SURFING HISTORY. This year, O’Neill is proudly celebrating 60 years of innovation. When Jack O’Neill pioneered the world’s first wetsuit and opened up the first Surf Shop in 1952, he set the wheels in motion for O’Neill to become not only the first name in the water, but also one of the most forward-thinking and innovative companies in the game.

Always the visionary, Jack opened up the world's first beach-side surf rental shop as early as 1958, Copyright © 2012 O'Neill. May 2, 2012

Check out this video and enjoy some of  the brand’s successes over the course of the last 60 years.

60 YEARS OF INNOVATION
Warmond, The Netherlands - 3/28/2012

Innovation. Now there's a word you hear bandied around more and more these days.

But don't be fooled: innovation isn't something that's confined solely to the 21st century. For O'Neill, our spirit of innovation was born 60 years ago, when Jack O'Neill pioneered the world's first wetsuit and in the process made surfing cold water waves for more than 30 minutes at a time a reality.

That first groundbreaking accomplishment set the tone for how O'Neill has developed and grown as a company right up to the modern day. The fact Jack's vision extended beyond surfing to activities as diverse as hot air balooning and sand-sailing also paved the way for O'Neill to tackle challenges with the broadest of perspectives. And that's always been the secret to our success.

Our long-standing 'rider developed, rider proven' ethos which sits behind all our performance-driven products, applies today as much as it did back in Jack's heyday. Fueled by a determination to make the good times even better, we work closely with our team riders all year round to ensure pure riding pleasure remains at the center of all our innovations.

And let's not forget our teams of dedicated designers who experiment around the clock with new fabrics, techniques and technologies in an effort to make the impossible possible, for both you and our team riders.

It's an approach that, over time, has seen O'Neill score multiple world firsts.

For more check out www.oneill.com/60years

About O’Neill

O'Neill, the original California surf, snow and lifestyle brand, was founded in 1952 when a young man named Jack O'Neill took his unstoppable passion for surfing and used it to beat Mother Nature at her own game. Pioneering the world's first neoprene surf wetsuit, Jack had successfully found a way to extend his surf sessions in the bone-chilling breaks of Northern California. He opened up the garage doors to his first surf shop soon after.

While many things have changed since those humble beginnings, Jack's initial vision of producing functional and innovative board riding products continues to lie at the core of everything the company does. O'Neill's set of core values - innovation in style and technology - has seen the brand devote itself wholeheartedly to the evolution of action sports. From the first neoprene surf wetsuit and board leash, to the world's first stitchless board shorts and range of groundbreaking wearable electronics, O'Neill's spirit of innovation will always drive the company forwards.

Today, O'Neill can be found the world over. In touch with its rich heritage and the universal appeal of board riding culture, O'Neill will always be committed to growing its reputation as one of the world's leading youth lifestyle brands based on a unique half-century of history as the First Name in the Water.

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