Snowboard Pioneer Tom Sims Dies
By Steve Casimiro on September 14th, 2012
Too early, too soon — that was the sense when surf forecast pioneer Sean Collins passed away from a heart attack at age 59 less than a year ago, and it’s true today, with the sad news that snowboard inventor and evangelist Tom Sims has died at age 61, also of a heart attack. Sims first envisioned a snowboard in wood shop at age 13; after moving from New Jersey to California, he launched Sims Skateboards (sponsoring Christian Hosoi, among others) and then Sims Snowboards. He’s also credited with building the first snow halfpipe, at Soda Springs. “Prior to 1985, I had to beg a ski area owner to let me on their precious chairlifts,” Sims once said. “The same guy that kicked me off the hill ten years ago now begs me for a board for his grandson.” Via Snowboarder
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Tags: Snowboarding