Interview with Grégory Pelagahe, winner of the EuroSIMA 2023 call for innovation projects

FROM BOOTIES TO IMPACT SUITS : THE EXCITING ADVENTURE OF WETTY WETSUITS

In the world of surfing, where passion and innovation are the keys to progress, WETTY WETSUITS has been setting itself apart since the beginning with their booties and now with their new impact wetsuit. This article explores the journey of WETTY WETSUITS, from its beginnings to Gregory's winning EuroSIMA's Call for Innovation Projects 2023.

FROM IDEA TO INNOVATION

Born in Biarritz, Grégory grew up with a board under his feet, surfing since the age of 4. His entrepreneurial story began in 2014, during a particularly cold winter, which prompted him to reinvent the most overlooked but essential accessory for any surfer: surf booties.

It all started with a simple but unmet need: high-performance, flexible, warm surf booties that let you "feel" your board underfoot. This search led Greg to create his first bootie prototypes, laying the foundations for what was to become a great adventure.

"In November 2014, there was a big cold snap. We went straight from 3/2 to 4/3 with booties. I went to my garage to get my slippers and they were completely dead. The ones I liked, my wife had thrown away because they stank too much and were in a bad state" Grégory PELAGAHE, president and founder of WETTY WETSUITS.

"After a lot of inconclusive tests, we finally found the right workshop - and I mean workshop, not factory - to make our slippers. So that's how it started, at first we didn't want to make a business out of it, but in the end it became a business".

The transition from booties to wetsuits was a natural one, as the two are intrinsically linked. WETTY began creating wetsuits that stood out not only for their functionality, but also for their unique aesthetics - leopard suits with fluorescent designs, capturing the free and daring spirit of its brand.

"So for the combis, we started making the first prototypes, and here again we had fun, so we made fluorescent orange combis, we made leopard combis, and I had a combi with fish printed all over it. As I've gotten older, it's a bit harder for me to wear a leopard suit, so I've focused more on the technical side than the design side.

CALL FOR INNOVATION 2023 PROJECTS: A BOOST FOR WETTY

"The EuroSIMA Innovation Call for Projects was important for me because I was going to be up against my peers in the industry, and I was going to be assessed and judged both by leaders of very big brands, start-up leaders, outside speakers; there really is a comprehensive look."

Taking part in EuroSIMA's Call for Innovation Projects 2023 was a major challenge for Grégory. The competition represented an opportunity to measure himself against the industry and validate his ideas. For him, it was more than just winning; it was a chance to step out of his comfort zone, to question the relevance of his creations and, ultimately, to receive constructive feedback from his peers. Grégory underlines the importance of this challenge as a valuable source of reflection and improvement for his project.

"What I really enjoyed was the writing part of the project. Why is that? Because when we fill in the file, it's really structured and it makes us take a step back from the project. It allows us to ask ourselves the right questions and wonder if we're going in the right direction or not."

"The Innovation Call for Projects is both a response to riders, but it's also about asking all the right questions around it."

ITS INNOVATION: THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR IMPACT SUIT

The project submitted by WETTY, the IMPACT wetsuit, was part of Greg's quest to innovate a product that has changed little in recent years. Conceived and designed with pro surfers such as Jérôme Sahyoun, the wetsuit was designed to solve a specific problem: how to combine protection and flexibility, without sacrificing comfort or performance? The development of this product was a journey strewn with pitfalls, from failed prototypes to the difficulty of finding the right materials, but it was also a human adventure, driven by a passion for surfing and the desire to bring real added value to the community.

"Jérôme Sahyoun, a Moroccan loader, contacted me to say he wasn't comfortable with impact vests, because sometimes he gets into trouble because he can't move. The ideal would be to have a modular suit. Jérôme does both tow-in and slab surfing, as well as rowing big waves. He used to wear vests under his wetsuits and over the inflatable, which got him into trouble because he couldn't move at all, and he'd like to have a modular wetsuit. We thought with him that we'd have to come up with a wetsuit where you could swap foams and adapt according to wave size or type. Because you're not going to use the same material on a slab as you would on a wave like Belharra, Parlementia or the Nord."

"Unfortunately, on impact vests, the pockets are all closed and surfers have no means of control. [...] That was the brief, to create a wetsuit that works with removable pockets, and above all to be able to check and change the foams. There were two equations to solve."

THE EUROSIMA CALL FOR PROJECTS: A GREAT IMPACT FOR YOUR BUSINESS

"I was surprised to win the project, because it's not a major innovation, I haven't revolutionized surfing and I'd never claim to have done so, but we've moved things forward, so I was very surprised and moved, and it showed at the ceremony. I was moved because you play with riders' lives when you embark on a project like this [...] I have a special thought for Jérôme Sahyoun and Éric Rebière, who helped me a lot, as well as Laurent Pujol and Pierre Caley."

The EuroSIMA recognition was an important moment for WETTY and Grégory. This victory is not just the validation of a product, but the symbol of an approach: one that places innovation, quality and, above all, the needs of surfers at the heart of every decision. It's this philosophy that has enabled WETTY to make a name for itself in the surfing world, proving that even the smallest brands have the power to make waves.

"The good spin-offs are that I've been contacted by brands to make suits for their teams. I've also been contacted by the international loader community to make combis."

WETTY's victory in the Call for Innovation Projects is not only a recognition of its innovation, but also a catalyst for future collaboration and development. Grégory shares the positive impact this victory has had on WETTY, from increased interest from the international shipper community to concrete support from EuroSIMA in pursuing its ambitions.

EUROSIMA 2024 CALL FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS

WETTY WETSUITS, under the leadership of Grégory Pelagahe, continues to redefine surf equipment standards. The WETTY story is proof that innovation, in our Action Sports industry, can turn challenges into opportunities.

"EuroSIMA's Call for Innovation Projects 2023 is an excellent initiative because it energizes the industry. Indeed, it's often the small brands that innovate, that try things out, whether it succeeds or not, and then the big companies, of course, also come out with new things, but it's also stimulating to see that small companies have thought about it."

WETTY's success isn't just a success story; it's a source of inspiration, a call to all creative minds to dare to make a difference in our Action Sports sector. On the eve of the opening of applications for our 2024 call for projects, the EuroSIMA team invites you to seize this opportunity, in the image of WETTY.

>> If you'd like to apply to the EuroSIMA 2024 Call for Innovation Projects, now's your chance!

>> Discover the history of WETTY WETSUITS on video!

>> Find out how he overcame this challenge and what impact it has had on his business in this video!

>> To find out more about this interview, keep an eye on our social networks!

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FROM BOOTIES TO IMPACT WETSUITS: THE FASCINATING ADVENTURE OF WETTY WETSUIT

In the surfing world, where passion and innovation are the keys to success, WETTY WETSUITS has always stood out with their booties but now they are making waves with their all new impact wetsuits. This article explores the adventure of WETTY WETSUITS, starting with its inception all the way to Gregory winning the 2023 EuroSIMA Call for Innovative projects.

FROM THE IDEA TO THE INNOVATION

Born in Biarritz, Grégory started surfing at the age of 4 and basically grew up with a board under his feet. His story as an entrepreneur begins in 2014, during a particularly cold winter, which led him to reinvent the most neglected, yet essential accessory a surfer needs: surfing booties.
It all started with a simple and unfulfilled need: the need for warm, flexible, performant surfing booties that allow the surfer to "feel" the board. This quest led Greg to create his first prototypes of booties and lay the foundations of what would become an incredible adventure.

"In November of 2014, it got really cold. We went straight from a 3/2 to a 4/4 and booties. I went to my garage to get them and they were dead. The ones I really liked, my wife had thrown out because they were ruined and smelled awful." Grégory PELAGAHE, WETTY WETSUITS President and founder.

"After a number of inconclusive tests, we finally found the right workshop, and I specifically say workshop and not factory, to make our booties. So that is how it started, at first it wasn't about doing business, but in the end it did turn into a business."

The shift from booties to wetsuits happened quite naturally, both being intrinsically linked. WETTY therefore started making wetsuits that stood out not only for their functionality but also for their unique looks like leopard prints and neon designs that embody the audacity and freedom that define the brand.

"So for the wetsuits, we started making prototypes. Once again, we had fun with making neon orange wetsuits or leopard print wetsuits, and I had a fish-print wetsuit. As I get older, I have a bit more trouble owning up to wearing a leopard wetsuit. I focus more on the technical side rather than a wild designs. "

THE 2023 CALL FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS: A HELPING HAND FOR WETTY

"The EuroSIMA Call for projects mattered to me because I would be up against peers in the industry and I would be judged and evaluated by CEOs of not only huge brands but also business leaders from start-ups and outside individuals; it is a very full-scale approach."

Taking part in the 2023 EuroSIMA Call for Innovative projects was a big challenge for Grégory. The contest was an opportunity for him to measure up to the industry and to validate his ideas; For him, it was more than just about the money; it was a chance to step outside his comfort zone, to question the pertinence of his creations and overall, to get constructive feedback from his peers. Grégory underlines the importance of this challenge as a precious source of reflexion to improve his project.

"What I really enjoyed was the writing part of the project. Why? Because when you fill out the application, it is very structured and it forces you to get some perspective on the project. It helps us raise the right questions and question whether we're headed in the right direction or not "

"The Call for Innovative projects is both the answer for the riders' needs and a way to ask all the right questions."

HIS INNOVATION: HIS ULTIMATE WARRIOR SURFING IMPACT WETSUIT

The WETTY project that was submitted, the surf IMPACT wetsuit, was a part of Greg's quest to innovate on a product that had evolved only barely over the last few years. Thought out and designed with pro surfers like Jérôme Sahyoun, this wetsuit aimed to answer a precise need: to combine safety and flexibility without losing in performance or comfort. Developing this product was a long process, filled with obstacles and failed prototypes linked to the difficulty in finding the right materials. But it was also a human adventure, carried by a passion for surfing and the desire to offer real added value to the community.

"Jérôme Sahyoun contacted me. He is a Moroccan charger and he explained that he wasn't comfortable with impact jackets because sometimes he winds up unable to move, which is a problem. The ideal would be to come up with a versatile and convertible wetsuit. Jérôme surfs slabs, but also big waves both as tow-in and paddling. He would usually wear the jacket under the wetsuit and wear the inflatable over the wetsuit but that became a problem because he really couldn't move so he wanted a versatile wetsuit. Brainstorming with him, we realized that we had to find a way to make a wetsuit in which you could switch out the panel inserts to adapt them depending on the size or type of waves. Because you're not going to use the same equipment for a slab as you would for a wave like Belharra, Parlementia or "la Nord".

"Unfortunately, on impact jackets, the panels are all sealed and surfers have no control over that. [...] Those were the requirements, to create a wetsuit that works with removable pockets and above all to allow the surfer to check and if necessary change the inserts. There were therefore two issues to be dealt with.

THE EUROSIMA CALL FOR PROJECTS: A GOOD IMPACT FOR HIS BUSINESS

"I was surprised to win, because it was not a major innovation, I didn't revolutionise surfing and I would never claim to do so, but we did make things move forward, so I was very surprised and moved. You could tell during the ceremony. I was moved because when you get into a project like this one you have surfers' lives in your hands [...] I thought in particular about Jérôme Sahyoun and Éric Rebière, who helped me a lot as well as Laurent Pujol and Pierre Caley. "

This recognition from EuroSIMA was a key moment for WETTY and Grégory. This win is not just the validation of a product but the symbol of an approach: the approach through innovation, quality and above all surfers' needs at the heart of each and every decision. This philosophy is what allowed WETTY to make themselves a name in the surfing world, thereby proving that even the smallest brands can make waves.

"The positive impact is that I was contacted by brands to make wetsuits for their team. I was also contacted by the community of chargers across the world to make wetsuits."

WETTY winning the Call for Innovative projects is not just a recognition of the innovation but also a catalyst for future collaborations and development. Grégory shares how this victory has had a positive impact on WETTY from increased interest from the international community of chargers to the concrete support EuroSIMA provides him to help pursue his ambitions.

2024 EUROSIMA CALL FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

WETTY WETSUITS, led by Grégory Pelagahe, continues to redefine the standards for surfing hardware. The WETTY story is proof that innovation in our Action Sports industry can turn challenges into opportunities.

"The 2023 EuroSIMA Call for Innovative Projects is an excellent initiative because it boosts the industry. Often times, it's the small brands that innovate, try things, whether they succeed or not and then of course large companies also come up with new things but it is also stimulating to see the small businesses who came up with it."

WETTY winning is not just a success story; it is a source of inspiration, a call to all creative minds to come and dare to make a difference in our Action Sports industry. As the 2024 edition launches and the first applications start coming in, the EuroSIMA team encourages you to seize this opportunity, just like WETTY did.