Red Bull big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton tests custom €1,295 wetsuit capped at 1,000 units ahead of Nazaré window

Ahead of the Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge window opening on 1 November, Red Bull surfer Andrew Cotton has helped develop a custom wetsuit capped at just 1,000 numbered units. Born Slippy's Aptus 1.0 is cut to an individual 26-point body profile rather than standard sizing, using Yamamoto limestone neoprene to end cold-water flushing. Founded by former music and brand strategist Charles Gadsdon, the €1,295 suit operates on an allocation model with zero deadstock. Cotton and Gadsdon are available for interview from North Devon and Valencia.

Andrew Cotton is currently preparing for the Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge window, running 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. Over the past two years, the North Devon big-wave athlete worked with startup Born Slippy to develop the Aptus 1.0, testing and destroying prototypes in heavy surf at Croyde Bay to refine seam stress points and neck seal tolerances. The resulting suit eliminates off-the-rack sizing entirely. Each unit is cut from 26 distinct body measurements in Yamamoto #39 and #40 limestone neoprene, carrying under 2% water absorption. Production is strictly capped at 1,000 numbered pieces worldwide, released across four allocations of 250. When unit 1000 ships, production stops permanently. "Off-the-peg suits pull across the shoulders and flush cold water down your back when you take heavy impact," said Andrew Cotton. "We built this from the raw measurements out so it fits like second skin without restricting paddling torque in cold water. I broke the early seams until we got the tension right." Born Slippy was founded by brand strategist Charles Gadsdon, formerly Global Director of Growth at MassiveMusic. Despite not surfing himself, Gadsdon spent two years deconstructing conventional suits to replace volume manufacturing with made-to-order allocation. Each suit includes a Digital Product Passport to verify authenticity and deter commercial flipping. The Aptus 1.0 retails from €1,295, inclusive of UK/EU shipping, duty, and VAT, sold exclusively direct at bornslippy.co with a four-week build time. Andrew Cotton and Charles Gadsdon are available for joint or individual interviews.

Trend context

The launch coincides with the 1 November opening of the European big-wave window at Nazaré, where extreme kit failure carries severe consequences. Concurrently, it addresses European surf retail's acute waste problem: research from the University of Exeter shows over 380 tonnes of non-recyclable wetsuit neoprene enter UK landfills or incinerators annually. By operating exclusively on made-to-order allocations capped at 1,000 suits, Born Slippy eliminates the clearance cycles and unsold stock typical of volume apparel brands ahead of winter retail peaks.

About Born Slippy

Why we exist

The ocean doesn't need another mass-produced wetsuit. It needs better products, built with purpose and made to last. Born Slippy exists to challenge conventional wetsuit design through technical innovation, individual fit and exceptional craftsmanship. We believe in making fewer things, better. And making every one count.

How we do it

Every suit is cut to an individual 26-point body profile, checked manually before cutting, and built strictly to order. Production is capped in four allocations of 250, each assigned to a named buyer with a serial-numbered Digital Product Passport. Prototypes were tested and broken by big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton. Post-purchase repairs operate through certified partners across eight countries.

What we do

Born Slippy produces bespoke, made-to-measure wetsuits in 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4 mm, sold direct-to-consumer at bornslippy.co from €1,295. Founded by Charles Gadsdon with big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton as founding athlete, the brand is designed in Valencia and tested in Croyde, UK. Suits are built strictly to order with shipping, duties, and VAT included across the UK and EU.

Why it matters

Most wetsuits are built around standardised sizes and commercial production volumes. Born Slippy is exploring a different approach: designing around the individual and refining technical performance through athlete feedback. CORECELL uses micro-chamber insulation rather than a conventional fleece lining, while made-to-measure construction aims to improve fit and freedom of movement. APTUS 1.0 is our first expression of that philosophy.

Who it's for

For people who take their time in the ocean seriously. From committed cold-water surfers to athletes operating in demanding conditions, APTUS 1.0 is designed for those who value fit, technical performance and craftsmanship over logos and seasonal trends. People who would rather own one exceptional product than repeatedly compromise on something ordinary.

Proof points

APTUS 1.0: €1,295 made-to-measure technical wetsuit. Strict worldwide production limit of 1,000 numbered units. Individual fitting based on 26 body measurements. Yamamoto #39 and #40 neoprene with CORECELL micro-chamber insulation. Developed with founding athlete Andrew Cotton, whose testing and feedback inform ongoing product refinement. Available in 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4 configurations. Independent, founder-led brand based in Valencia, Spain.

Traction & credibility

Andrew Cotton is Born Slippy's founding athlete and an internationally recognised big-wave surfer, featured in HBO's 100 Foot Wave. APTUS 1.0 has undergone prototype testing with Cotton in Devon and Nazaré, with technical feedback informing further development. Born Slippy launched APTUS 1.0 in October 2026. Founder Charles Gadsdon previously served as Global Director of Growth at MassiveMusic, bringing experience in international brand development and partnerships. Born Slippy has published editorial conversations with ocean and conservation figures including Fabien Cousteau, Jo Ruxton MBE and Finisterre founder Tom Kay.

Spokespeople

Andrew Cotton

Founding athlete, Born Slippy

Andrew 'Cotty' Cotton is one of Britain's most recognised big-wave surfers, known for tackling the enormous Atlantic swells of Nazaré, Portugal. A Red Bull athlete featured in HBO's acclaimed documentary series 100 Foot Wave, Cotton has built his career around preparation, resilience and performance in extreme ocean conditions. As founding athlete of Born Slippy, he works closely with the brand on the development and testing of APTUS 1.0, providing real-world feedback on fit, warmth, flexibility and construction. His involvement reflects a shared ambition to create technical equipment that performs when it matters most.

Expertise

Big-wave and tow-in surfing; Nazaré and extreme Atlantic conditions; cold-water performance and technical equipment testing; wetsuit fit, warmth and flexibility; ocean safety and risk management; athlete preparation and resilience; recovery from serious injury; athlete-led product development.

Notability

• Red Bull big-wave surfer and internationally recognised Nazaré specialist. • Featured in HBO's acclaimed documentary series 100 Foot Wave. • Rode a wave estimated at 80 feet at Nazaré in 2014. • Recipient of the 2018 WSL Wipeout of the Year award following a serious injury at Nazaré in 2017. • Founding athlete of Born Slippy, contributing to the development and testing of APTUS 1.0. • Extensive experience testing technical surf equipment in demanding ocean conditions.

Charles Gadsdon

Founder, Born Slippy

Charles Gadsdon is the British founder of Born Slippy, an independent technical ocean brand challenging conventional wetsuit design and mass production. Formerly Global Director of Growth at MassiveMusic, Charles built his career across music, culture and international brand partnerships before turning his attention to physical product innovation. Working with big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton, he has developed APTUS 1.0, a €1,295 made-to-measure wetsuit featuring CORECELL insulation and limited to 1,000 numbered units worldwide. Based in Valencia, Spain, Charles is building Born Slippy around a simple philosophy: Fewer. Better.

Expertise

Premium brand strategy and positioning; entrepreneurship and independent business building; product innovation and athlete-led development; luxury and technical performance products; craftsmanship and made-to-measure manufacturing; limited-production business models; music, culture and international brand partnerships.

Notability

Former Global Director of Growth at MassiveMusic, an international music and sonic branding agency; founder of The QE Company, with a career spanning partnerships and creative work involving global artists and brands; founder of Born Slippy, an independently funded technical ocean brand; established a product development partnership with renowned big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton; launched APTUS 1.0, a €1,295 made-to-measure wetsuit with worldwide production limited to 1,000 numbered units.

Talking points

The human

andrew cotton broke his back at nazaré. then he broke the prototypes of a wetsuit only 1,000 people will ever own

bornslippy.co

The story

Red Bull big-wave surfer Andrew Cotton tested and broke the prototypes of Born Slippy's Aptus 1.0, and the changes he asked for went into the suit (per Born Slippy). The suit is cut to a 26-point body profile, numbered, and capped at 1,000 for good. Its founder, Charles Gadsdon, doesn't surf. Cotton is on the invited team list for the Nazaré big-wave window that opens on 1 November.

Why it matters

Most wetsuits are mass-produced to a size chart, cut for nobody in particular. A surfer who has had his back broken by the sea chose to put his name to one made for a single body, in a run that ends at 1,000.

Who does it impact

Cold-water surfers and swimmers who have never owned a suit that fits get one cut for them, once, to keep. The wetsuit becomes an object you own like a watch: numbered, allocated to you, with a passport that follows it if it's sold on privately.

Proof points

Cotton on the Born Slippy site: "Born Slippy is the wetsuit I choose to wear now." Born Slippy's founder writes that Cotty questioned things, broke things and suggested changes the team made, and tested a prototype at Croyde Bay (bornslippy.co, 10 Sep 2026). Nazaré invited team list: nazarewaves.com, 19 Oct 2026. In November 2017 a Nazaré wipeout broke his L2 vertebra; he was surfing again seven months later (Surfer Today, Nov 2017; The Inertia, Sep 2018).

CTA

Interviews with Andrew Cotton and founder Charles Gadsdon, high-resolution imagery and the full press kit. The Aptus 1.0 costs from €1,295 and is sold only at bornslippy.co.

Key facts

Company: Born Slippy (QE4 Group SL), Valencia, Spain
Founder: Charles Gadsdon
Founding athlete: Andrew "Cotty" Cotton, Red Bull big-wave surfer, North Devon
Product: Aptus 1.0, made-to-measure wetsuit, men's and women's, 3/2, 4/3, 5/4 mm
Fit: Cut to a 26-point body profile; no stock sizes
Run: 1,000 ever, numbered 001 to 1000, four allocations of 250
Price (20 Oct 2026): From €1,295; €1,344 in Midnight Navy
Passport: Serial number and security code open a Digital Product Passport
Sold: Direct only, at bornslippy.co
Nazaré window: 1 Nov 2026 to 31 Mar 2027; Cotton on the invited list

Get in touch

Charles Gadsdon

Founder, Born Slippy

Drop me a note and I'll reply by email.