Last year, Hobie became the top selling SOT brand according to SNEWS (outdoor retailer trade magazine) in their 2008 retailer survey released last month. Wilderness Systems and Ocean Kayak were #2 and 3 respectively. Considering they didn't even start selling kayaks until Fall, 1997, that's downright remarkable!
Last month Hobie also just garnered another in a long list of awards by being named one of the winners of Paddler Magazine's 2009 5th annual Pick Awards, given for new products with "innovation, performance and value to customers". The i9s inflatable was specifically named.
Congratulations to Hobie on these fine achievements!