hiya wa howa aswat

Suggestions the announcement was an April Fools Day joke were dismissed when Slater contested the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia on Wednesday.

The American 41-year-old entered the water without the logo he has sported since the global surf wear company picked him up as an 18-year-old amateur in 1990.

In an open letter Slater said he could not give enough credit to the support he has gained from Quiksilver but is excited to be embarking on a new venture.

Slater is launching his own lifestyle brand in partnership with the Kering Group, an international apparel company whose brands include Puma and Gucci.

The move brought Slater no luck in the surf as he went down to Western Australian wild card Yadin Nicol in his round-one heat of the Margaret River Pro, the second event on the world championship tour.

The result sees Slater forced into the round-two elimination round. Former world champion Joel Parkinson suffered the same fate as Slater but reigning champion Mick Fanning progressed straight into round three after winning his first heat.