Watch: Joel Vaughan // New Beginnings

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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Latest sponsor news is that, with less than a week till he surfs his first CT, Joel Vaughan has parted ways with Quiksilver - a relationship that was eight-years strong.

The announcement came via a simple Instagram post: "My time with Quiksilver has come to an end," wrote Joel. "I’ve decided to move on .." plus the obligatory pleasantries to those who helped along the way.

It also included a new edit that serves as a sponsor me tape.

Editor's Note: The unofficial word is JV will paddle out for his Opening Round heat at Pipe with an O'Neill sticker on his board.

Comments

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 6:49am

Jeezuz, that's bizarre they would drop him just as he hits the CT.

Broady Daz's picture
Broady Daz's picture
Broady Daz Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 7:20am

It just seems retarded for one the most dynamic young surfers the country has and one who is performing in and out of the singlet, unless he has upgraded,

Sprout's picture
Sprout's picture
Sprout Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 8:07am

Maybe he actually decided to move on?

surfer1971's picture
surfer1971's picture
surfer1971 Saturday, 25 Jan 2025 at 7:22am

Rumour has it that if Ethan or Griffin had one the title last year there bonus was more than the whole mareketing budget. The bosses were sweating. There is no money in surfing. Why do you think everyone is being dropped as soon as their contracts are up for re signing. Look outside the industry to the tech to get coin.

Nate1212's picture
Nate1212's picture
Nate1212 Sunday, 26 Jan 2025 at 7:38am

Yep certainly wise to look to sign with some non surfing brands. Even just for smaller deals

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 8:21am

Surely he has a new deal to be announced??
A sad indictment on the industry if not.

jasper99's picture
jasper99's picture
jasper99 Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 8:53am

Do yourselves a favour and listen to the latest "Lipped Podcast" with Joel being interviewed and I worked out pretty quickly he's a smart lad. He doesn't mention the split with Quik but his whole outlook seems very mature and focused with his love of surfing at the forefront.

3vickers's picture
3vickers's picture
3vickers Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 9:10am

maybe quik has something against the air-reverse

(i do!!)

tl's picture
tl's picture
tl Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 10:16am

How do we know he was dropped...? Maybe he just got a better offer he couldn't refuse.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 10:47am

You don't release a clip with your previous sponsor, say you are done and not name the new sponsor.

if he got a better offer, he would be shouting it from the rooftops.

Hope he does get one though- hard to see from who though.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 10:59am

Yep.

Nate1212's picture
Nate1212's picture
Nate1212 Sunday, 26 Jan 2025 at 7:37am

I guess with what we now know — that he has upgraded to O’Neill- it comes across as classy to drop the edit and thanks before announcing the next move. Actually have seen this from a few surfers. Leaving space from the breakup before they announce the next move.

gedsta's picture
gedsta's picture
gedsta Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 10:28am

The wozz need to update Joel's Bio Pic, he looks like a 12 year old amongst men.

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 11:58am

Maybe he didn't like the upgrade Quik did offer for making the CT

N rather than try and keep the option with Quik open whilst fishing around for something better
he's acted more ... you could say 'boldy', 'honestly' or 'naively'
by giving Quik the finger and throwing himself on the open market

I would say 'naively' as there's only a few copanies really throwing money at CT entrants + so many of them fail quickly they're risky propositions - by killing Quik he may also kill Billabong as they're owend by the same VC firm I think, leaving only Rip or Volcom really. Hopefully for him his manager knows the market better than I do

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 12:13pm

Jumping ship without a new vessel to jump to 3 days before the season starts would be a move too stupid for even the most reckless manager.

Based on the timing, this is a bolt from the blue the poor lad did not see coming and an absolute dog act from Quik.

Faunt Leroy's picture
Faunt Leroy's picture
Faunt Leroy Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 12:20pm

Volcom owned by the same company that owns Quikky and Billy"s
With the amount of kids RC sponsor in oz I doubt they will be able to afford him.

Swany's picture
Swany's picture
Swany Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 12:36pm

Absolutely ripping right there. Hopefully he’ll light it up.

Gowsa's picture
Gowsa's picture
Gowsa Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 12:36pm

He should move to the Goldy.
From all the clips, everyone seems to sponsored up there.

cd's picture
cd's picture
cd Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 12:40pm

Hard gig been a pro surfer in current environment, lack of sponsor money and CT mid year cut. Golden years long gone.

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 1:32pm

Love ya swellnet but geez you’ve jumped the gun here. Pick up the phone and talk to a few industry crew and you’ll find out where he’s going.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 1:49pm

Do tell!

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 5:00pm

Joel will be surfing with a patch over one eye.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 5:40pm

Cryptic.

Team mate of Jordy?

I remember Billabong dumping Bede just before his run of top ten finishes on the CT.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Friday, 24 Jan 2025 at 9:27pm

Arhhh mateys, thee salt hurts my eyes or where one once was.... Jack's club .

Swany's picture
Swany's picture
Swany Saturday, 25 Jan 2025 at 11:41pm

From elsewhere:
‘According to a credible industry source, Quiksilver offered Vaughan a substantial two-year deal and fought to retain him despite blistering budget constraints. However, O’Neill reportedly topped the offer by a five-figure sum (annually), prompting Vaughan’s decision to jump ship’.

Nate1212's picture
Nate1212's picture
Nate1212 Sunday, 26 Jan 2025 at 7:34am

Great choice by him to sign with someone not tied in to the whole ABG (is that it?) shambles. And classy to deliver his last edit with Quik before moving on. Wise move. And he might get to go on some maps to nowhere trips with caity now which would be epic

poo-man's picture
poo-man's picture
poo-man Sunday, 26 Jan 2025 at 7:44am

A 5 figure sum? So that's less than $99000 a year? How far has the surf industry dropped in ability to pay good surfers? There was a time that QS journeymen were getting that type of pay

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Saturday, 1 Feb 2025 at 3:10pm

I think you misread that Poo-man. They “topped” the offer by a five figure sum, that wasn’t the total offer

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 27 Jan 2025 at 12:00pm

?si=TfRnNUptS8Ktk6sg

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Saturday, 1 Feb 2025 at 3:56pm

One of prominent podcasts reported O’Neill offered 20K per year more than Quik. There’s a couple of trips or flights there. Plus he gets better wetties