Quiksilver was founded in 1970 in Australia, when Torquay surfers Alan Green and John Law came up with the idea of selling wetsuits for a living. They redesigned the wetsuit, creating one that was specifically designed for surfing, and over time, introduced a range of surfwear products, at a time when there was little competition.
They were successful enough in Australia that they caught some attention overseas, and in 1976, agreed to sell the distribution rights in the United States for several million dollars. This was followed, in 1984, by a move into the European market, and the creation of Quiksilver Europe. More recently, they have begun a foray into the Asian market. Along the way Quiksilver has been setting the bar high in the board industry, with cutting edge style, comfort and quality.