After 23 years of being sponsored by Quiksilver, professional surfer Kelly Slater announced he will be leaving the brand and has plans to launch his own that will weave together his passion for clean living, responsibility, and style. The announcement came on Monday via the surfer’s Facebook page, where he expressed many thanks to Quiksilver for the years of support he received.

“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 [percent] 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,” Slater wrote.

The 42-year-old surfer has won the ASP World Tour a record 11 times, with five consecutive wins from 1994 to 1998. Currently, he is the youngest and oldest surfer to win the title, at ages 20 and 39. He was also crowned winner of the Boost Mobile Pro event at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California in 2007. The list of his titles seems almost endless.

He said inspiration for the new brand comes from the people and cultures he has encountered during his worldwide travels. Slater will be partnering with The Kering Group, citing shared values. The established partner owns high-end brands such as Gucci and Saint Laurent, as well as sports brands like Puma and Volcom.

According to Outside, a Kering spokesperson said the partnership will be a multi-layered relationship “with Kering supporting Kelly Slater in the launch and the development of his own apparel brand … [and] Slater being an ambassador for Kering and involved with certain initiatives at the Group, notably related to sustainability, and some of its brands.”

“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,” Slater continued. “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.”

Image courtesy of Rtwkeaton on Wikimedia Commons