Director of Marketing and Product in this prestigious firm, Gustavo Oliva is a great paddle lover and one of the architects of the company's commitment to our sport.
Padel World Press .- From his double experience, the one of professional of the sport footwear and practitioner of padel, tells us which is the real importance of the shoe to enjoy to the maximum inside the tracks, what factors should be taken into account at the time of acquiring the most suitable model to our characteristics and, in turn, reveals some of the secrets of the brand.
Delighted to have in his team a great professional like Fernando Belasteguín, one of his greatest satisfactions has been to get a commitment 'for life' with one of the most important players in the history of padel ... Commitment, hard work, firm I want to be a little better every day. Both ASICS and Bela share values that make this union a synonym of assured success.
Many people jump on the track with any type of footwear. From your experience and knowledge, are the shoes to play padel so important?
Good shoes are as or more important than the shovel. They will allow you to grab the track better, reach more balls and, above all, can help you avoid and prevent injuries, which is basic to paddle.
There are those who seek grip, who want stability ... What qualities should a good paddle shoe have?
In my opinion, they should be able to fulfill the following 5 virtues:
Comfort: The shoe has to fit perfectly to the foot of each player.
Grip: The sole has to grip the track when we start and slide when we stretch to reach the ball.
Cushioning: To reduce the impact of our knees.
Stability: That you hold your feet correctly and allow you to perform all movements to play paddle.
Durability: It is a virtue that our pocket will thank us for.
After your answer, there is an obligatory question ... How does ASICS get all these characteristics?
ASICS is a company in which we dedicate many resources and efforts to offer the best shoes on the market to all players. In this case, for our footwear to have greater comfort, in the ankle area we incorporate a memory foam (PHF) that adapts to the shape of the foot of each of the players. In addition, we always use the most suitable materials. For example, for optimal grip, we at ASICS developed 2 types of soles. The SG sole would be the ideal to be used on tracks with a lot of sand, with more grip at the start, while the OC sole would stand out on courts with less sand, where we incorporate pivots that allow us to perform better turns and not get stuck.
For more cushioning, we incorporate GEL in the sole to have the maximum cushioning and avoid suffering the knees. Both the midsole and the insoles are made of materials that also have cushioning properties. On the other hand, for greater stability, in the sole and in the heel area we incorporate plastic pieces that keep the foot firmly attached, at the same time very comfortable ... And for greater durability, the ASICS shoes incorporate extra protection in the toe cap which is a zone of great wear along with a double density rubber in the sole that makes them more durable.
There are many fans who are not yet familiar with the paddle shoes and define them as those of "sole of" puntitos ". How are the different types of sole different and what are their characteristics?
Traditionally it was believed and spread the belief that the sole OC (Omni Court) 'dots' was the ideal sole to play paddle. The advice and the tests with the best players in the world, as in our case is Fernando Belasteguin, as well as with other types of players very varied have shown that our ASICS spike sole is a perfect sole for its ease of turning and sliding. At the same time, it stands out for its grip and durability, which triples the average life of the rest of the paddle shoes.
Signature of great tradition in running, how did ASICS reach the world of paddle tennis?
The hobby we had some employees for this sport in ASICS was the seed that gave rise to this possibility. From there, the fact that we know closely and directly all the best players in the World and Spain, that many of them use us and recommend us, and that several of us in the brand itself are great paddle fans , has helped more if possible to evolve our firm very quickly in this sport.
Since your foray into this sport, how has evolution been as much in acceptance, as in image as in sales levels?
Well, if I'm honest, we have experienced a geometric progression that we are delighted with. However, like all evolutions, it requires a lot of effort and attention to continue improving and maintaining that line of growth. I am absolutely convinced that our paddle footwear is absolutely exceptional and that is the basis for our brand image to be exceptional as well. We currently have a market share of more than 50%, which is not the case with any brand in any other sport.
Having Bela among your stars has had to be an important reinforcement. Is he as demanding, perfectionist and meticulous as he seems? How is your level of involvement with the brand?
He is indeed demanding, perfectionist and thorough, just like we are at ASICS. That is why we have created such a good and beneficial tandem for both parties… And the fact is that one reinforces the other in every way. Bela is involved in the development of the product to improve it, in communication, in detail,… I don't think there is any elite athlete as involved with his sponsors as Fernando is.
If we add to that that the values of our brand coincide with those of Bela, and that the benefits at the product level that ASICS brings to Bela are of excellence, we can find here why Fernando is not only a great defender of the brand but the biggest and best prescriber that ASICS could never have.
There are more and more firms that have different shoe models among their collections ... What makes ASICS different from the rest?
Our product stands out for several points:
- Insatiable search for new and better technologies as well as materials that allow us to improve the benefits of our products. All of this from our observations and with the invaluable help of our laboratory in Japan.
- Design and color that stands out and innovates. It's no secret that we strive to always be one step ahead when it comes to design.
At the level of communication and marketing, we want to apply and customize our ASICS values on the padel.
Padel lover, what are you waiting for the future of this sport?
The paddle, as a game and as a sport, has all the elements to be the most practiced sport in the world. It is very easy to practice, undemanding, game and / or sport, very fun, grateful for progress, very social, requires little space, outdoor and indoor ... And many more virtues that we all know. At relative levels, I do not think there is any discipline with so many practitioners who call themselves 'flawed in that sport' as the 'flawed padel'. At the same time, the media and the professional padel are helping us with this rapid evolution of practitioners.
On a personal level, I think that the evolution of the number of tracks, even being very fast and dangerous, has helped the final boom of the paddle ... And the internalization, although obviously going to take several years, that no one doubts that will come.
What message would you like to send to the fans?
Well, very simple ... Enjoy everything you can about this wonderful sport. We, from ASICS, will do everything in our power to help you enjoy it even more.
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