In the last fifty years, it’s fair to say that boardsports like snowboarding and surfing have come a long way. They’ve influenced and inspired a huge amount of people, and have developed from humble beginnings to multimillion-pound industries. But in order for us to have gotten to where we’re now, the core values were set by the early pioneers who were looking to find a way to make a living by pursuing their passion for the sports – exactly how Quiksilver came to be.
“We’ve got good banter in this crew which makes it a good ship”
Back in 1969, there was no such thing as boardshorts. Surfers wore bulky, heavyweight trunks, with buttons that hurt when you paddled, and simply weren’t made to surf in. The same year, two Torquay surfers, Alan Green and John Law, saw this as a market opportunity and turned their garage into a factory where the first-ever boardshorts would take shape – a move that would change the whole future of surfing.
The founders’ love for the sport and embodying of the laid-back, casual, lifestyle quickly made them tap into another sport built on similar values – snowboarding. In 1987 Quiksilver started sponsoring Craig Kelly, in 2002 Quiksilver team rider Danny Kass won silver at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and in 2008 they dropped one of the most legendary snowboard films of all time, “That’s It, That’s All”, together with Travis Rice.
Alan Green’s and John Law’s personal commitment to surfing ensured that Quiksilver not only produced the best boardshorts available but also ensured that the brand embodied the same values as they did. Quoting founder Alan Green, Quiksilver has “never been about one person, not in the beginning, not now.”
We had the pleasure to tag along the Quiksilver team on the Surf the Mountain tour for a few days in France, to soak up the sun and enjoy the good times.
