What is Rip Curl ?

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.

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 cofounder 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"