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“Three chiefs and one Indian—guess which one I was?” Ric Gath once joked about being ousted from his own company. It was a wry comment that captured the ethos of a man who challenged a global industry—not for profit, but for protection. Gath, the late Australian surfer-inventor from Margaret River, fundamentally redefined surf safety. He created the world’s first surf-specific helmet.
Rick Gath: A Problem Born of Place
Growing up in the cold, windy conditions of Western Australia’s southwest, Ric Gath knew the physical toll of surfing intimately. Chronic ear infections, bone growth in his auditory canals (exostosis), and pterygiums over his eyes led to multiple surgeries. “I used to go to the doctor to get my head stitched,” Gath said. He recalled how wipeouts and winter winds left him battered (Trnka, 2023).
After witnessing his three-year-old son nearly suffer a facial injury from a surfboard fin, Gath’s vision crystallized. The surf world needed protective headgear that didn’t compromise performance—or style.
The First Surf-Specific Helmet – Rick Gath
In the mid-1980s, Ric began handcrafting prototypes out of his shed in Margaret River. Combining the snug fit of a neoprene hood with lightweight, aerodynamic plastic, he sculpted molds and engineered visors to shield surfers from impact and glare. With help from the Design Innovation Centre in Perth and support from private investors, the Gath Helmet was born (Gath Sports, 2022).
The first model hit the water in 1989 at the Margaret River Masters, worn by Dave Macaulay. He won the event wearing Gath’s creation. The following year, Gary “Kong” Elkerton won the Pipe Masters in one. In 1991, Tom Carroll repeated the feat. This helped catapult the helmet into surf lore (Rielly, 2021).
Innovation Meets Industry Resistance
Despite its proven utility and visibility on champions, Gath’s invention faced headwinds. Surf brands—seeing a “parasite company” gaining free press in their editorial shots—pressured photographers to crop out helmets or avoid publishing them altogether (Rielly, 2023). By 1994, internal tensions and financial constraints pushed Gath out of the company he founded.
But he didn’t stay sidelined for long. After a legal battle to regain intellectual property rights, Ric returned to helm a new company—Gath Sports—in 1999. 2005 production was back on track, and new models were hitting the market (Gath Sports, 2022).
A Quiet Design Legacy
Gath Helmets became popular beyond surfing—windsurfing, skydiving, kayaking, and rescue operations. Their utility was recognized by institutions such as the Australian Surf Life Saving Association, the US Navy, and the French Coast Guard (Gath Sports, 2022). What began as a backyard invention now safeguards lives in the world’s most dangerous aquatic environments.
In his later years, Gath worked alongside his son Jess and daughter-in-law Jennifer to manage Gath Sports. The company saw particular growth in Europe’s kite and foil surfing communities. Here, helmet use is increasingly mandated by law (Rielly, 2023).
Remembering Ric Gath
Ric Gath, 67, passed away in December 2023 after a long battle with cancer. His legacy is etched not only into the equipment worn by watermen and women around the world. It is also in the broader philosophy of user-centered, purpose-driven design.
Today, Gath Helmets remain Australian-made, family-run, and embedded in the culture they once disrupted. Ric’s story reminds us that great design often starts with a personal need. It succeeds when it dares to protect, not just perform.
Sources
Gath Sports. (2022, December 5). Gath Sports Helmets – The Story. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from https://gathsports.com/gath-sports-helmets-the-story/
Rielly, D. (2021, March). Margaret River inventor Ric Gath comprehensively refutes US man’s claim to have invented the world’s first surf-specific helmet. BeachGrit. https://beachgrit.com/2021/03/margaret-river-inventor-ric-gath-comprehensively-refutes-us-mans-claim-to-have-invented-the-worlds-first-surf-specific-helmet/
Rielly, D. (2023, December). Margaret River’s Ric Gath, inventor of the surf helmet, dead at 67. BeachGrit. https://beachgrit.com/2023/12/margaret-river-surfer-ric-gath-inventor-of-the-surf-helmet-dead-at-67/
Trnka, H. (2023, December 20). Pioneering inventor of the first surf helmet dead at 67. Stab Magazine. https://stabmag.com/elsewhere/pioneering-inventor-of-the-first-surf-helmet-dead-at-67/
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