Rip Curl

In March 1969, two surfer friends Doug "Claw" Warbrick and Brian "Sing Ding" Singer met in Gilbert Street, Torquay. As the conversation progressed and no doubt thinking about how they could continue surfing on Bells in the stormy months ahead, Claw posed the question that started something great ... "Do you want to start surfboarding together. ? " he asked him. Brian immediately realized that this would mean a lot more time to surf, so on the spot he said, "Yes!" and just like that ... Rip Curl was born ... In April 1969 the first boards were made with Claw making four boards a week for the best surfers in Torquay and Brian doing the "lousiest job in the world" polishing and manufacturing fins on site. In December 1969 another local surfer, Alan Green, joined the duo and they began making wetsuits to complement the boards and branding. Change was rampant in those days, such was the flower power and anti-establishment mood of the time. Business was no different from life in general and Greeny left Rip Curl in April 1970 to do his own thing, forming Quiksilver, with Claw and Brian as equal partners in the new venture. Rip Curl will continue to stay true to the basic roots that helped her become a leader in the surf market, while also looking into the future to push riding to a new level.