Snowboard Pioneer Tom Sims Dies

by The Editors on September 13, 2012

Sims, TomThe word started getting out this morning that on the evening of September 12, 2012 skateboarding and snowboarding legend Toms Sims (pictured right in 1996) founder of Sims Skateboards and Sims Snowboards has died near his home at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital of suffered sudden cardiac arrest. He was 62 years old.

The Sims Snowboards website has the following message:

Forever missed, forever loved and forever a legend. Tom’s accomplishments speak for themselves. A true pioneer, Tom brought forward thinking concepts and innovations that forever changed the landscape of the snow and skate industry. His constant quest for the deepest powder, the longest downhill paved road and the smoothest wave has been and always will be an inspiration to us all.

Sims is survived by his wife Hilary, sister Margie Sims Klinger of Santa Barbara, sons Tommy and Shane, daughter Sarah and step daughters Alexa and Kylie Wagner. Our thoughts go out to Tom’s family and to the entire snowboard world. His contributions to the world of action sports will never be forgotten. Follow the jump for the official word.

[Link: Sims Snowboards via Yobeat and 705, ESPN]Tom
Snowboarding Legend Tom Sims Passes Away

(Santa Barbara, CA) September 13, 2012 – Tom Sims, snowboarding legend and pioneer, died yesterday, September 12, 2012 near his home at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Sims suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

Sims is survived by his wife Hilary, sister Margie Sims Klinger of Santa Barbara, sons Tommy and Shane, daughter Sarah and step daughters Alexa and Kylie Wagner.

Sims built the first “skateboard for the snow” in 1963 and founded the SIMS® brand in 1976. He continued to revolutionize the sport of snowboarding for nearly four decades. Sims brought several industry firsts to the world of snowboarding including the first snowboard, first metal edge snowboard, first pro-model snowboard, first women’s specific snowboard and the first folding highback bindings. In addition to a lengthy list of podiums throughout his professional career, Sims was the primary snowboarding stunt double for “007” Roger Moore in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill. Throughout the years, he continued to be a driving force within SIMS, leading the growth and progression of the brand.

The Sims family wishes for all memorial donations to be directed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Online donations can be made in Sims honor here. The family will not be granting interviews at this time.

Tom’s accomplishments speak for themselves. A true pioneer, Tom brought forward thinking concepts and innovations that forever changed the landscape of the snow and skate industry.

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Estes September 13, 2012 at 11:26 am

He took me by the hand and showed me how to shred. Will miss this guy eternally.

Stefan September 13, 2012 at 11:45 am

Sad, very sad! He was a true pioneer!

JoeShred September 13, 2012 at 2:22 pm

All snowboarders and skateboarders owe a huge debt to Tom Sims, his influence was profound. He’s an icon and a legend.

The Walrus September 13, 2012 at 2:52 pm

Growing up at Mt. Baker in the 1980s, it’s hard to overstate the influence Tom’s boards and teams had on everything. A flowing rider and soulful individual. One of the giants is gone.

http://www.frqncy.com/news/2012/09/13/thank-you-tom-sims

bill berry September 13, 2012 at 4:15 pm

I bought Sims Pure Juice wheels when I was maybe 8 years old. Before that we had ceramic or metal wheels. I will never forget the smell of urethane in the surf shops. Back then cars had tailfins and us kids would wait on the corner for a car to pass, hgrab the tailfin, hold on and get a free ride until the speed wobbles wiped us out! We eventually graduted to ramps, giant pipe sections, swimming pools, drainage ditch’es, etc. Tom Sims was ahuge influnence on myself and the other kids, too. Rest in Peace Tom. PS I always had a longboard or two in my quiver.

Coghlan September 13, 2012 at 6:08 pm

So sad. I seriously don’t think the snowboard industry or action sports would be what they are today without the vision that Tom Sims had in the 1960’s. Feel truly honored to have known Tom and to have competed against him. Tom was a fierce competitor and a great athlete. My prayers are with all of Tom’s family.

boyd harnell September 13, 2012 at 8:44 pm

Tom was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known—I didi extensive PR and photography with his Pure Juice skateboards and remember his old place in SB where he made the decks and wheels along with his dad. He’ll be missed
by everyone who knew him. RIP

Anton September 14, 2012 at 7:10 am

Oh, so is that what skating and snowboarding brings ? Sudden cardiac arrest around age 60?
Damn it, I should never have started when I was 13…

bruce hazelton September 17, 2012 at 12:44 pm

Hi Boyd,

Saw your post about Tom Sims and it brought back great memories of the days
when we worked with WW of Skateboarding. I never met Sims but it sounds like you were very impressed with him.
I had a query last year from a filmmaker who was doing a doc on the Signal Hill
speed run in Long Beach that i covered for the mag. They wanted pics I shot but I
had thrown out all my negs and slides of that era…what a mistake!
I’ll always remember those days with the mag… how you wrangled
that trip to S. Africa with Chris Chaput!…and the nights you spent shooting dirt track racing with a huge strobe on your camera. But, the best Harnell memory for me was your
descriptive writing style…” to the sound of thundering urethane kissing the plexiglas ramp…”…priceless!

Hope you are well and drop me a line when you can.

Bruce

boyd harnell September 19, 2012 at 6:24 am

Hi Bruce,

Great to hear from you about the old days at WWof S. Please send me your email to harnell@gol.com so we can get in touch—I’m on skype also and still in Japan. All the best, boyd

Stewart September 23, 2012 at 1:35 pm

WOW, Tom, you will be missed and fondly remembered. I skateboard and snowboard because of you. Thank you for breaking the ground for me and all of us.
RIP

JTM November 13, 2012 at 10:33 pm

One of the coolest ever, Tom Sims.

One of my favorite boards was a ’95 160 Sims All Mountain with the Volkl Sensorwoord core. Amazing board.

Rest in Peace Tom!
We love ya.

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