Giurgola, the experience that inspires CETMA

Apulian, multiple Italian champion and multiple World Championship medalist in freediving, Michele Giurgola is one of the most complete and charismatic athletes on the international scene. A freediver and spearfisherman of the highest level, he has for years put his expertise and technical sensitivity at the service of CETMA Composites, a company of excellence in the design of ultra-high-tech carbon fins and sling spearguns and more. We met with Michele to talk about this unique collaboration between engineering, experience, and passion for the sea.

Apnea Passion Magazine: Michele, with your experience as a competitor and freediving angler, you have contributed significantly to the success of many CETMA Composites products. How does your expertise fit into the company’s production process?

Michele Giurgola: CETMA Composites has an edge: it can count on a team of three highly competent engineers who specialize in cutting-edge materials and processes. This synergy between athletes and engineers is something I have rarely found elsewhere. For me, who experiences the pursuit of perfection almost as a “disease,” working side by side with professionals of this level is a huge source of stimulation.

Each project is born out of open discussion: we analyze the critical issues of existing products together, discuss possible solutions, and develop the new concept with extremely sophisticated 3D modeling software. Every detail, even the most seemingly insignificant, is carefully studied because it can make a difference. The product then goes into production, made with top-notch processes and machinery, and is tested extensively – by me and a team of CETMA Composites collaborators located in different parts of the world. This continuous cycle of design, testing and feedback is what enables us to bring truly innovative and reliable tools to market.

AP: Let’s take a concrete example: the SHARK, a high-quality but affordable sling spearguns capable of offering three different propulsion systems without changing heads. How does such a versatile design come about?

Michele Giurgola: Until a few years ago, Vela propulsion was seen as something cumbersome, impractical and difficult to use. I myself had tried such solutions on other sling spearguns, but they had not convinced me: traditional drums were often negative in the water and the loading system was complex, unintuitive.

With the SHARK we wanted to reverse this perception. The goal was to create a sling spearguns accessible to everyone, but with a highly technical core. The multifunctional headpiece, equipped with pulleys and two bottom holes, allows the housing of either single or double simple elastics or the Vela system. And the latter is the real treat: it comes directly from the DNA of our most powerful and high-performance carbon designs . We wanted to offer the opportunity for anyone to experience an effective, balanced, high-performance Vela system capable of delivering amazing propulsive thrust. Its success in the market is proof that the direction we chose is the right one.

AP: Was the elliptical shaft and header defined from the beginning or did you make changes as you went along?

Michele Giurgola: No, we did not have to modify practically anything. We were sure of the goodness of the design from the very first prototype. In CETMA Composites we are real “maniacs” of perfection: we prefer to spend more time in the design phase to avoid compromises in the production phase. The result is a sling spearguns that works perfectly as is, with no need for subsequent corrections.

AP: How did you arrive at the optimal set-up of the rubber bands?

Michele Giurgola: It was a process based on a lot of testing: we tried rods of different diameters and combinations of elastics of various lengths, calibrating them to the specifications of each model.
The SHARK, in its standard configuration, is already perfectly balanced between rod and elastic, but it leaves room for customization. It is designed for those who like to experiment, for those who want to find their own “ideal calibration.” After all, every fisherman has his own style, and this sling spearguns allows you to adapt it to the maximum of your possibilities.

AP: Let’s move on to the fins. Tell us how you got from the first prototype to perfecting the TARAS (or Mantra CWT).

Michele Giurgola: TARAS is, without exaggeration, the number one fin in the world. And I’m not saying that, but the results: it is at the feet of athletes who regularly climb the podiums of all disciplines, male and female. It is a fin that allows you to improve your personal best simply by finning as you always have, thanks to its mechanical and fluid-dynamic efficiency.

The path that led to TARAS was long and complex. It took time to find the right balance between thrust, comfort, and energy efficiency. The high-quality natural rubber bootie with open heel provides maximum springback and thus optimizes performance. In addition, the same can be customized for the most demanding customers. Aspects, these, that stem fromCetma Composites’ many years of experience in the industry, and which allow us to stay ahead of the curve on the product.
The Mantra CWT, on the other hand, is a fin designed for the deep apnea, with a bootie, the S-Wing, made of silicone and closed heel. In short, high performance, but without sacrificing comfort. The compact bootie adheres to the foot like a second skin, becoming almost a natural prosthesis, an extension of the leg.

This, in short, is what makes Cetma Composites fins special: the ability to combine engineering and athletic sensitivity, technology and sensation.

Conclusions

The collaboration between Michele Giurgola and CETMA Composites represents the perfect meeting between the expertise of those who live the sea every day and the technical excellence of those who study it with scientific method.

From this fusion comes a new generation of freediving and spearfishing instruments, capable of delivering top-notch performance and bringing the athlete’s experience directly into the product. A virtuous example of how passion and experience, when combined with engineering knowledge, can truly make innovation.