"Introducing Bob."
This has been filed under the “opinion” category but only because the biggest surf website in the entire world doesn’t have a “Demand:…” header. Or, we probably do but it wasn’t well received. Which brings us to Hurley. I only just learned yesterday that the brand’s visionary founder, and sons, have been drummed out by new owner Bluestar Alliance. That the entire family was “transitioned” to where there is only much wailing and gnashing of teeth but let us go first to a more reputable source, to the very famous Shop-Eat-Surf which turned Julia Roberts‘ Eat-Pray-Love on its very head, mortifying single north of 43-years-old yogis from North County, San Diego who regard that film/book as holy literature.
Hurley family members who held key executive positions at the company are no longer at the brand under the new ownership of Bluestar Alliance.
Founder and Brand Ambassador Bob Hurley, Creative Director Ryan Hurley, Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hurley, and Head of Product Chance King, Bob’s son-in-law, have all departed.
We have asked Bluestar several questions over the course of a few days including about who is leading the company now but have not received a reply.
Etc. but not really.
And the savvy amongst us will remember how Mr. Bob Hurley pulled the rug out from under Billabong in creating Hurley. Spectacularly. Richly. Gorgeously.
For certain he has more tricks up his sleeve. For certain he has “Bob.” The next hot super now surf brand that will undoubtedly pull the rug out from under Bluestar Alliance.
Bob.
I would buy anything they produced today.
Would buy anything literally anything.
I believe.
You do too.
Bob.
The brand that shatters our Surf Industry Apocalypse.
More as the story develops/when you see “Bob” wrapping BeachGrit.
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Funny, many years ago I wrote a screenplay called Water on the Brain and the surfers all rode for a surf company called Bob – after Hurley and McKnight of course.
But did you know that Kelly Slater, Wingnut and Nat Young are also Team Robert?
And Machado?!!!!!!
You bet they are.
Fubu Fila
Hurley and their two stripes on everything, and their super tight clothes made for mega skinny adults, or kids. Hurley sucks.
Never bought or wore anything Hurley, but Bob’s one of the nicest guys in the industry. Have dealt with him and Hurley in business partnerships and he is fair and honest.
Shop-Eat-Surf is actually really good journalism. They take legit shots at major surf brands and provide valuable information for surf retailers.
Anything Julian wore seemed to have that effect.
The only thing ever good about hurley was Nike’s technical product knowledge and deep pockets. Hurley’s graphic design has always been absolute trash. Also as a side note the pop up video ads on this page are fucking terrible. They constantly destroy my user experience. Im super cool with you guys making ad revenue but this shit needs attention
The Devil gets his due. Remember when Hurley launched in 1988 and Bob put “999” on his apparel? Well, even Jesus freaks are smart enough to know that people sometimes hang upside down like the monkeys satan has convinced smart people we evolved from. Every time a Hurley 999 appareller made like a monkey, satan went cha-ching cha-chink and kept devishly tedious records. As soon as Bob went all Orange County/Hawaii Jesus freak, Satan was like, ok, I’m not renewing my license with this guy—time to pay up.
what about Bob? https://www.youtube.com/wat…
How about naming his new company
Cunt Alliance?
2Seconal+1Benzidrine?
BrownStar?
Salty Cuntz?
John Gone John?
He’s going to have to up his game and pay Bem more than a Benjamin to shit-stir here.
Their phantom boardshorts were really good. You could even get them custom made with your name stitched on the pocket but the canny bastards wouldn’t let you put swear words on there.
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
It would be called ‘Fuckin’ Laird’
They made a wonderful black short with a black logo . Rather Discreet ! Could be worn as a walk short or surfed in as a boardshort. The surf shop I lived in was a Hurley Dealer so I ended up with 4 pairs of the same model over a 10 year period ( started with 32 and ended up with 33 ) and they did have a lovely silky feel interior which was somewhat enjoyable to wear but not enough to wet the panties …. went back in a September this year and the shop was full , not with Hurley , but with Vans .
Rusty?
Chanel Bottom has had quite a success in the luxury surf dept. ?
Well he made boards for PT and Rabbit , both world champs , who were looking for equipment suited to H Pier at end of the 70s . The first time I ever saw a board with a Hurley decal was under Greeny’s feet at the Alley at Cronulla around 83, the same blue railed one that appeared in a photo of him in Tracks . That’s about 35 years ago so old Bob had a great run in the surf business .
Surely the Rip Curl team also? I doubt Kathmandu is going to be able to work their team sponsorship bill back to any meaningful return on investment. Anyone apart from Mick, Gabby and maybe Mason will be sweating.
Rip Curl will either go the way of all the other brands and end up in target, or the kiwis will leave nothing changed. I would have thought there’d be more risk of Billabong or Quiksilver getting junked once oaktree (or whatever they are called) took hold of it, but then again, those brands were already in the low end shitty department stores.
robert “bob” kelly slater
Robert “Bob” Harold [“Nat”] Young
Robert “ Bobby “ Brown ….. Cronulla’s 60s Surf Star after finishing 2nd to Midget in the Australian Titles at the tender age of 17 in 64 , was lost to us way to early , killed in a bar room brawl when he was only 20 in 67 .