In 1973 Billabong was founded by surfer Gordan Merchant at the heart of Australian surfing in Burleigh Heads, between Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast. Gordon started by designing and manufacturing surfer's boardshorts that were durable and well priced. Needless to say that the Billabong boardshorts were hugely popular with the surfers in Australia, and Billabong quickly grew to become one of the biggest surf brands in the world. Billabong boardshorts remain one of the best designed and fitting surf shorts available.
Surf Gear Sponsors
Billabong has remained core to its surf origins and now sponsors more surf events on the ASP WCT than any other surf brand; the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo in Tahiti, the J-Bay Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, the Billabong Pro at Mundaka in Spain, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Hawaii all go ahead thanks to Billabong. The surf clothes giant has also sponsored and nurtured some of the best surfers on the WCT, past and present, and currently sponsors the following wave riders on the ASP tour: Andy Irons (three times surfing world champion), Taj Burrows, Joel Parkinson (Parko), and Mark Occhilupo (surfing world champion in 1999).
Popular Surfer Designs
Surf clothing has become the most desirable casual clothing on the streets and on the beach. Billabong T-Shirts, boardshorts, hoodies, walk shorts, jeans, shirts, jackets, underwear, and bags are very popular with surfers and also people that like to wear Billabong's comfortable surf lifestyle clothing.