In a surprising development Monday, Kelly Slater announced in a letter to the public that he is leaving his longtime sponsor, Quiksilver, to begin a new venture with Kering Group. Kering, which has brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Puma and Volcom, says on their website that they, “develop an ensemble of powerful brands across two fast growing segments: Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle.” While this may seem like a bad April Fools joke, various sources have confirmed it to be the real deal. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more. But for now, here’s Kelly’s letter as it appeared on the ASP’s site.
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 … More