Rip Curl remains a company built by surfers for surfers, and has been a market leader in surfing for over 50 years. Rip Curl is now present in several areas of board sports, including skateboarding/surfskating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and wakeboarding. Rip Curl became a Certified B Corp brand in early 2023, demonstrating its commitment to high social and environmental standards.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Rip Curl maintains a dominant market position in the global surf industry as part of the "Big Three," with established brand heritage, extensive product innovation (FlashBomb wetsuits, OCENA rubber), and sustainability leadership (B Corp certification in 2023). However, private ownership under Kathmandu since October 2019 and limited recent financial disclosures constrain full visibility into growth and profitability.
Top Insights
Member of the "Big Three" surf brands globally with 50+ years of market leadership and deep athlete sponsorship network including WSL World Champions
Certified B Corp in early 2023, differentiating on sustainability among competitors and aligning with environmentally conscious consumer trends
Expanding beyond core surfing into adjacent board sports (skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding) to diversify revenue and reach younger demographics
Estimated annual revenue exceeds AUD 500 million as of 2021; recent estimates suggest revenue around $5B, indicating significant scaling under parent ownership
Named Competitors
Quiksilver — Premier action sports brand; fellow member of surf industry "Big Three"
Billabong — Leading surf apparel and wetsuitmaker; core "Big Three" competitor
Xcel — Premium wetsuitmaker based in Hawaii; direct product competitor
O'Neill — Historic wetsuitmaker and action sports brand; category competitor
Recent Developments
(Early 2023) Became Certified B Corp brand, reinforcing sustainability and ethical business practice commitments
(2023) Joined Seamless as foundation member to support circular textile industry transformation in Australia by 2030
(2025) Partnered with Circular Flow in Europe for Recycle Your Wetsuit initiative to extend product lifecycle
(June 2026) RACV Torquay Resort selected as Official Resort and Accommodation Partner for Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, with 50th-year World Tour anniversary planned
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