Here’s the story behind the brand. Not the glossy marketing version, but the real one. Of course, we’ve been told we can’t escape a little marketing spin, so bear with us.
In 2022, Sam and Hamish, both working full-time jobs, decided to start a triathlon and open-water swimming wetsuit brand. They didn’t have a roadmap, and in many ways, they were naïve about the scale of the challenge. What they did have was over 20 years of racing experience in wetsuits of every brand, and a ridiculous amount of energy and passion to create something better, designed by athletes, for athletes, right here in Australia.
Of course, doubt crept in. Sam wondered: What if this whole thing flopped? What if all the time and money went down the drain? A mate gave him a reality check: losing money wasn’t the real risk. The absolute nightmare would be making sub-par wetsuits, selling them, and then having to face the triathlon and open-water community wearing their own mistakes and not being able to be seen in the community even again. That was the spark that lit the fire: if they were going to do this, it had to be done properly, every stitch, every seam, every panel had to deliver on its promise.
Neither Sam nor Hamish hides behind the brand. They are the brand. They design, test, and stand by every wetsuit and item with their banding on it sold. They’re accountable for the performance of each product because they know that when you invest in good gear, you expect it to perform. Don’t like socials? Neither do they. But they’ll always answer the call of any athlete or swimmer who wants to talk gear, training, or racing.
So how do two “new kids on the block” build world-class wetsuits straight out of the gate? By leaning on their network. They brought on Aidan Clarke, a legend in the industry, founder and designer for some of the biggest wetsuit brands in the world, and with 30 years of experience. Aidan didn’t just lend his technical expertise; he gave Sam and Hamish the guidance to focus their passion, avoid big mistakes, and learn from the small ones. That was the turning point.
The brand became Great Ocean Wetsuits, named after the iconic Great Ocean Road. For Sam, who grew up in Torquay, the birthplace of Rip Curl and Quiksilver, the connection ran even deeper. The Surf Coast was once the cutting edge of wetsuit innovation for surfing. Now, the goal is to bring that spirit into swimming and triathlon.
By 2025, the brand evolved into Great Ocean Performance, with the vision of going beyond wetsuits and offering the full range of gear and tools swimmers and triathletes need to chase their goals.
Like athletes guided by their coaches, Sam and Hamish are guided by their customers. Every piece of feedback, from weekend warriors to elite racers, fuels the next round of refinement. The aim is never “good enough”, it’s how can we make it better and more suitable to the athletes goals.
And because they wanted to add more value than just selling wetsuits, they built the Great Ocean Training Platform. An online library of swim sessions, drills, and courses. Every athlete who buys a wetsuit gets free access, because the brand isn’t just about products, it’s about helping you reach your goals in and out of the water.
Want to find out a little more about our two founders and what their experience is. Check out their bio’s on our training platform page.
