
One of the pioneers of the surf clothing and equipment and founder of brand Quiksilver Alan Green has passed away aged 77.
Al who used to hitch rides to Torquay to surf from Melbourne, started his career making wetsuits for cold water surfers in a garage behind a Torquay pub in Victoria, Australia in 1969 with RipCurl founders Brian Singer and Doug “Claw’ Warbrick. He then went on to design boardshorts specifically for surfing with his mate John Law in 1970, sewing them on a kitchen table and driving around Australia selling them from his car. The boardies had ground breaking velcro and snap fasteners and waist which was lower at the front to increase mobility. They were a hit. At that was how Quiksilver was born. By 1976 they had their own factory and went on to be a billion dollar global surf brand.
Both brands were set up as much to provide much need surfings equipment where there was none, and to fund a lifestyle chasing waves.
The Quiksilver name came about as it evoked a sense of fluidity, elusiveness and change. Green launched womens brand Roxy named after his daughter.
As the brand grew they invested in their surf team and gave surfing talent the opportunity to go pro and make living doing what they loved. Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Tom Carroll and Stephanie Gilmore amongst just a few of the thousands that were paid to live the surfing dream and chase world titles. The Quiksilver Eddie big wave event, the Young Guns film series, and the Quiksilver Crossing and Quiksilver Pro France just a few events and films that he’d huge fun impact on surf culture.
Today Quiksilver alone has around 5,700 employees, most who surfer and sponsors groms, pros, contests and environment groups across the globe.
Not bad for a company that started by a bloke making boardies in a kitchen so he could surf more, and you could surf better.
Kelly Slater said ‘Love you, Greeny. You were one of a kind and a great friend and mentor for so many. I’ll miss you forever,
“RIP. Thank you Greeny for your relentless vision (and mountains and waves of the rest),” Tom Carroll
RIP legend.