rip curl

Rip Curl was founded in March 1969, when two surfers, Doug "Claw" Warbrick and Brian "Sing Ding" Singer, met by chance in Torquay, a small coastal town on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. The idea of manufacturing surfboards together led them first to Brian's garage and later to an old bakery on Boston Road – Rip Curl's first real production site. At the end of 1969, Alan Green joined them, bringing sewing skills from a wetsuit company. With an old sewing machine and American neoprene from Rubatex, the trio began producing their first surfing wetsuits. This decision would change the company's direction forever.

Today, Rip Curl is one of the most respected wetsuit manufacturers in the world. The brand's technological development is impressive: in 1974, they invented the first wetsuit with varying thicknesses (3/2, 4/3); in 1986, the Batwing wind guard behind the zipper; and later, the blindstitch seam, which made wetsuits more waterproof and durable. With the FlashBomb in 2012, Rip Curl introduced the world's fastest-drying wetsuit – the result of three years of development and seven generations of materials. The current FlashBomb series, as well as the E6 and E-Bomb wetsuit lines, continue to set standards in flexibility and warmth. In addition to wetsuits, the range includes boardshorts, bikinis, rashguards, caps, and accessories.

Rip Curl has always kept its brand identity closely linked to the core of surfing. Launched in 1992, "The Search" campaign – in search of the perfect wave – is emblematic of the brand's philosophy: authenticity, adventure, and an unconditional passion for the ocean. For decades, Rip Curl has sponsored world-class surfers and hosted its own contests, such as the legendary Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, the oldest surfing competition in the world. The brand is not a lifestyle construct – it comes straight from the water.

At Surfari in Zurich, we carry Rip Curl wetsuits, bikinis, boardshorts, and accessories – selected for surfers who refuse to compromise on quality and function.