The Bandeja summer 2024 issue

entrepreneurs
Wesley Teixeira
no shocks
Amy & Hannah, Pokita founders.
Stuck on you
The Pickpad is an ingenious piece of kit
specifically designed to fit padel rackets and
help players collect balls from the ground
without fully bending their knees or back.
The hook-and-loop accessory sticks to the
top rim of rackets to pick balls off the floor
- just position your racket head on the ball,
twist and pick up.
Inventor is padel player (and architect)
David Dionísio, who came up with the
idea in response to a player’s difficulty in
bending over repeatedly: “In the games
and tournaments we played, one of our
partners had difficulty bending down to pick
up the balls due to an old hip injury. That’s
when i had the idea of attaching a light and
practical accessory to the top of the racket
to hold the ball,” said David.
Get a grip!
Perk up your padel racket with
Vibepadel’s colourful overgrips,
which come in a range of colours
and patterns. Its Grip ‘n’ Rip Overgrip
features three-layer technology
for a great tacky grip, comfort and
sweat absorption. And, because
they are specifically designed for
padel rackets, they are just the right
size so no cutting and no waste.
entrepreneurs
The grips are the brainchild of Geoff Woodman, who is intent on
improving players’ padel experience with high-quality, stylish and
affordable equipment which strikes a balance between performance
and good looks. There’s a range of rackets coming soon too, keep an
eye on Vibepadel’s website for details.
RRP: From £9.99 for three
www.vibepadel.co
Wesley Teixeira is uniquely placed to talk
about padel rackets and injuries, being an
experienced physiotherapist with his own
racket range geared to injury prevention.
The specialist physio noticed a surge in
padel-related injuries at his practice in the
Queen’s Club, London, setting him off on a
journey of investigation which culminated
in the formation of his racket brand Bas3line,
founded on evidence-based research and
cutting-edge technology to ensure players’
safety and performance.
The design of Bas3line rackets incorporates
ergonomic features coupled with high-grade
Japanese carbonfibre and super soft EVA foam,
combining to deliver great weight distribution
and shock absorption to help players to reduce
the risk of injury and improve their gameplay.
Racket design also includes new technologies,
including Vibrasorb technology for greater air
flow in the handle to reduce the risk of wrist
injuries, and the Shockwave Flex system to
absorb vibrations, further guarding against
tennis elbow and other arm injuries.
“Bas3line rackets are designed with a balance
between power and control, ensuring players
can strike the ball accurately and effectively
without overexerting themselves,” said Wesley.
BAS3LINE DYNAMO
RRP: £100
www.bas3line.com
Pocketing
Pokita
Padel playing friends Amy and
Hannah took the search for good
quality, well-fitting, sustainable
sportswear into their own hands when
they couldn’t find kit that hit the spot
and wasn’t too short - and their brand
Pokita was born.
Pokita is characterised by bold animal-inspired prints, great
colours and well-designed tops and bottoms. The leggings, skorts
and skeggings (skirt/leggings combo) are blessed with well-sized
pockets for phones and balls. Sustainability is key, with the brand
championing ‘regenerated’ fabric made from leftover material
and waste garments to make new, high quality activewear fibres
that are soft and wicking.
The Bandeja first encountered Amy and Hannah at The Padel
Club in Slough, where Pokita is stocked, along with other clubs
and padel facilities across the south east. You may even has
spotted their red and white combo being rocked by super
snowboarder and Strictly star Aimee Fuller, who loves the
colourway despite it not quite being ‘Wimpy Whites’!
Navy leopard embossed skirt is high-waisted with
silicone dots to keep the shorts in place.
RRP: £58 (check website for offers)
The Bandeja asked player Jane, from
Padel United in Maldon, to test out Pickpad
after she returned to padel following a hip
replacement. Her verdict? “It is useful and
does help to pick up balls without bending
right down. It did take me a few attempts
before I got the knack of doing it properly.
It think it is a great idea, especially for the
older generation.”
Pickpad
RRP: £9
www.thebandeja.com/buy-gear/
If you’ve plans to visit Dubai then make a note to check out
BearFish sports caps, the brainwave of former Emirates airline
executive Roger Duthie, who was fed up ruining caps when
travelling so decided to design his own.
Lightweight and in bright colours (one of Roger’s goals is to make
sportswear more colourful), the caps come with a crush-proof
carry case to keep them pristine when not in use.
“When I was travelling and playing golf or tennis I used to purchase
caps in golf pro or local shops. When I came back to Dubai the caps
were smashed or ruined so I thought of developing a small carry case
that could clip to the side of a golf bag or sports bag,” said Roger.
The boutique Dubai brand, a spin-off of Roger’s sport marketing
consultancy, takes its name from his wife’s nicknames for their
children - Ollie is OllieBear and Isabella IssyFish. With plans afoot to
develop shirts and hoodies and a desire to go global, BearFish could
well be coming to a court near you!
RRP: $70
www.bearfishsportsmarketing.com
Is it a fish? Is it a bear?
No, it’s a cap!
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SUMMER 2024 | thebandeja.com
thebandeja.com | SUMMER 2024
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