HISTORY

COMPANY HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF TOM AND HIS BRAND

SIMS® was founded in 1976 by Tom Sims, a true pioneer and world champion of skateboarding and snowboarding. Tom had one simple goal in mind when he established the SIMS brand: create the world’s leading Surf, Skate and Snow brand. His extreme dedication and passion for developing his brand allowed him to confidently progress into uncharted territory and turn his visions into a successful reality.

Since then, SIMS has revolutionized the sports of skateboarding and snowboarding with forward thinking concepts, product innovations and an amazing list of pro riders that have all helped in growing and progressing the brand. As the first established action-sports brand, the philosophy of SIMS has always been simple, build product for skateboarders and snowboarders that delivers function, and most importantly fun.

1960's

Firsts

INNOVATION. THAT WAS TOM. HE WAS EXTREMELY DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS BRAND. FOR OVER 25 YEARS WE PROGRESSED SIMS WITH SO MANY PROJECTS, WE ALWAYS WANTED TO KEEP THAT SPIRIT ALIVE WITH EVERYTHING WE WORKED ON TOGETHER, WE REALLY BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN EACH OTHER AND BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THAT COMMITMENT.

1963 - World's First Snowboard –

Thirteen-year-old surfer, skateboarder and skier Tom Sims combines his two favorite sports and builds the world’s first snowboard in 7th Grade Woodshop Class in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He calls it a "Skiboard". This board is currently on display at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum in Vail, Colorado. Note: no rope on the nose, even at 13 Tom had the vision of surfing the snow based off his experience from surfing the liquid form of snow and sidewalks. 1963.

1965 - World’s First Longboard –

In 1965 avid skateboarder Tom Sims wanted to simulate surfing on the street. Since surfboards were all over 9 feet long, Tom designed and built a 48” long skateboard to re-create the feeling of surfing on asphalt after being inspired by photos of Miki Dora (Da Cat) in Surfer Magazine. Don Mackay street surfing a four foot skateboard built by Tom Sims on Greenmount Rd, NJ. Circa 1965.

1969 - World's First Full Size Snowboard -

The short snowboards Tom created and rode throughout most of the 60's nose dived in powder, so Tom decided to design and build a five foot snowboard with a ski-tip kicked nose to take to college in New Hampshire. Tom charging the east coast pow in New Hampshire. December 1969.

1970's

1975 - World’s First Longboards for Sale -

In 1975 Tom sold the first longboards in skateboard history: the SIMS 30”, 36” and 48” models. He immediately followed these up with 40” and 44” longboard offerings. For history buffs, this was 25 years before the modern longboard movement got off the ground.

1975 - World’s First Traction Deck Skateboard -

Tom creates the first known wheel wells to allow for bigger wheels and fail safe clearance. This was a huge development in skateboarding’s infancy which in turn gave Tom the idea to manufacture the earliest urethane risers soon after, to accommodate the first precision bearing large diameter urethane wheels, know as SIMS Comps™.

1975 - World’s First Skateboards with Wheel Wells -

Tom creates the first known wheel wells to allow for bigger wheels and fail safe clearance. This was a huge development in skateboarding’s infancy which in turn gave Tom the idea to manufacture the earliest urethane risers soon after, to accommodate the first precision bearing large diameter urethane wheels, know as SIMS Comps™.

1976 - World’s First Precision Bearings Designed for Skateboard Wheels -

Tom teams up with GMN (George Mueller Nuremberg) of Germany, to help him design and manufacture the First skateboard specific precision bearings. The SIMS German Racing™ bearings instantly became the industry leader and high performance standard.

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