If I was the designer, maybe I would look at the 2 logos and choose the one I find more appealing and beautiful (the first one, in red) and I wouldn't give a sh*t about it "being too sporty".
But that's me! Everyone is different, and every designer has its own personality when creating.
I tend to care more about it being cool or not, and letting the corporate coherence for 2nd or 3rd place. Some see this as the main thing in a logo, and I understand! So...it's really up to you.. 
Logos use to mean something, or have certain shape by which an especific category is identified. If you do something that looks like a surfing co. logo, you will people who has certain standards to doubt, and to find out what you really are... a designer or a surfing co. CEO. That's the way I see it.
elab, don't get me wrong, the first logo looks very cool, but if you want to make something different, it should be inside a range. Innovation does not mean doing something completely different. There are lots of designers that succeed doing thing completely different things to others, but that keep certain category standards.
I'm not trying to be offensive at all, I hope you get my point of view.
edit: sometimes changing the color does it, try working in the first one that looks nice.