![\"Quiksilver](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/01\/QuiksilverfoundersAl_03211-768x432-1-300x169.jpg\")
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At a time when surf trunks were bulky and prone to causing rashes, Green introduced innovations that changed the game. As detailed in Phil Jarratt\u2019s\u00a0The Mountain and the Wave<\/em>, Green drew on his experience working with wetsuit materials to design boardshorts with a yoked waistband, scalloped legs for freedom of movement, and Velcro flies with metal snaps \u2014 features that revolutionised surfwear.<\/p>\n The name \u201cQuiksilver,\u201d according to Jarratt, was inspired by Green\u2019s girlfriend (and later wife), Barbara, who came across the term while reading and felt it reflected Green\u2019s personality \u2014 quick-witted, imaginative, and ever-changing. The couple\u2019s shared love for the San Francisco psychedelic band Quicksilver Messenger Service further cemented the name\u2019s connection to the brand.<\/p>\n At its peak, Quiksilver generated over $2 billion in annual revenue, operated in more than 90 countries, and employed thousands of people.<\/p>\n Tributes have poured in for the man credited with shaping modern surfwear and inspiring generations.<\/p>\n Surfing champion Kelly Slater, who joined Quiksilver at 18 and remained with the company for 24 years, said, \u201cLove you, Greeny. You were one of a kind and a great friend and mentor for so many. I\u2019ll miss you forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Rod Brooks, chairman of Surf World Gold Coast, described Green as \u201ca true legend\u201d and a trailblazer who transformed surf fashion. \u201cIt was a life well lived and one that will be remembered, along with the legend of the Quiksilver brand and the thousands of jobs he created both here and around the world over his incredible journey,\u201d Brooks said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond business, Green was known for his adventurous spirit and wide-ranging passions. Brooks noted that Green loved horse racing, partnering in three Melbourne Cup-winning horses, and indulged in heli-skiing trips to Canada and New Zealand. He also owned a 100-foot boat for 18 years, which he used for surf trips in Indonesia.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all that going on, most of all, he loved his family: his wife Barb, and his kids Fletcher, Holly, and Roxy,\u201d Brooks said.<\/p>\n Green\u2019s bold innovations turned Quiksilver into a cultural phenomenon, revolutionising surfwear and inspiring countless imitators. However, the brand faced challenges in later years, including mounting debt and shifting market trends. Its U.S. operations filed for bankruptcy in 2015, though its European and Asia-Pacific businesses remained unaffected.<\/p>\n Today, Quiksilver is part of Boardriders Inc., which also owns Billabong, Roxy, and other major surf brands. Boardriders itself was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2023 for $1.25 billion, reflecting the consolidation of the surf industry.<\/p>\n Despite these challenges, Green\u2019s influence endures. \u201cGreeny\u2019s impact is immeasurable,\u201d Brooks said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t just create a brand; he created an industry, supporting thousands of jobs and inspiring a lifestyle that transcends generations. His life was a wave well ridden.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ALAN \u201cGreeny\u201d Green, the visionary co-founder of Quiksilver who transformed surfing culture with his innovative apparel designs, died on Tuesday at his Torquay home after a battle with cancer. He was 77. Green, who launched Quiksilver in a rented beachside holiday house in 1969, leaves behind a legacy that began with a pair of boardshorts […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Kelly-Slater.jpeg?_t=1737002918\")