Kelly Slater at Pipeline; photo Glaser/Surfer magazine
After 23 years and 11 ASP World Titles, Kelly Slater and clothing brand Quiksilver have parted ways. Slater signed with Quiksilver when he was just 18-years old and has been with the brand ever since. And while he dropped the news on April Fools Day while in Australia, it’s been confirmed by Quiksilver Executive Chairman Bob McKnight in a quote he gave to the ASP, “Kelly has been a part of the Quiksilver family for over 20 years. It’s been an incredible journey watching him grow from a young surfer with great potential, to the 11-time World Champion he is today. We wish Kelly all the best as he enters this next phase of his career.”
According to Slater, his next venture will be with the Kering Group, which began trading lumber in the early 60s but now specializes in apparel and accessory brands like Volcom, Electric, Gucci, Puma, Stella McCartney, and more. According to Slater, he’s “dreamt of developing a brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style.” Slater’s last endeavor into the clothing market didn’t end so well, and his line, VSTR, was shuttered by Quiksilver shortly after it began.
Kelly is scheduled to compete as early as today in the Drug Aware Pro in Margaret River, Western Australia, and barring a well-executed April Fool’s prank, he’ll be doing so without the iconic “mountain and wave” Quiksilver sticker on the nose of his surfboards.
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