Acquisition adds surfing to Octagon’s stable

Octagon’s action sports practice is adding surfing to its sports representation mix, which already includes skateboarding, snowboarding and BMX.

The company acquired Australian surf management agency Revolver Athlete Management and will bring the agency’s founder, Matt Syms, on board along with seven surfing clients. Syms’ top surfers are Australians Bede Durbidge, Ry Craike and Mitch Coleborn.

Terms of the acquisition weren’t available.

Peter Carlisle, who will manage the surfing business as Octagon’s managing director of Olympics and action sports, said that revenue from representing surfers could be as compelling as revenue from representing snowboarders because of the high value of endemic sponsorships in surfing. He added that the upside of adding endorsements with mainstream marketers can make the surfing business more lucrative.

“With a decent roster, there’s some significant revenue there,” Carlisle said. “As the TV exposure increases, we hope to get more out-of-the-industry business.”

Octagon agent Amen Teter will work with Syms on the surfing business. Syms also will be supported by Octagon’s sales, marketing and public relations experts in Australia, where it has offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and the U.S.

Octagon was last involved in surfing in 2006 when agents Circe Wallace and Dan Levy worked for the company. But Wallace and Levy left the agency to join Wasserman Media Group, and Octagon hasn’t been involved in surfing since then.