Case Study: Rip Curl achieves 23% of app opens via push—boosting fan engagement and loyalty with Airship

Rip Curl’s Live Events App Ensures Global Fans Never Miss A Wave

Rip Curl, a leading maker of wetsuits and technical apparel, needed a way to bring the live surf event experience to global fans who follow individual surfers, cope with constantly changing schedules, and value visuals over stats. The company’s goals were to increase engagement and boost loyalty by giving users timely, relevant content while letting them control how and when the app contacts them.

Rip Curl partnered with Urban Airship to send rich media (photos, video) and targeted Heat Alerts using tag-based segmentation, scheduling, and user-set “quiet times.” The redesigned iPhone and Android app let users subscribe to favorite surfers and tailor notification detail, driving real-time interaction—push messages accounted for 23% of app opens—and improving audience engagement and retention.

Rip Curl

Brendan Downs

Global Web Master