Freshly Inked

As the clock kicked over 12 for the new year, lawyers and agents were combing through detailed contracts and new ink was scrawled on doted lines. Hate ’em or love ’em, surf companies make the surfing world go ’round. Here’s a couple of new changes and acquisitions.

– Four-time world champion Steph Gilmore, previously a Rip Curl gal, has just inked a five-year endorsement with Quiksilver womens (not to be confused with Roxy). The agreement’s terms state that Steph’ll be a rider for the team as well as becoming a Quiksilver brand ambassador. She joins 13 other female artists, musicians, photographers, philanthropists and fashion designers representing Quiksilver’s lines for women. The addition of Stephanie to the Quiksilver ambassador program also coincides with the debut of Quiksilver’s new global girls line, targeting 18-24 year old young females, set to launch in February 2011.

“I have had exceptional support throughout my career and I am excited to have this bright opportunity with the respected team at Quiksilver,” says Gilmore. “I am looking forward to pushing myself to new levels and feel this is a move which will help me stay inspired while competing at the highest level as a professional surfer on the ASP Women’s World Tour. It’s thrilling to be a part of an innovative and globally respected brand like Quiksilver. Its rich history and creative direction are well aligned with my personal ambitions.”

– Damien Hobgood, goofy-footed brother of world champ CJ, now rides for the Fox global surf team. ASP Rookie of the Year in 2000 and 4-time WCT event winner, Damo joins Bede Durbidge, Ian Walsh and Eric Geiselman on the team after signing a mulityear contract for clothing, eyewear and wetsuits.

“I just feel real honored and blessed to be a part of the Fox team,” says Hobgood. “There are some awesome athletes that I’m going to be associated with and it’s an awesome company. I feel really fortunate. I’m looking to take my surfing to the next level and doing it with Fox—it’s going to be fun.”

– Julian Wilson, as you’ve no doubt heard, has just signed possibly the biggest sponsorship that professional surfing has ever seen. Young J-Dubs, newly-qualified ASP world tour surfer, is now locked into a five-year agreement with Nike 6.0, rumored to be worth roughly $1,000,000 a year. Jules’ll be running Nike 6.0 apparel, footwear and wetsuits.

“I’m really excited about the move,” said Julian Wilson from his home on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. “With where I’m at in my career right now, it seemed like the right time to make a transition and an excellent opportunity! Nike has been pushing the direction of the sport of late and I’m really eager to be part of that movement.”

– Jack Freestone, currently ranked number one in the world pro juniors, is now riding for Billabong. Jacky-boy traded the mountain and the wave for the ‘bong, only a couple of weeks before heading into the second world pro juniors event, kicking off at Narrabeen in Sydney tomorrow. Billabong also just signed juniors Soli Bailey (Byron Bay) and Hawaiian super-grom Ian Gentil.

“The ASP World Junior Title is such an important stepping-stone, to achieve what Joel (Parkinson) has done would be really, really special,” said Jack. “When you look at the list of winners’ names, every surfer has gone on to the World Tour and a solid career, and of course, I’d love to bring it home for the green n’ gold. It’s been too long! I feel like I am in a really good spot, I would have been happy with the quarters in Bali, but I got the win. There is definitely a little bit more pressure for me to do well at Narrabeen now, but I wouldn’t trade my position – being in the box seat is perfect.”