Michael Tomson created the surf company Gotcha in 1978 at Laguna Beach, near Huntington Beach, in California. Michael Tomson was ranked fifth in the world at the time, and started the rebellious surf brand Gotcha by selling surfers boardshorts and surf clothing featuring anti-establishment graphical designs. This proved to be highly popular with surfers and Gotcha carved its own unique place in the surf clothing market. So remember, it was Gotcha - not Volcom, Lost and similar surf punk brands - that pushed the boundaries first.
World Pro Surf Sponsors
Gotcha has sponsored some of the greatest surfers to grace the ASP WCT, including the awesome Martin Potter (Pottz), Derek Ho, and Rob Machado. Gotcha's new generation of surfers includes Porthlevens' Dan Joel (Mole), Patrick Bevan, Marc Lacomare, and in 2007 Gotcha have signed former world no. 2 and 2007 WCT re-qualifier Mick Campbell. Mick finished 2nd in the WQS 2006, and the goofy stance Australian surfer means to make a big impact on his return to the surfing World Championship Tour.
Discovering Teahupoo's Waves
In 1999 Gotcha created a modern day piece of surfing history when they held the first Gotcha Tahiti Pro at the previously-unknown Teahupoo in the South Pacific. Images of Teahupoo's immense bone crushing barrels and razor sharp reef quickly spread worldwide. Teahupoo became the wave that surfers around the world would love to surf, but would rarely have the balls to!
Surf Clothes For Pro Surfers
Gotcha continue to create clothing for surfers, featuring designs that have visual impact and make statements that are frequently relevant to the surfing world. Not for the faint hearted, Gotcha T-shirts, boardshorts, hoodies, and jeans are high quality garments created for the surfing core.