Kelly與Quiksliver終止合約 - 衝浪運動討論

ASP官網上驚天動地公告
Kelly Slater於今日宣布終止與Quilsilver 23年的合約.
並加入新的團隊 Kering Group
看來以後Kelly都穿Volcom了!!!!!!

http://www.aspworldtour.com/posts/35202/slater-splits-with-quiksilver



Breaking News: Slater Splits from Quiksilver

Dave Prodan



Monday, March 31, 2014
In a move tantamount to Michael Jordan splitting with Nike or David Beckham
leaving Adidas, Kelly Slater has announced he parted ways with Quiksilver,
his sponsor of 23 years.

Slater signed with Quiksilver in 1990 at the age of 18, just before winning
the US$100,000 Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles in a performance that
put the surf world on notice. The first of his 11 ASP World Titles came just
two years later, at the age of 20.

Here is Slater's open letter on the move:

There is little I can say that would give the credit due or cover the debt of
gratitude I feel on a personal and professional level to Quiksilver. As a
brand and on a human level, they have been a part of my life, career, and
personal relationships for more than 23 years now, well over half my life.
They've supported me through good times and bad, personal hardships and
competitive triumphs, and never wavered in backing my choices and desires in
all that time. Under the tutelage of Bob McKnight, Bruce Raymond, Alan Green,
Pierre Agnes and Danny Kwock (and many others), Quiksilver signed me to a
100% sponsorship deal in 1990, finishing up my amateur career and guiding me
into my professional life and adulthood.
Having their support group around the world allowed me to create a life I
only dreamt of as a child...making a documentary (Kelly Slater In Black and
White) about the start of my professional career, going on boat trips and
small charter planes to remote locations I'd likely never see, taking long
car rides and promo tours to places I'd otherwise never visit, doing film
trips to tropical islands few people have ever seen, etc. There could have
been no better partner for me to have than Quiksilver.

The memories I have of joining the team and becoming like brothers with my
heroes and team riders Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones and making lifelong
friendships with Stephen Bell and others has fulfilled my life exponentially.
There aren't enough pages or words to express my heartfelt thanks and
appreciation for the experiences that have come from this relationship we've
shared together. So it is with a heavy heart and a lifetime of positive
memories that I move in a new chapter of my life.

As I contemplate the amazing opportunities I've had in life and the amount of
good fortune I've encountered along the way, I’m excited to announce today
that I’m embarking on a new journey. For years I've dreamt of developing a
brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style. The
inspiration for this brand comes from the people and cultures I encounter in
my constant global travels and this is my opportunity to build something the
way I have always wanted to.

So I am excited to tell you that I’ve chosen The Kering Group as a partner.
They share my values and have the ability to support me in all of my
endeavors. I look forward to exploring all of the new opportunities this
partnership will provide, but this hasn't happened by chance, nor has it
happened without an incredible amount of work by a few key individuals. As I
embark on this new journey, I am sticking to my gut instincts and the belief
that your dreams can become reality with the right intentions. I look forward
to sharing more about it soon...

-- Kelly

Bob McKnight, Founder and Executive Chairman of Quiksilver, said the
following:

"Kelly has been a part of the Quiksilver family for over 20 years. It’s been
an incredible journey watching him grow from a young surfer with great
potential, to the 11-time World Champion he is today. We wish Kelly all the
best as he enters this next phase of his career."

Often celebrated as the greatest surfer to ever live, Slater owns 11 ASP
World Titles, 54 elite ASP WCT victories and countless other accolades. At 42
years old, his ability to both compete with the world's best surfers and
continually challenge for the top spot is the stuff of sports legend.

After finishing Equal 5th at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Slater will next
do battle with the rest of the ASP Top 34 this coming week at the Drug Aware
Margaret River Pro from April 2 - 13, 2014.

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