Surf brand Rip Curl has signed a landmark eight-year deal with world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore.
The multi-million-dollar agreement follows the recent extension of multiple other surfing sponsorships, including with surfing great Molly Picklum.
Hailing from Kingscliff NSW, Gilmore has clinched the WSL World Champion title eight times in her 17-year long career. She has scored 34 event wins, five perfect 10s and has been inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.
The new deal with Rip Curl comes as Gilmore embarks on a year-long sabbatical from professional surfing. Through this deal, Rip Curl will support her global exploration.
“This really feels like a new era in my career,” Gilmore said. “In taking a year-off my aim was to just go surfing. To reconnect with what surfing really means to me and how I can share that with the world.
“So when this opportunity came up to join ‘The Search’ with Rip Curl, travelling the world, finding waves, having fun, it was the perfect alignment - there’s so much to be inspired about.”
Gilmore said she will return to the elite WSL Championship Tour in 2025.
“After 17 years of putting on a competition jersey, it’s a big change in my schedule, but one I’m fully embracing and beyond excited about.”