Reef Check Champion- Bruce Raymond

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Reef Check Champion- Bruce Raymond
Bruce Raymond with RC's Gregor Hodgson
In this issue we feature Bruce Raymond, President of Quiksilver International. Bruce was a professional Top 16 surfer who after helping pioneer the International Professional Surfing (IPS) joined Quiksilver as a sponsored athlete in 1975. He managed the promotions and advertising at Quiksilver Inc from 1978 – 1980 before returning to Australia as the CEO of Quiksilver Garments in 1981. In this capacity Bruce managed the Quiksilver Trade Marks, Copyright, Licensing structure worldwide and the International Promotional Fund. In 2003 he became the President of Quiksilver International and continues to be the driving force behind many Quiksilver initiatives, including Athlete management, Global projects and Events.
Fijian kids in front of the new boat for Waitabu
Photo by Helen Sykes
In 1999 Bruce launched the “Quiksilver Crossing”, a voyage of surf exploration, empathy for local culture and customs while giving something back to the environment. This started his relationship with Reef Check. Since the boat left Australia in 1999, he has invited and funded a Reef Check scientist to accompany the Indies Trader on its search for undiscovered surf breaks so Reef Check could monitor remote reefs in the process. This work has provided data that was otherwise unattainable and has educated thousands of surfers about the value of coral reefs and problems facing them.

In 2004, Bruce provided a substantial donation for RC Fiji coordinator Helen Sykes to cover more than half the cost of the construction and delivery of a boat for the Waitabu Reef Check team. The villagers were so overjoyed that they awarded Bruce and fellow supporter Fiji Water with a whale's tooth, a traditional "tabua." In 2005, Raymond also made another generous donation to support RC Australia.
"Bruce Raymond is a true visionary who understands how important healthy coral reefs are to the future of surfers and all humanity. There is no other person who has done more for Reef Check," says Reef Check Director Gregor Hodgson.
If you know a Reef Check Champion you feel should be highlighted, please email a brief description of his/her contribution as well as a photo to RC Headquarters.

Reefcheck Newsletter: Reef Check Champion- Bruce Raymond

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