A chance call from fellow Australian, Harold Hunter, who had been experimenting with high friction surfaces for football boots to give better grip ... set lohnston on the path to innovation. ......Hunter's experimental boot incorporated a serrated plastic surface...... and while it did give better grip Johnston realised its sheer bulk made it too cumbersome. ......Johnston found the solution while windsurfing. ........Having borrowed a pair of windsurfing shoes,....., he quickly realised that they were light yet provided excellent grip in the wet........ Lightness was achieved by using one-piece mouldings utilising thermoplastic rubber