The Off-Road ICON Awards: A New Tradition for the Off-Road Community
The off-road world has grown into one of the most passionate, connected communities in powersports.
Riders spend weekends chasing mud and trails across the country. Parks create the places where memories are made. Builders turn machines into works of art. Racers push the limits. Content creators bring the action to thousands of people who couldn’t be there. And brands continue developing the products that make the next ride even better.
Together, they’ve built something real.
But for a community this large, passionate, and influential, something has been missing: a platform created specifically to recognize the people, places, brands, and businesses moving off-road forward.
That changes in 2027.
Introducing the Off-Road ICON Awards
The inaugural Off-Road ICON Awards, presented by Gator Waders, will take place during the Offroad Products Expo in January 2027.
It’s more than another awards ceremony.
It’s the beginning of a new annual tradition designed to bring the off-road community together for a formal night of recognition, celebration, and connection.
For one night, the people normally covered in mud, working behind the scenes, turning wrenches, organizing events, building businesses, creating content, and keeping this community moving will have an opportunity to dress up, come together, and celebrate what they’ve built.
This is Off-Road’s Biggest Night.
Built to Celebrate the People Who Move This Industry Forward
Innovation. Leadership. Community. Performance. Creativity.
Those are the qualities behind the Off-Road ICON Awards.
The goal is simple: shine a spotlight on the people and companies making an impact throughout the off-road world.
That impact happens everywhere.
It’s the park owner improving a property year after year. The builder creating machines everyone stops to look at. The racer who continues raising the bar. The brand developing products riders trust. The creator documenting the lifestyle. The event promoter bringing thousands of people together. And the people quietly using the off-road community to make a difference for others.
Some ICONs have huge followings.
Others may be known primarily inside their local riding community.
Both deserve the opportunity to be recognized.
Community-Nominated. Community-Voted.
One of the most important parts of the Off-Road ICON Awards is that the community gets a voice.
Categories will span the off-road world, including:
- Parks and riding destinations
- Events and races
- Brands and products
- Builders and custom shops
- Riders and racers
- Content creators and media
- Community impact and leadership
Nominations will take place online through the official Where2Mud Off-Road ICON Awards page.
Then the community will have the opportunity to vote for the finalists they believe deserve to become a 2027 Off-Road ICON.
And the winners?
They won’t be announced online.
They’ll be revealed live during the Off-Road ICON Awards ceremony at the Offroad Products Expo.
Imagine standing in a room filled with hundreds of people from throughout the off-road industry and hearing your name announced as one of the first-ever Off-Road ICON Award winners.
That’s the kind of moment we’re building.
More Than an Awards Night
The awards ceremony may happen on one night, but the impact goes much further.
For the community, it creates a real voice in recognizing the parks, riders, builders, businesses, events, and brands they support.
For nominees and finalists, it creates national exposure and an opportunity to introduce their work to an even larger audience.
For winners, it creates a recognition they can carry with them long after the ceremony ends.
For the industry, it establishes a formal recognition platform designed to grow stronger and more meaningful every year.
For the Offroad Products Expo, it brings another level of excitement to a weekend already centered around the people, products, and businesses driving the industry.
And for everyone involved, it creates another reason to nominate, vote, attend, connect, and celebrate together.
Built for Brands That Move With This Industry
The Off-Road ICON Awards also create a unique opportunity for companies that believe in the future of the off-road community.
The awards are a natural fit for:
- Powersports brands
- ATV, SXS, UTV, and off-road product companies
- Tire and wheel manufacturers
- Performance brands
- Audio companies
- Apparel and lifestyle brands
- Custom shops and builders
- Off-road parks
- Event promoters
- Dealers and retailers
- Media companies
- Industry service providers
Sponsorship isn’t simply about putting a logo on an awards show.
It’s an opportunity to align a brand with the people, businesses, and culture that make this industry what it is.
And we’re proud to begin that tradition with Gator Waders as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Off-Road ICON Awards.
Who Will Become a 2027 Off-Road ICON?
That’s ultimately up to the community.
Nominations open October 1, 2026, and in the months ahead we’ll be revealing award categories, nomination guidelines, voting information, finalists, event details, sponsorship opportunities, and more.
So start thinking now.
Who built something that changed the game?
Who created an event everyone talks about?
What park deserves national recognition?
What brand earned the loyalty of riders?
What racer, creator, builder, business owner, or community leader made an impact?
Because somewhere in this community are the first-ever 2027 Off-Road ICONs.
And in January, we’re putting them on a stage.
The Off-Road ICON Awards presented by Gator Waders.
January 2027 | Offroad Products Expo
Off-Road’s Biggest Night.







































 





 












