Back in 1990 eighteen-year-old Kelly Slater was already pegged as the surfer set to revolutionise the sport. After graduating from high school, Kelly came off contract with Rip Curl, hired a manager and put himself at the centre of a bidding war between OP and Quiksilver. According to Phil Jarrat’s book, Salts and Suits, “the first contract for the teenage sensation was for $108 000 … but with the participation of all Quiksilver licenses, this was soon massaged into $320 000 for surfing’s first ever ‘100 percent sponsorship’.

Kelly Slater back when he penned his contract with Quiksilver. Photo by Peter Joli Wilson.

Although the contract figure would have increased several times since 1990, there seems little doubt that Quiksilver made a good investment. Kelly was everything that a sponsor could have hoped for. As he won world titles, dated supermodels, appeared on TV shows and resonated the presence of a superior being, he undoubtedly sold copious amounts of product for the company he once referred to as a kind of family.

Kelly and France, a place that has shared some memories over the years. Photo by Peter Joli Wilson.

Now almost 24 years and 11 world titles later, Kelly has announced he is severing ties with Quiksilver. In the letter below he details in Black and White, his plans to align himself with the Kering Group [www.kering.com/en/group] who refer to themselves as a world leader in apparel and accessories.

You will no longer see Kelly sporting the famous red Quikly stickers on the beak of his boards. Photo by Peter Joli Wilson.

The letter by Kelly Slater below was copied directly from the ASP website.

There is little I can say that would give the credit due or cover the debt of gratitude I feel on a personal and professional level to Quiksilver. As a brand and on a human level, they have been a part of my life, career, and personal relationships for more than 23 years now, well over half my life. They’ve supported me through good times and bad, personal hardships and competitive triumphs, and never wavered in backing my choices and desires in all that time. Under the tutelage of Bob McKnight, Bruce Raymond, Alan Green, Pierre Agnes and Danny Kwock (and many others), Quiksilver signed me to a 100% sponsorship deal in 1990, finishing up my amateur career and guiding me into my professional life and adulthood.

Having their support group around the world allowed me to create a life I only dreamt of as a child…making a documentary (Kelly Slater In Black and White) about the start of my professional career, going on boat trips and small charter planes to remote locations I’d likely never see, taking long car rides and promo tours to places I’d otherwise never visit, doing film trips to tropical islands few people have ever seen, etc. There could have been no better partner for me to have than Quiksilver.

The memories I have of joining the team and becoming like brothers with my heroes and team riders Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones and making lifelong friendships with Stephen Bell and others has fulfilled my life exponentially. There aren’t enough pages or words to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the experiences that have come from this relationship we’ve shared together. So it is with a heavy heart and a lifetime of positive memories that I move in a new chapter of my life.

As I contemplate the amazing opportunities I’ve had in life and the amount of good fortune I’ve encountered along the way, I’m excited to announce today that I’m embarking on a new journey. For years I’ve dreamt of developing a brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style. The inspiration for this brand comes from the people and cultures I encounter in my constant global travels and this is my opportunity to build something the way I have always wanted to.

So I am excited to tell you that I’ve chosen The Kering Group as a partner. They share my values and have the ability to support me in all of my endeavors. I look forward to exploring all of the new opportunities this partnership will provide, but this hasn’t happened by chance, nor has it happened without an incredible amount of work by a few key individuals. As I embark on this new journey, I am sticking to my gut instincts and the belief that your dreams can become reality with the right intentions. I look forward to sharing more about it soon…

– Kelly