The exacting world of Victorinox surfing

Jann Schenk, Swiss Surf Team

It’s not immediately obvious at first glance but then again, some of the most intriguing and fruitful pairings rarely are: rum and coconut water, Marmite and banana (game-changer, you have to try it), Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn (true love NEVER dies). And when curiously beautiful elements combine, great things usually happen. This certainly holds true for the Swiss Surfing Association and a 136-year old watch and knife maker, Victorinox. Both born by passion and determination, we take a closer look at the beautifully precise world of Swiss timekeeping and it’s lesser known collaboration with Swiss surfing.

I.N.O.X. pro diver series - designed to withstand drops of 10m, dives of 200m and even being driven over by an 8-ton truck.

So what makes Victorinox such a great surf watch? We turn to the Swiss surf pros for the answer.

“A good watch for surfing definitely has to be sturdy, waterproof and precise so I can keep an eye on the tides”, explains pro surfer Jann Schenk. “The whole design of the watch is very clean. It’s simple and yet very visually attractive, and that’s exactly what I’m seeking in my life”.

Jonas Weilenmann, VP SSA

“Swiss Surfing was founded in 1991 and if I remember rightly, Victorinox has been supporting us since 1994. We are both very classic and have deep roots. Yet, together both of us are always striving for innovation,” says Jonas Weilenmann, VP of Swiss Surfing Association.

And he’s right. Surfing in a landlocked country like Switzerland requires an extra dose of enthusiasm, commitment and resolve. Not dissimilar to the essence of Victorinox- directional, intrepid and pioneering - and the core values of Carl Elsener, CEO of Victorinox and great-grandson of Karl Elsener I, founder of Victorinox and the Swiss Army Knife.

Fun fact: Originally named after Karl’s mother, Victoria, the company name that you see today is a blend of two words - Victoria and Inox (also known as stainless steel, invented in 1921).

The Victorinox Diving Watches are the marine-savvy epitome of technicality, functionality and design aesthetic. Robust and expertly crafted, these timepieces are equally at ease while diving into the ocean as while exploring the urban jungle.

Available duty free at Kirk Freeport in the Cayman Islands.