It really isn't a big deal to the team riders. Most could actually care less who they actually ride for. Just a sticker change and maybe some wetsuits.
Not quite, just more Hurley (owned by Nike). Typical move for the Kook Swoosh, though. I bet the next news out of Hurley is a steep defunding of their team budgets, canceling their contracts with their lesser-known riders. This is probably just the beginning of a major change at Hurley--no longer picking up the unsung talents and hometown heroes. O'neill is pretty much the only core brand out there. Speaking of which, rumors have been floating around about John John possibly dropping them (not the other way around) for a larger brand with deeper pockets (Quik, or Nikurley)
I dunno. John John actually seems like a person who wouldn't sell himself out to another team like that. what i mean by that is look at who shapes his boards. John pyzell, local guy from hawaii. granted, i've seen how his boards are magic for him but the point i'm getting at is that JJ could go to ANY shaper he wanted to and get the best boards made (i.e. ..lost,CI, DHD, Weber, whatever) but he still decides to keep him. i think it was an interview in the surfer's journal recently with john pyzell and he even told JJ that if his boards are holding him back, change shapers and JJ has yet to do that. However, i am not a pro surfer and I am not JJ so i guess he can do what he wants too. Wish i had that option haha
Actually the compensation goes down when moving the surfers over to Hurley. I know one of the women and it goes down quite a bit, the allotment of funds decreases.
They never really had a cash cow surfer to headline their brand. Julian Wilson is "boring" to some, and everybody hated Kolohe Andino. Plus its hard to for any new company to get into the surf market, we're tough to please and we stick the brands that we grew up with
I'm not surprised to learn Nike owns Hurley, and am actually relieved by the knowledge I'm not familiar enough with that brand to have known.
^ and converse as well...as much as I love Nike running shoes I didn't buy into the Nike surf...would rather support a company (local if possible) founded in the industry than an an interloper looking to make cash...same thing with Adidas skate...soccer...yes...skateboarding....no. Is it hypocritical in some way or possibly make no sense at all? Maybe...
Yea all the riders got moved to hurley. Most of them dont really care though...some have even admitted that theyd rather ride for hurley. At least they get actual surf gear instead of a pair of legacy boardshorts and some shoes..
the only thing that sucks about nike dropping out, is the fact that its going to givemore fous to the biggest turd in the "surf industry". hurley.
i actually got a pair of nike 6.0 boardshorts from my friend for free. they are actually really comfortable and durable. i guess i should keep them as collectibles haha
Other then on the pros I've never seen anything from Nike in the surf shops. I never could figure out what their angle was. It didn't surprise me Bob Hurley sold out either.
Yeah, quick cash in on the surge in surf culture popularity of the last several years...and when revenue forecasts start looking a little under-projection it's time to duck out. And if rev continues to fall it's Hurley's fault and they get put to bed. I'm no fan of Hurley obviously but it's a brand kids do identify with and sales are sales, so it wouldn't be a good thing for it to go away. And wtf is with Nike still staying in the "surf shoe" business? The one piece of the pie that actually has nothing to do with the sport and they want to still hold onto it. Just proves that they're in it for the image and always were, coercing purchase decisions based on image.
Just to be clear: Bob Hurley was forced out as CEO years back, pretty much into early retirement. THEN the board decided to take Nike's bid for a buyout. Hurley underperformed under the new CEO (can't remember who it was) because they changed their business model to more lifestyle and less core (the Kook Swoosh way). As a last ditch effort, they came crawling back to Bob Hurley to right the sinking ship--which he has been doing. Believe me, he didn't have to come back--especially for money. Plus he has positioned Hurley pretty well in outreach to nonprofits and social causes around the world, like Waves for Water. Don't get me wrong, I have never owned a piece of Hurley gear--I'm just not pretty boy enough. However, I do respect what seems to be a push within the company to return as much to what brought them up as possible. I do think they will be cutting lots of people off their team in the next year, though.
Good for Bob. It's good to at least see some dedication to the brand he started. I only have gotten one pair of boardshorts from hurley but that's because they are super durable. The original phantoms. Not too much stretch and still have not got a hole in them in 3 years. also no real boardrash either. only paid 39 bucks too. I stand by hurley phantoms for sure
