US Open loses Nike, Hurley and Converse

Industry Updates

U.S. Open of Surfing sees Nike, Hurley and Converse move on

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 September, 2012 : - - Nike, Hurley and Converse will not renew its sponsorship of the U.S. Open of Surfing in 2013, creating an uncertain future for what would be one of the world’s largest surf festivals next year. When Hurley took over title sponsorship of the massive event in 2009, and later by parent company Nike, the whole scene on the south side of the pier was reinvented.

The top surfers – most who had passed on Huntington’s lackluster summer waves for years – once again showed up. More was at stake, with bigger prize money offered. The crowds came down in masses, nearly 1 million in nine days the last week of July and first week of August, with offerings such as free beach concerts from big-name bands like Weezer and MGMT. It became mega. There was a buzz about it again.

So when shop-eat-surf.com reported Monday morning that Nike, Hurley and Converse will no longer be part of the U.S. Open of Surfing, it was a big surprise for many. Whoever takes over will have some big Nike shoes to fill. With Bob Hurley, creator of surf brand Hurley, on a plane to Hawaii, senior vice president of marketing Evan Slater answered a few questions on why the brands decided to pull out.

Read the full article by Laylan Connelly

Source: Orange County.com

Author: Laylan Connelly

Tags: Nike, Hurley, US Open of Surfing

Industry: Surfersvillage