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A MELBOURNE man has accused surfing giant Rip Curl of stealing his concept for the world’s first heated wetsuit.

The battery-powered wetsuit with a heated panel could be worth millions of export dollars.

Rob Vassallo, who heads family-owned company Jett Performance Products, is trading allegations with Rip Curl.

He said he designed the core technology for the surf specialist in 2006.

“Rip Curl shouldn’t be selling this wetsuit as their own. They’re taking credit for my ideas, ” he said.

Torquay-based Rip Curl, whose global wetsuit sales are said to have topped $30 million last year, denied Mr Vassallo’s allegations. It has sold 200 heated wetsuits since last year for $1500 each.

“We absolutely refute the idea that we have stolen anything from Rob Vassallo or Jett,” spokesman Gary Dunne said.

“If Vassallo believes he has a legitimate claim against us he should launch an action against us, because the only appropriate forum to resolve this issue . . . is with an independent arbitrator.”

Mr Vassallo said he was inspired to make the wetsuit after a jockey mate wanted to lose weight but not spend hours in a sauna. He wrapped him in an electric blanket and cling wrap and after six, 10-minute sessions he had lost 2kg.

Mr Vassallo said he spent 18 months designing a battery-powered heated vest and showed it to Rip Curl in 2005.

“They loved the technology and, after I provided mock-up samples, they sent prototypes to the US for feedback and finally, in 2006, they ordered 500 units,” he said.

Rip Curl unveiled the wetsuit last year as the H-bomb using a surfing video shot in Iceland.

Mr Vassallo said that a week later Rip Curl told him it had lost faith in Jett’s ability to make the wetsuit.

“We gave them the idea and they made up excuses because they wanted it all on their own,” Mr Vassallo said.

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