2016 SDSI Springboard Graduates ADVNTUR was featured on Sully Sullivan and Russ T Nailz Big Biz Show. The opportunity exposed Doran to 1.7 million radio listener and 40 million cable television homes weekly. Advntur helps travels play the sports they love wherever they go by connecting them with locals who share their passions. Advntur’s community of athletes lend travelers the gear they need, put them up for the night and give them a unique sporting experience like only a local can. Watch the full feature on Big Biz Show.

ASSOS the official licensor of Mercedes AMG Pertonas
Assos is celebrating its collaboration with Mercedes AMG Pertonas Formula One Team with a special capsule collection that meets the high performance needs of the Forumula One Team. The new FF_1 line combines full speed and ultimate performance. Shop the new collection. 

CSUSM surf research department is making waves
Calif. State University San Marcos Kinesiology professors Sean Newcomer and Jeff Nessler made the summer edition of the Campus’s publication Steps for the progress the professors are making in their science of surfing research. The duo started with an interest in understanding the cardiovascular health benefits of surfing. They are now in collaborations with big brands such as Hurley and Firewire to test new products’ design and construction to evaluate the impact they have on a surfer’s paddle performance in the water. The two hope their research success will help establish an Action Sports Institute for CSUSM. Read more.

Study suggests ElliptiGO produces same fitness results as running with less pounding
A recent study put the ElliptiGO bicycle against “run-only training” to see if they produce similar physiological results. Researchers suggest the trained runners who used the ElliptiGO bike experienced similar physiological and subjective results as compared to run-only training due to the bike’s low-impact, run-specific nature. Researchers also noted that those with minor running pains did not experience these while riding the ElliptiGO bike. Read the full results.

The Enthusiast Network launches first daily program on Motor Trend OnDemand
TEN: The Enthusiast Network announced the launch of “Daily Fix” with Carlos Lago on Motor Trend OnDemand. Daily Fix is Motor Trend OnDemand’s first daily program with a live broadcast on Fridays. Lago previously was featured on TEN’s YouTube shows as well as Motor Trend’s Associate Road Test Editor. The show will provide daily content for viewers on all things auto. Read more about the show at TEN.

Estancia + Tequila Herrandura = a night not to miss
Join Estancia La Jolla for their annual retreat to Casa Herradura to hand-select barrels of reposado tequila. Enjoy 10 food stations featuring Baja favorites, unlimited tequillla and wine tasting, live Spanish guitar and more. Pre-sale ends tomorrow for this July 22 event and there are still 11 tickets left at the discounted rate! Get your tickets. 

Hookit + Forbes Report: Most influential figure in sports generates $36M for sponsor Nike
Earlier this year Hookit identified Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's first athlete to reach 200 million social media followers. This got Forbes attention and with Hookit's help Forbes showed how the highest paid athlete and most influential figure in sports wields that influence and how Raonaldo generates $36M in value on social media alone for key sponsor Nike. Read the full special report at Forbes.com to see how the top 100 paid athletes stack up in regards to their earned media value.

Tower Paddle Boards CEO to release The Five Hour Workday
Stephan Aarstol, Founder and CEO of Tower Paddle Boards, one of Mark Cubans top Shark Tank investments and Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies can now add author to his list of accomplishments with the July 15^th release of The Five Hour Workday. The book is about re-inventing the workday for today's knowledge workers, and the experiment his company is doing towards that end. The eBook is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and Aarstol will be on the Adam Corolla Show podcast on July 15 to promote the launch. The first 48 pages are available for download here. 

YouRiding launched “The Journey Surf”
YouRiding recently launched “The Journey Surf”, a realistic, immersive surfing game for mobile platforms. “The Journey” allows users to travel the world, ride a selection of 300 real waves stunning graphics and intuitive touch-screen controls. Surfers have the chance to meet real pro surfers and customize their avatar with products from real brands. Download this free-to-play game and learn more here.

Arcade Belts grows to No 1 in belt category, finds investment with SDSI
Shop-Eat-Surf caught up with SDSI Springboard Graduate Arcade Belts to uncover the strategy that propelled them to the No. 1 spot in belts category in just three years. Following the same strategy as Stance, Nixon and Skullcandy of elevating an ignored category, has proved to be valuable for Arcade who is currently in 900 doors and is bringing new revenue to retailers. Mostly self-funded, Arcade received an investment from very successful industry veterans who they met through SDSI. Read the full article at Shop-eat-surf.com.
CAF announces CEO
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) named Ken Wheatley, as their new CEO, early this week. Wheatley has held numerous leadership roles and recently served as co-director for the California Chapter of Washington, D.C.-based Lung Cancer Alliance. He also served as vice-president at Sony Electronics and was a FBI Special Agent. Read the announcement at the San Diego Business Journal.

The inaugural America's Finest Corporate Dash comes to SD – SDSI discount inside
America's Finest Corporate Dash is a 5K race, hosted at Qualcomm Stadium, where participating companies in San Diego build teams of co-workers to walk, jog or run the 5K race course. Following the 5K race, after-party festivities include an enormous craft beer garden, food and live music. So get ready for San Diego's best summer corporate party! Learn more at thecorporatedash.com and let them know you’re with SDSI for a company discount.

TurningPoint Executive Search is SDSI's resident expert for hiring, retention and job search. A San Diego native with more than 16 years of recruiting experience, President and Founder, Ken Schmitt is available as a sounding board who can share industry “best practices” with SDSI members. Read their blog and contact Ken at Kens@turningpointsearch.net.

Open TurningPointPositions
Sales Enablement Manager, eCommerce, San Diego 
Call Center Manager, Technology, Los Angeles 
VP Marketing, Technology, San Diego 
Senior Business Development, IT Services, Southern California 
Sales Director, FinTech, San Diego 
Sales Manager, Design/Distribution, Orange County 
Senior Account Executive, Enterprise, Software, San Diego 
Senior Account Executive, Channel Sales, Software, San Diego 

Challenged Athletes Foundation – Director of Events click for info

ElliptiGO - Territory Sales Manager click for info

Epic Series – Director of Sales click for info

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – multiple positions available click for info

J!NX – Multiple positions available click for info 

KPMG - Multiple positions available click for info

RSM – Multiple positions available click for info 

Red Door Interactive – Multiple positions available click for info

SKLZ – Multiple positions available click for info

ZOIC - Inside Sales Staff click for info

ZOIC – Marketing & Community Coordinator click for info
​​Jul. 26 SDSI Board of Directors Meeting, 4-6pm

Aug. 30 SDSI Advisory Board Meeting, 3:30-6pm

Sep. 13 SDSI Chew and Chat General Membership Meeting, 3-5pm

Oct. 25 SDSI Board of Directors Meeting, 4-6pm

Nov. 2 Chat and Chew General Membership Breakfast, 8-9:30am

Nov. 15 SDSI Advisory Board Meeting, 3:30-6pm

Dec. 13 SDSI Holiday Party
Jul. 12 MLB All Star Game, Petco Park, 5pm click for info

Jul. 29-10 Agenda Miami click for Info

Jul. 30-31 Sun Diego AM Slam Surf Series Event 2, OB Pier click for info

Aug 3-6 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Salt Lake City, UT click for info

Aug 5-21 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games

Aug 15 -17 Agenda Los Vegas click for info

Aug. 25 America's Finest Corporate Dash click for info

Aug 27-28 Sun Diego AM Slam Surf Series Event 3, San Clemente click for info

Sep. 7 Surf Park Summit 2, Orlando Fl. Click for info

Sep. 8-10 Surf Expo, Orlando FL click for info

Sep. 21-23 Interbike, Las Vegas, NV click for info

Sep 24 -25 Sun Diego AM Slam Surf Series Event 4 Mission Beach click for info