I just registered for SIMA's Business Boot Camp.

Being the nerd that I am, I love school, even if it is called Boot Camp. Once I went to a class at the gym called Boot Camp. It basically was a 45 minute, 100-degree torture chamber inside which I was forced to do approximately 25,000 squats at the mercy of an ex-Marine. I couldn't walk for a week. Speaking of Marines, and, actually, of Boot Camp, I also once decided to register for Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, until my dad firmly asserted it was "no place for a college kid to spend their summer vacation." What girl wouldn't think it would be a great way to get in killer shape and make $2,000 alongside some hotties? Needless to say, he spent two tours in 'Nam with those guys, so I trusted his opinion and tore up the forms.

Back to this boot camp, SIMA has put this pretty rad day together for everyone at a super-reasonable price. You don't even have to be a SIMA member to attend. The day starts with a group breakfast and then offers a fun day packed with classes taught by industry gurus. The seminars are separated into three tracks: Sales and Marketing, Operations, and Sourcing/Production. Broken up by lunch and culminating with a cocktail hour, it will definitely be one of those days everyone leaves with a long list of ways to improve their company and the warm fuzzy we always get when we gather together.

I can't wait to sit next to our exhibitors and understand some of their challenges. As Exhibitor Marketing Manager for our show, they are usually my challenge. I figure this can only help me help them! On a total and selfish side note, it will also be nice to hear them complain about things other than who next to them has the speakers cranked up too loud or how they don't have enough free beer tickets to cash in at the Sector 9 beer garden give out to their retailers to enjoy.

Lastly, I'm looking foward to darting spitballs at some of my most difficult Surf Expo "students" in class. You definitely know who you are! Hopefully Travis Wilkerson won't kick me out.

Being out here on the right coast most of the time, I do miss out on some tug-on-your-heartstring moments in the surf industry. Like yesterday, for example. I can only Save Trestles vicariously through all of you who were out there. But I can justify the jaunt out to Laguna for school on February 28th, and I look forward to spending some time with the people who shape the industry. Go to SIMA.com for more information. This event is only the first of many like it to come.