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    Filmmaker MacGillivray, shaper Biolos and Save the Waves will earn SIMA Waterman’s Ball awards
    • April 7, 2026

    Two Orange County surfing culture icons will be honored at this year’s Surf Industry Member Association’s Waterman’s Ball, a prestigious gathering that recognizes influential wave riders and cultural icons who have helped shape the surfing world.

    Laguna Beach's Greg MacGillivray, a filmmaker who has spent decades capturing the power of the ocean, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Waterman's Ball in July 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    Laguna Beach’s Greg MacGillivray, a filmmaker who has spent decades capturing the power of the ocean, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Waterman’s Ball in July 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Laguna Beach’s Greg MacGillivray, a filmmaker who has spent decades capturing the power of the ocean, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Waterman’s Ball in July 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    MacGillivray started his career making surf films, and through the years became known globally for his iconic IMAX movies, “while inspiring global audiences to appreciate and protect our planet’s waters,” SIMA officials said while announcing he would be among the honorees.

    MacGillivray embodies what it means to be a Lifetime Achievement recipient, said Vipe Desai, executive director of SIMA.

    “Films were pivotal to surf culture’s growth, it was a way to capture what was happening in the ocean in all these different regions,” Desai said. “Greg just put it together and had this story-telling way about him, to share the stories all around the world.”

    “His films helped inspire surfers, brands and retailers to look at the bigger impact of surf culture through film and storytelling,” Desai said.

    Biolos, founder of Lost Surfboards, is considered one of the most influential shapers of his generation, SIMA officials said of his choice as “Waterperson of the Year.”

    Matt Biolos, owner of Catalyst at Bashams in San Clemente, will be honored at the SIMA Watermans Ball in July 2026 as Waterperson of the Year. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    Matt Biolos, owner of Catalyst at Bashams in San Clemente, will be honored at the SIMA Watermans Ball in July 2026 as Waterperson of the Year. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    He has “helped shape modern surfing through innovation, performance design, and a deep connection to surf culture,” their annoucement said.

    Biolos grew up in Chino, but would visit Dana Point each summer, where his dad had a boat in the harbor. He spent the summer seasons working in the shipyard next to Doheny State Beach doing boat maintenance, but it wasn’t long before he was using the space to craft his first surfboard.

    Three decades and thousands of customers later, his Mayhem surfboards are ridden by some of the best surfers in the world. Biolos last year received a spot in the San Clemente Board Builders Hall of Fame.

    Biolos is one of the most prominent and recognizable shapers around, Desai said.

    “If you look at the roster of athletes on his boards, it’s a testament to his craftsmanship and what he has honed over decades,” Desai said. “Shapers were really the originators of surf culture; they were the ones that launched the industry. When you look back, it wasn’t surf shops selling apparel, it was shops selling surfboards.”

    Biolos said he’s honored and humbled to be recognized by SIMA and share the night with the other honorees.

    The 2026 Waterman’s Ball will be held July 17 at The Ranch in Laguna  Beach. The industry insider event draws 200 leaders, executives and surf enthusiasts “to celebrate industry icons while raising funds to protect oceans, beaches, and waves.”

    The third honoree, Save The Waves Coalition, will be awarded Environmentalist of the Year. The global nonprofit is dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems around the world, working to preserve waves, coastlines and the communities that depend on them through science, policy, and advocacy.

    Saves the Waves has been a beneficiary of the SIMA Environmental Fund.

    “So much of their work focuses on things that are important to SIMA and surf culture, around protecting waves,” Desai said.

    Save the Waves has created “World Surfing Reserves” around the world and recently released a “Surfonomics” study last year that showed the economic impact of the sport in Santa Cruz should be valued at $200 million.

    This year’s featured artist is Hawaii-based Heather Brown, whose bold, vibrant style has become synonymous with modern surf culture.

    Since it was founded in 1989, the Waterman’s Ball has raised more than $10 million in support of organizations dedicated to combating ocean pollution, preserving surf breaks, and safeguarding marine ecosystems through its SIMA Environmental Fund grant program.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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