BILLABONG
The name ‘billabong’ comes from an Australian Aboriginal term meaning a body of water, and underlines the fact that Billabong, the surf wear company, has had its roots firmly embedded in surfing since it was set up on Australia’s Gold Coast in 1973. In its native Australia, Billabong has long been established as the authentic surfwear brand and it has extended outside its homeland to reach a wider audience, but always whilst respecting and maintaining a grass roots dedication to board sports culture.
Success in the surfing world seems to have come naturally to the company, and that same success has been replicated with moves into other board sports including snowboarding and skateboarding. Billabong’s products are now sold in more than 90 countries, with directly controlled operations in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, Japan and Brazil and licensed operations and distributors in other regions. The brand can boast an extensive range of surfwear, urbanwear and technical snowboard apparel, as well as an unrivalled technology in wetsuits.
Billabong doesn’t just sell things for tomorrow’s star board riders to wear or use: it is also a dedicated supporter of grass roots board sports and the board sports community around the world. Current corporate sponsorships include the best riders in all three board disciplines, and the Billabong stable boasts some top global athletes, including three times World Surfing Champion Andy Irons, iconic surfer Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo, X Games Snowboard Half Pipe Champion Antti Autti, legendary skateboarder Bucky Lasek and UK Vert Skateboarding champion Ali Cairns, amongst others.
Billabong also sponsors rock singer Donovan Frankenreiter and free surfer Dave ‘Rasta’ Rastovich. Extending its association with core board sports, Billabong has been working extensively with acclaimed surf movie director Jack McCoy, whose film, Blue Horizon took European towns and cities by storm on Billabong’s inaugural European Film Tour in 2004. The documentary style film follows the fortunes of world champion surfer Andy Irons and Dave Rastovich, acclaimed soul surfer, through their personal relationship with the waves over a year. 2005’s Jack McCoy Film Tour was bigger and better than ever. Billabong and Jack McCoy hit the film circuit with ‘Fair Bits’, featuring Taj Burrow. Hitting more cities in Europe than ever before, the ‘Fair Bits’ film tour succeeded in bringing iconic surfing films back to big screens in major cities throughout Europe.
The ‘Clipper’, part of Billabong’s Adventure Division, is another new venture. This seaplane enables Billabong’s surfers to be flown right into the best waves wherever they might be located across the globe. Billabong’s Clipper is a vital tool for surfers seeking the ultimate wave wherever it is to be found. Event sponsorship is intrinsic to the brand, with core sponsorship of Billabong Pro Teahupoo, Pro Jeffrey’s Bay and Pro Mundaka for Men’s surfing, the Billabong Pro Maui (the final of the Women’s World Championship Tour), the Billabong World Junior Pro (snowboard), the Billabong World Junior Surfing Champions and the Billabong XXL Awards, to celebrate the pinnacle of big wave surfing. Billabong has managed to remain true to its core sports roots while extending its consumer offering. But its authentic surfing heritage will always remain intrinsic to the future development of the brand. technical with style.
