Ruqayyah Snyder
Founded in 1969 in Torquay, Victoria, Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and accompanying products. In 2019, Rip Curl celebrated its 50th anniversary, coinciding with the sale of the company to outdoor specialist company Kathmandu for $350 million. The founders of Rip Curl, Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer, expressed their confidence that Kathmandu would be a good home for their brand and crew.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current ownership | Kathmandu |
| Year sold | 2019 |
| Founders | Doug 'Claw' Warbrick, Brian Singer, Alan Green |
| Year founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Torquay, Australia |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Rip Curl was founded in 1969 by Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer
Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and equipment, founded in 1969 by Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer. The company was born out of a shared passion for surfing and a desire to spend more time in the water.
In April 1969, Warbrick and Singer crafted their first surfboards in Singer's garage at 35 Great Ocean Road in Torquay, Victoria. Warbrick, who could mow foam, produced four boards a week for the best surfers in Torquay, while Singer resigned from his teaching job to take on the sanding and fin-making duties. The name "Rip Curl" was inspired by a vee-bottom surfboard that Warbrick purchased in 1968 and inscribed with the words "Rip Curl Hot Dog."
As the business expanded, they recruited another local surfer, Alan Green, in December 1969, and began manufacturing wetsuits to complement their surfboards. The trio worked from Claw's flat at 66 Zeally Bay Road, where they had a sewing machine capable of handling thick rubber. Green's experience at a wetsuit dive company proved invaluable to their wetsuit operation. However, Green left Rip Curl in April 1970 to start his own company, Quiksilver, alongside Claw and Brian as equal partners.
Over the years, Rip Curl grew to become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia and the world, known for its technical innovation in the surf industry. The company expanded its product line to include boardshorts, bikinis, tide watches, and other surf-related equipment and apparel. In 2019, Tim Baker authored a book titled "The Rip Curl Story," celebrating the company's 50-year journey and the wanderlust of its founders.
Child Support Changes: When Your Ex-Spouse Remarries in Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The company was sold to Kathmandu in 2019
Rip Curl, the Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear, was sold to Kathmandu in 2019. The sale was a $350 million deal that saw Rip Curl acquired by the New Zealand-based outdoor retailer. The acquisition created a $1 billion Australasian-based surfing and outdoor lifestyle company.
The sale was first attempted in 2012 for $500 million and again in 2017 for $400 million. The founders of Rip Curl, Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer, described the sale as an emotional event, as the company had been an integral part of their lives for 50 years. Warbrick and Singer will receive a portion of 10.9 million Kathmandu shares worth $31 million.
Kathmandu's CEO, Xavier Simonet, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating that the combination of the two companies would create a highly complementary, seasonally balanced, global outdoor and action sports business. He also highlighted the shared focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability between the two brands, making them a great cultural fit.
Following the acquisition, Rip Curl continued to operate as an independently run business, with its chief executive, Michael Daly, reporting to Kathmandu's CEO. The brands intended to capitalize on the benefits of the merger by combining their expertise to provide enhanced brand and product experiences for their customers, who share a passion for outdoor adventure and the surfing lifestyle.
Free Vaccinations in Australia: What's Covered?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rip Curl is a designer, manufacturer and retailer of surfing sportswear
Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear, also known as boardwear, and accompanying products. It was founded in 1969 by Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer, with Alan Green joining the duo later that year. The name "Rip Curl" was taken from a vee-bottom surfboard that Warbrick bought in 1968, upon which he had written "Rip Curl Hot Dog."
Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia and the world, with a presence in several board sports, including skateboarding/surfskating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. The company offers a range of surf-related products, from technical wetsuits, boardshorts, and swimwear to beach lifestyle apparel, equipment, and accessories.
Rip Curl has a strong brand awareness globally and operates an extensive network of retail stores and wholesale relationships across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America, South America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. The company has received numerous awards for its products and marketing campaigns, including the SIMA Award for "Wetsuit of the Year" for its FlashBomb Wetsuit in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
In 2019, Rip Curl was sold to outdoor specialist company Kathmandu for $350 million, creating a $1 billion Australasian-based surfing and outdoor adventure lifestyle company. The founders of Rip Curl expressed confidence that Kathmandu would be a good home for their brand and crew, and that the merger would provide great brand and product experiences for customers who share a love for outdoor adventure and surfing.
Paper Production: Australia's Local Manufacturing
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The company has a strong global brand presence
Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and accompanying products. It was founded in 1969 in Torquay, Victoria, by Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer. The company has since grown into one of the largest surfing companies in Australia and the world, with a strong global brand presence.
Rip Curl is considered a successful member of the "Big Three" in the surf industry, alongside Quiksilver and Billabong. The company has expanded its product range beyond surfing to include board sports such as skateboarding, surfskating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. Their products include technical wetsuits, boardshorts, swimwear, beach lifestyle apparel, equipment, and accessories.
Rip Curl's global brand presence is evident through its extensive network of retail stores and wholesale relationships across multiple continents, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America, South America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. The company has received numerous awards for its products and marketing campaigns, including multiple SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association) awards and SBIA awards.
In 2019, Rip Curl was acquired by Kathmandu, an outdoor specialist company, in a $350 million deal. This acquisition created a $1 billion Australasian-based surfing and outdoor adventure lifestyle company. The merger aimed to combine expertise and provide enhanced brand and product experiences for customers who share a passion for outdoor adventures and surfing. Kathmandu's CEO, Xavier Simonet, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating that Rip Curl's addition would accelerate their global expansion into new channels and markets.
The founders of Rip Curl, Warbrick and Singer, expressed their confidence in the merger, stating that they were proud to have created one of the world's great brands and believed that the Rip Curl crew would continue to nurture the brand and products in the future.
Gluten-Free Oreos: Are They Available in Australia?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rip Curl has won multiple awards for its products
Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and accompanying products. It is one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, South America, North America, and South Africa. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Torquay, Victoria. In 2019, Rip Curl was sold to Kathmandu, an outdoor specialist company.
In addition to the awards mentioned above, Rip Curl received several other accolades at the 2015 SIMA Awards and 2019 SBIA Awards. At the 2015 SIMA Awards, Rip Curl won in the following categories: Women's Marketing Campaign of the Year ("My Bikini"), Wetsuit Brand of the Year (Flash Bomb Zip Free), Accessory Product of the Year (SearchGPS Watch), Women's Swim Brand of the Year, and Men's Boardshort of the Year (Mirage MF Driven). At the 2019 SBIA Awards, Rip Curl was recognized for Product Innovation of the Year (Heatseeker), Wetsuit of the Year (Flashbomb Heatseeker), Mens Boardshort of the Year (Mirage 3 2 1), Ladies Swimwear Brand of the Year, and several other awards for their sales, customer service, and account management teams.
Rip Curl has also been recognized for its contribution to the surfing community and its sponsorship of world-renowned surfers. The company has sponsored world champions such as Tom Curren, Damien Hardman, Mick Fanning, Gabriel Medina, and Tyler Wright. In addition to their awards and sponsorships, Rip Curl has produced several acclaimed surf films, including "The Search" series and "Searching for Tom Curren," which was awarded Video of the Year by Surfer magazine in 1997.
Deadpool's Australian Rating: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Rip Curl is owned by Kathmandu, a New Zealand-originated company. However, Rip Curl was founded in Australia and is headquartered in Torquay, Victoria, Australia.
Rip Curl offers a range of surf-related products, including technical wetsuits, boardshorts, swimwear, beach lifestyle apparel, equipment, and accessories.
Rip Curl's vision is to be regarded as the Ultimate Surfing Company.
