In a plastic age full of fake news, fake tan, fake claims and a desperate marketing drives to create ‘brand authenticity’ through fake celebrity ‘influencers’ the stories of the founding of surf brands like RipCurl and Quiksilver, who both celebrate their 50th birthdays this year, stand out like flaming beacons of hope. From dreams and sewing shorts and wetties in the garages of Victoria to multi million dollar companies fuelled by the chase for waves these businesses and their founders invented an industry, a world tour, professions (pro surfer) and gave us all better equipment. They also inspired 1,000s of other surfers to chase the same lifestyle at various levels. From bums in shitty sand filled cars to surf execs flying around the in globe private jets and surf tripping on luxury yachts…They are remarkable stories.
So I’m really pleased that to celebrate 50 Years of Surfing, Rip Curl have announced the launch of ‘The Rip Curl Story’, written by esteemed surf writer Tim Baker.
“The Rip Curl Story is the remarkable tale of two young surfers who pursued a dream to make a living out of the pursuit of the ultimate ride. The brand that these men built not only satisfied their own surf wanderlust, but also inspired many others, riding the wave of the global youth revolution of the late ‘60s.
“When two friends in Torquay, Brian Singer and Doug “Claw” Warbrick, decided on a whim to make surfboards in 1969, they never imagined that in 2019, they would be celebrating their brand’s 50th anniversary. For the very first time, the entire true story of Rip Curl, which forms a vital part of of Australian surfing history, is revealed by bestselling surf writer Tim Baker.
“Rip Curl’s mantra quickly became “The Search”: the pursuit of new waves on distant shores, new thrills – skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing – and better equipment to elevate those experiences.
“Rip Curl has continued to invest in the surfing industry as a whole by not only by sponsoring two events on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal, but also by supporting the careers of the world’s great surfers – from Midget Farrelly to Michael Peterson, Tom Curren to Damien Hardman, Pam Burridge to Stephanie Gilmore, and of course Tyler Wright, Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina.
“The Rip Curl Story is a series of ripping yarns and is as much a smart business primer as it is a wild adventure story. It will make readers want to surf more, travel further, follow through on that business idea and pursue their own Search.”
‘”The Rip Curl Story” is on sale now. Get Your Copy Online, in Rip Curl retail, at your local surf shop or in select bookstores today.
