{"id":8781,"date":"2024-04-25T08:33:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T08:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/economicherald.net\/?p=8781"},"modified":"2024-04-25T08:33:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T08:33:21","slug":"zhiks-neoprene-free-wetsuit-range-sets-sail-with-six-sailgp-teams-onboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/economicherald.net\/?p=8781","title":{"rendered":"Zhik\u2019s neoprene-free wetsuit range sets sail with six SailGP teams onboard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Special Report: Australian performance water sports apparel company <a href=\"https:\/\/zhik.com\/au\/?sid=1713149777336%20\/\">Zhik<\/a> has scored a major win with its industry-first high-performance neoprene-free wetsuit range. <\/p>\n<p>Founded in 2003 by Brian Connolly, the creator of Dolby, Zhik initially focused on crafting high-performance wetsuits for elite sailors. Today, the company commands a large share of the Olympic sailing market and supports hundreds of athletes, from elite level, Americas Cup, and Olympic champions to junior and youth pathway sailors, through its various programs.<\/p>\n<p>And now it\u2019s securing partnerships with six of the 10 world\u2019s top SailGP teams, including two-time America\u2019s Cup winners Pete Burling and Blair Tuke from the New Zealand SailGP team.<\/p>\n<p>The prestigious SailGP circuit, featuring the best sailors on the planet, is renowned for pushing the boundaries of performance and technology. As the demand for sustainable, high-performance gear intensifies, Zhik\u2019s CEO, <a href=\"https:\/\/stockhead.com.au\/aftermarket\/unicorns-podcast-sailing-and-yachting-apparel-powerhouse-zhik-rides-the-wave-with-crowd-funding-raise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Australia\u2019s <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/stockhead.com.au\/aftermarket\/unicorns-podcast-sailing-and-yachting-apparel-powerhouse-zhik-rides-the-wave-with-crowd-funding-raise\/\">most successful Olympic sailor <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/stockhead.com.au\/aftermarket\/unicorns-podcast-sailing-and-yachting-apparel-powerhouse-zhik-rides-the-wave-with-crowd-funding-raise\/\">Mat Belcher<\/a>, said the new range and partnerships underscore the company\u2019s commitment to meeting elite athletes\u2019 demands without compromising environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur customers expect us to drive sustainability in our industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of our customers are elite athletes who cannot compromise on performance, but they care deeply about the environmental impact of the gear they use.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe challenge was to create a wetsuit that ticked both boxes, and we\u2019ve been able to do that with this new range.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Crafted from sustainable, plant-based Yulex rubber, the new wetsuit collection offers superior thermal insulation, comfort, durability, and mobility, generating 80 percent fewer CO2 emissions than conventional neoprene wetsuits.<\/p>\n<p>The fabric is also infused with graphene, an advanced nanoscale 2D material that can return up to 20 per cent more body heat. This keeps wearers warmer for longer, regulates temperatures during low-intensity activities, and aids the drying process.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p><em>SailGP NZ crew member Blair Tuke. Image Supplied.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Six SailGP teams have decided to adopt Zhik\u2019s neoprene-free wetsuits, a resounding endorsement of the company\u2019s sustainable approach. As the sailing community grapples with its environmental impact, Zhik\u2019s initiative represents a significant stride towards mitigating the sport\u2019s ecological footprint while maintaining the highest performance standards.<\/p>\n<p>Over 18 months, Zhik collaborated closely with SailGP teams to test and refine the wetsuit range, ensuring it meets the rigorous demands of elite sailing. Blair Tuke, co-CEO and Wing Trimmer of the Black Foils New Zealand SailGP Team, hailed Zhik\u2019s initiative as a significant step forward in pursuing sustainable water sports gear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy demonstrating that high performance and sustainability can coexist, Zhik is setting a precedent that could disrupt the sailing wetsuit industry and inspire other manufacturers to adopt better practices,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Zhik accelerated its global growth plans following a successful capital raise 12 months ago. The $2 million raise, backed by Notable investors, including Marcus Blackmore and Sydney private equity firm Nightingale Partners, was on a valuation of nearly $30 million.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>This article was developed in collaboration with Zhik, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/stockhead.com.au\/tech\/zhiks-neoprene-free-wetsuit-range-sets-sail-with-six-sailgp-teams-onboard\/\">Zhik\u2019s neoprene-free wetsuit range sets sail with six SailGP teams onboard<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/stockhead.com.au\/\">Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Special Report: Australian performance water sports apparel company Zhik has scored a major win with its industry-first high-performance neoprene-free wetsuit range. Founded in 2003 by <a href=\"https:\/\/economicherald.net\/?p=8781\" class=\"read-more-link\">[more&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":8782,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Zhik\u2019s neoprene-free wetsuit range sets sail with six SailGP teams onboard - Economic Herald<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/economicherald.net\/?p=8781\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Zhik\u2019s neoprene-free wetsuit range sets sail with six SailGP teams onboard - Economic Herald\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Special Report: Australian performance water sports apparel company Zhik has scored a major win with its industry-first high-performance neoprene-free wetsuit range. 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