Cover photo: WSL/Cait Miers

“I couldn’t have asked for a better deal, profits on the brand, I grow and they grow, we grow together,” said Nathan Florence in the latest episode of his YouTube channel in which he told how he came to close a contract with the brand founded by his brother John John, Florence Marine X.

“I worked with Vans for 20 years. Great company, great relationships. It was a long-term contract that I had to get out of. Vans offered me a lot and Florence offered me a lot. John said, 'Hey, if you want to, it's your decision, but we'd love to have you here. Come, let's build this company together,'” the middle Florence brother begins.

He adds that for John John it was important, when considering it, that Nathan's YouTube and his networks are very strong and that a circle is closed because John John competes and Nathan surfs big waves in addition to being one of the greatest surfing adventurers today.

“And it’s my name,” he says, as if making sense of it all.

“Obviously, the decision was not made lightly (…) I had to make a decision. It came down to 'accept the short-term thinking deal, the deal now, with Vans, or take the long game and bet on myself, sail under my own name, build a company with my brother'”… The decision is already known.

Florence also justified herself with respect to the product, clothing that she uses for outdoors, either for very hot or very cold weather.

“I could never pass up that opportunity and be able to remake the surfing industry that as it is seen today does not look very good (…) And this can end up positively affecting young people (…) I went that route and I have no regrets, I am so happy,” he concluded, telling his followers that they will bring value to the brand for their input and their existence.

He added that his younger brother, Ivan, “seems to be sticking with Vans” and that the doors will always be open for him.

He concluded by saying that the best scenario for Nathan with Vans is to reach a deal just for shoes and for the sticker to be in the middle of the chart.