Kikkor Golf Founder nearly gets his Big Break

The founder of Kikkor Golf, James Lepp, just failed to win Big Break Greenbrier – the 18th series of the Golf Channel’s reality golf show – as his friend Mark Silvers earned a place in the 2013 Greenbrier Classic, on the PGA Tour.

Lepp, 28, from Abbotsford, British Columbia, in Canada, fought his way through to the final pairing in the 11-week series, which was filmed during the summer of 2012, with the final programme broadcast Stateside on December 18.

But although the two-time winner on the Canadian tour played well in the final, it was 25-year-old Silvers who fought back to win despite being three down with five to play.

Lepp turned pro in 2006 but gave up playing professionally in 2010 to concentrate on his burgeoning golf shoe business, Kikkor, which has taken both North America and Europe by storm.

And, despite failing to win the popular series, the firm fans’ favourite had no complaints.

He said: “It was such a wicked display of golf by Mark in the end. I was playing solid golf all day so I can’t really be upset. We’re such good friends – it’s pretty cool that we can have such a good time on the course when the stakes are so high and we’re golfing so well.

It was a lot of fun. It was an awesome match and you’ve got to hand it to Mark. I had to play really good golf just to keep up with him. What do you do when the guy plays the last five holes in five under? You’ve just got to take your hat off to him. I do take a lot of confidence from this, because I know that I’m a good golfer and I know that I can still get better and improve.

“We felt like we’d won already just by getting this far and doing it in a respectable manner. If I can compete under these circumstances and perform well I believe I can compete anywhere. I don’t feel I’ve got to rush back into golf right now. I’ve a lot going on in my life.”

And that, of course, includes his very successful business venture, Kikkor Golf, which has spearheaded the crossover-style golf shoe movement in North America since it was launched in 2010.

Kikkor takes its influence from the classic North American athletic and skate shoes and the popular ‘sneaker’. They are built with comfort and style in mind first and foremost, without ignoring important technical attributes such as grip, stability, waterproofing and durability.

Lepp’s desire was to produce golf shoes which combined unique styling, outstanding comfort and superior performance. Following the 2010 launch, they proved so popular that Golfweek magazine commented the company sold so many they “…can’t keep their shoes on the shelves”.

The Kikkor range includes shoes with the exclusive VEKTRboard sole, which produces outstanding traction through the strategic curving of each individual cleat. The company describes the effect as like “having bear claws on your feet”.

Kikkor’s European spring/summer 13 range, which launches at the end of January, includes several new product lines, and the distribution has been taken on for 2013 by Surrey-based Barrelfield Golf Europe under the auspices of Ross Hastings, the man who first introduced Callaway and Galvin Green to the UK.

Retailing at under £100, not only are they the most fashionable shoe on the market, they’re also not going to break the bank. From the unique deck-shoe-style Slyder Premium through to the women’s Tour Estrella, the shoes are unmistakably trendy and desirable, as well as practical and effective

For more information please visit - www.kikkor.co.uk