Alan Green, the co-founder of popular Australian surfwear brand Quiksilver, has died at the age of 77.

Green died yesterday after a short battle with several types of cancer at his home in Torquay in Victoria.

Green helped introduce Rip Curl wetsuits before he started his own Quiksilver boardshorts business in a small rented holiday home.

Surfworld Gold Coast chair and Surfing Hall of Fame inductee Rod Brooks paid tribute to the surfwear pioneer.

“Greeny’s early boardshort designs were unique for that time. He introduced a Velcro fly with two press studs, constructed yoke waistbands, and a scalloped leg with binding — features that, in 1970-71, were new and fresh,” Brooks said.

“His designs quickly caught the eye of visiting interstate and overseas surfing champions at Bells Beach, like Mark Richards, Peter Townend, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, and Hawaiians Jeff Hackman and Jerry Lopez, among many others.

“Soon, Quik shorts were appearing in surf movies and surf magazines all over the world.

“In the meantime, Greeny had taken on a partner, Victorian surfing champion John Law, and together, they built the brand over the next 40 years.”

Surfer Kelly Slater also paid tribute to Green and his legacy.

”Love you, Greeny. You were one of a kind and a great friend and mentor for so many. I’ll miss you forever,” he wrote on social media.

Green is survived by his wife Barb and three children Fletcher, Holly and Roxy.