Rip Curl is a major Australian manufacturer and retailer of surfing sportswear (also known as boardwear.) The company was founded in 1969 by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer in Torquay, Victoria, Australia and initially produced surfboards. In 1970, they decided to begin production of wetsuits, with emphasis on transforming diving technology into a wetsuit suitable for surfing. Rip Curl has become one of the largest boardwear brands in Australia, Europe and South America and is also active in North America and South Africa.
Rip Curl remains a private company. François Payot is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rip Curl International.
In addition to selling to independent retailers worldwide, Rip Curl operates corporate stores in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe, USA, Canada, Peru and Israel.
The name "Rip Curl" was taken from a vee-bottom surfboard that co-founder Warbrick bought in 1968, upon which he'd written "Rip Curl Hot Dog." The words didn't mean anything, he later admitted. "Except ripping was groovy; surfing the curl was groovy; we wanted to be groovy — so that was it."
— Matt Warshaw, Encyclopedia of Surfing
Read more about Rip Curl: Sponsored ASP World Tour Events, Sponsored Athletes
Famous quotes containing the words rip and/or curl:
“We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice. Where is the skillful swordsman who can give clean wounds, and not rip up his work with the other edge?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“An object among dreams, you sit here with your shoes off
And curl your legs up under you;”
—Randall Jarrell (1914–1965)