Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer –
Co-founders Rip Curl
-and-brian-(r)-s_inside-stories_350x250.jpg "Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer")
Torquay, 1969. Two men. One old sewing machine. A hunch that there might be a niche in the expanding surf market for superior wetsuits. That is where it started.
From a cottage operation based around a pre-World War 2 Singer 1910 sewing machine, Rip Curl has become a vast company, employing around 1,000 people globally.
Certain things, however, have not changed. The two men, Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer, still love surfing. The company is still striving to create better products for surfers. And Rip Curl is still based in Torquay, at the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, just a few minutes from some of Australia's best reef breaks. The successful synthesis of business and beach culture is celebrated every Easter at the prestigious Rip Curl Pro surfing competition, which attracts the best and boldest boardriders in the world. 'There are complex layers of culture, art and heritage in and around it,' Doug says. 'It has always been a meeting of the tribe for surfers from all over Australia and the world.'
On the road
'The Great Ocean Road is an amazing drive, start to finish. At the very beginning it is fun to look around Torquay and the area towards Barwon Heads, 13th Beach, Point Lonsdale. For surfers, the reefs and points around Torquay and most particularly the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve are magical. Drive west to Lorne, Kennett River, Apollo Bay and it is another beautiful area where the geography is similar but subtly different. As you head further to Cape Otway and the Johanna area, the coastline and vegetation changes a bit more. Next is the really rugged section of Shipwreck Coast from Port Campbell to Peterborough. Finally there are interesting towns like Port Fairy and Portland, and again the coast shows different characteristics. I love all of it.' – Doug
Gathering of the tribe
'Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach at Easter is a great surfing event but there are also complex layers of culture, art and heritage in and around it. It has always been a meeting of the tribe for surfers from all over Australia and the world. It is casual and has that festival atmosphere. The local Indigenous folks, the Wathaurong, give official welcome. They are also part of a lot of the associated events such as music and art shows. It all makes Torquay an amazing place every Easter.' – Doug
Away from it all
'The Great Otway National Park is an amazing place to explore. I love to go camping at Aire River. You can go to either the East or West end of the river, but I prefer the top end. You are fairly near to some pretty waterfalls including the well known Hopetoun Falls. I like to set up camp, wander around and do a bit of trout fishing in the stream. Another place I have always loved camping is at Johanna. I used to go down there for surf trips and camp for two or three nights. It is one of the nicest beaches in the country, located south-east from Lavers Hill along the Great Ocean Road.' – Brian
Cruise to the views
'From Torquay west, the landscape has a lot of power about it. We get a lot of weather, which is very invigorating. When you stand on the beaches and clifftops you can feel the energy of the place. There is something unique about the way it is all combined: lovely beaches and rivers, waterfalls and mountains, all in one place. The stretch of Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Apollo Bay is very special. There are not too many roads like it anywhere in the world. I believe it must be one of the top two or three drives anywhere. You drive along with the ocean right beside you. I like to visit Loch Ard Gorge. It has plenty of history obviously, but that whole area is pretty powerful.' – Brian
