THE ULTIMATE SUMMER
WETSUIT
GUIDE
2010
WETSUIT GUIDE
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER
WETSUIT
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GUIDE
2010 I
love summer, the light caress of the latest neoprene against my skin, the extra flexibility of a two or three mil and the almost weightless feel of a summer wetsuit. It’s a bit like surfing naked if you find the right suit, except you don’t get wax in your pubes. So as is tradition here at Wavelength Towers we have put together a guide to the very best suits the surf industry can muster. Quite simply if a suit isn’t in the next twenty two pages then it probably is not worth putting on. This year though we wanted to deliver a bit more, let’s face it, how many more times can we lecture you on the different types of seams and zips. So we’ve got together with the guys behind the wetties, to learn a little bit more about how a sheet of neoprene gets from the mind of a wetsuit designer, through research and development and onto your backs. You won’t believe the thought that goes into some of these things, it sure aint just cutting up some rubber and gluing it back together in a roughly human shape 062
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you know. Nope, there are years of research and constant testing by pros, R and D men and of course you guys, that have made suits what they are today. So you’ve got the whole story in the following pages, from the man who made the first commercially available suits, Jack O’Neill, to the guys who are bringing you the lightest suits on the market as well as some of the first recycled suits. We haven’t just focused on the big boys of the world scene either, perhaps the most interesting characters are the home grown wettie makers, folk like Carey Brown and his son Mark at C-Skins who have developed suits specifically for our climate. It’s all good stuff and will help you get an insight into the industry as a whole, as well as giving you all the necessary information to get the suit that’s right for you.
The guide is also fully downloadable on wavelengthmag.co.uk and will be up there for the rest of the year.
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Lyndon Wake, enjoying the fruits of summer Photo: Ben Selway
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contact: web: oneill.com email: wetsuits.eu@oneillwetsuits.com tel: UK/Eire: + 44 (0) 1730 811460
True to the goo, this suit is constructed with buttery UltraFlex DS, light and flexible GBS Seams, Lumbar Seamless Design (LSD), unfinished cuffs, and Krypto Knee Padz. Features: • GBS (Glued and Blindstitched) Construction • Patented Z.E.N. Zip Closure System • Barrier 1 (with unfinished ergonomic shaping) • UltraFlex Firewall Chest and Back Panels • Single Super Seal Neck • Critically Taped- Reinforced Seam Junctions • External Key Pocket with Loop SRP: 3/4mm: £140.00, 2/3mm: £130.00
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The Hammer
Known for flexibility and superior fit, the Psycho 2 continues to evolve. The new X-type firewall, combined with Double Fluid Seam Weld, keeps you warm and loose. PERFORMANCE WITH WARMTH Features: • Double Fluid Seam Weld (Stitchless) • Patented Z.E.N Zip Closure System with Pullover • Barrier 2/ Double Superseal Neck/ Drainhole • Plasma Wrist and Ankle Seals • External Key Pocket with Loop
Completely redesigned this season, the Hammer Series has a suit nailed for every condition maintaining exceptional styling, fit and unrestricted movement with 100% Super Stretch materials. Features: • Back Zip System • Double Superseal Neck • #10 YKK Zipper • Flatloc Stitched (breathable seams) • Strategic Seamless Paddle Zones • Lumbar Seamless Design • Body: 40% UltraFlex DS/ 60% FluidFlex • Chest/ Back: Smooth Skin • Knee: Krypto • Neck Facing: Glide Skin
SRP: 3/2mm: £230.00, 2mm: £200.00
SRP: 3/2mm: £80.00
Psycho 2
TEAM RIDER: Micah Lester Micah, the Brit who was lucky enough to grow up on the Goldie surfing alongside guys like Mick Fanning, Josh Kerr, and Dean Morrison, has recently been putting his talents to good use and nurturing the British surfing youth. As well as coaching the British Junior Team, he has set up the Evolution Surf Development which offers personalised training programs run by Micah to push the emerging talent in this country. Micah won the UK Pro Tour in 2006 but is perhaps better known for his free surfing. His barrel riding ability as well as being one of the best aerialists in the UK is the reason why you’ll often see him gracing the pages of surf mags like this. Micah Lester is also the brains behind the successful MVP series, which encouraged British surfers to film and upload their own profile videos. Look out for Micah surfing his local beach Constantine, he’ll be the one going nuts.
Photo: Ben Selway
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The Gooru
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THE MAN: JACK O’NEILL, FOUNDER OF O’NEILL “I was just messing around with rubber,” says Jack O’Neill, surprised at how his little shop in San Francisco where he sold his newly invented wetsuits is now a multimillion dollar empire. Jack O’Neill was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1923 and was raised in Portland, Oregon. After moving to San Francisco in 1949 to earn a living as a commercial fisherman, Jack’s love of the ocean persuaded him to open one of California’s first surf shops, which he called “Surf Shop” in 1952. The shop
Photo: Coutesy of O’Neill
offered balsa surfboards, paraffin wax and the first crude neoprene vests. People told him he’d sell to the few surf bums on the beach and a couple of tourists, and he would soon be out of business. Seven years later he relocated the Surf Shop 90 miles down the coast to Santa Cruz, where the sun was warmer, the waves were better and he was perfectly positioned for the surfing boom of the ‘60s. With an increasing demand for his
wetsuits as the population of surfers exploded, O’Neill developed new technology for his suits and opened a factory to meet the orders. In the early seventies, O’Neill became one of the first victims of the surf leash (which had just been invented by his son Pat), when he lost his eye while surfing The Hook in Santa Cruz. O’Neill’s bearded icon, complete with eye patch, became the new O’Neill logo, one that would be recognized the world over.
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contact: web: tikisurf.co.uk email: tiki@tikisurf.co.uk tel: 01271 812442
PRODIGY
The use of our interchangeable HEATING SYSTEM in this model gives these summer / three season suits a much wider range than you get with a normal summer steamer. The 3/2 will keep going well into early winter and some team riders have kept on through the winter in the 4/3 and heat pads. Features: All the top end spec of the TK90 with the added warmth of a mini zip design.
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TK90 Steamer Our premium high performance suit. This suit represents over 40 years of wetsuit development, designed to give the greatest freedom of movement for high performance surfing. For 2010 we have even added our heating system to the 4/3 model making this suit one of the best wetsuits we’ve ever made.
Features: • Heated Wetsuit • Water Repellent Coating • Espan Extend Neoprene • Ultraseal Back System • Slick Seals • Glideskin Overlocking Collar • Sealed Seals • Glued and Blindstitched • Hollow Fibre Lined • Duratech Knees
Superstretch neoprene, a Batwing, Glideskin collar, slick seals and GBS for this money! Seriously credit crunch busting value in this suit. Features: • Superstretch Neoprene • Ultraseal Back System • Slick Seals • Glideskin Overlocking Collar • Critically sealed seams • GBS • Duratech Knees RRP: Long Sleeve Spring Suit £99, Steamer £119
RRP: Heated 4/3 £189, 3/2 £179
TEAM RIDER: RICK WILLMETT Rick Willmett has slid his way into the UK surfing consciousness over the last couple of years with some solid tube riding on the north coast of Scotland. The 27 year old is originally from Australia. So what on earth took him to the wilds of Scotland? I was doing the old camper vaning around Europe, got here, never left, haven’t looked back since. What do you get up to when there is no surf? Downtime in winter is spent working, so that I don’t have to work when there is surf. Summer time we spearfish, cliff jump and swim through sea caves, one or other of the local boys is always up for it. What’s it like in comparison with home in Australia? UK: cold, wet and windy, with waves. As opposed to warm, dry and little wind, with bugger all waves back home, so no contest really.
Photo: Tim Nunn
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RRP: Heated 4/3 £189, Heated 3/2 £179
TK50 range:
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Pioneer: TIM HEYLAND, OF TIKI
Tim made his first surfboard out of solid hardwood, hacking out its shape with a machete. His father was in the diplomatic services and moved the family to Brazil in 1963, which is where Tim learned to surf on his wooden board. His new found passion for riding waves was cut short when the family returned back to London, but by chance, Tim found a kindred spirit at the London Boat Show in enthusiastic Devon surfer, Dave Smith. Tim and Dave kept in touch, eventually going into business together and opening a small board-building factory in South Wales and thus forming the brand Tiki. By the end of the sixties, Tiki had relocated to Barnstaple in North Devon, where there was a growing community of like-minded surfers and
Photos: Coutesy of Tiki
such a demand for the boards Tim was shaping that over their first winter he managed to make enough money for a long surf trip. Heyland spent 10 weeks on the North Shore of Hawaii getting a taste for big, heavy waves, before meeting up with business partner Dave in California and taking on some shaping work. On returning to Devon, Tim used his Californian contacts to secure labels like Gordon & Smith and Weber, and opened the Tiki shop in Braunton, which is still going strong today. In ’72 Tiki started manufacturing wetsuits and was soon producing 50 a week in their factory. Tim continued to search for new waves in places like Indo and West Java whilst growing Tiki into one of the main British surfing brands.
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contact: web: aldersportswear.com email: info@aldersportswear.com tel: 01566 783 444
EVO 3/2
We have given this tried and tested design a new twist this year by adding hydroband to the inside of the seams. This ensures they are water tight without compromising the stretch. The suit is as light as a feather and stretches like elastic. Features: • 100% “x” stretch neoprene. • 90% “hydroband” inside seams • ykk short chest zip Super light and flexible back zip • Raw cuffs with “liquid seal” strips inside suit, this ticks a lot of boxes for • Pre compressed knee pads summer surfing. The comfy skin • Pre bent knee and arm construction neck gives a great fit. The liquid seal lines inside the wrists and RRP: £160 ankles helps keep the warmth in, men styles only and the cold out. Features: • 100% “x” stretch neoprene for free flexible surfing • 10% “hydroband” inside around the crotch and back to
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keep your bits warm • “bat flap” + collar made from 1mm neoprene to prevent water entry • Raw cuffs with “liquid seal” strips inside to prevent water flush • Durable PU ink knee pads • Pre bent knee and arm construction
You get a lot for your money with The Stealth with no compromise of fit and quality. X Stretch sleeves and under arms help keep you paddling for the whole session. Features: • “x” stretch on shoulders and sleeves for paddling power • Single lined torso to prevent wind chill and help maintain inner core body temperature • ykk metal zip slider for a long life • Raw cuffs and ankles for easy entry • The knee pads use two layers of polyurethane for a durable finish • Lycra bound collar for comfort and seal • Also available in men & junior sizes
RRP: £110 available in lady and junior styles
RRP: £90.00 available in lady and junior styles
TEAM RIDER: AleX PIPER Being a UK based surf company, Alder understand just how changeable conditions can be even in the summer. Their designs suit every surfer, whether it’s on the beaches of Cornwall or down in Portugal. Comfort, attention to detail and quality are all paramount to ensure the surfing experience is not compromised by suit design. They have a reputation of sponsoring some of the best up and coming surfers. Alex Piper is one of these. He’s part of the next generation of super focused groms coming out of Newquay at the moment. More surf and contest savvy, he represents one of many talented youngsters in the Pro Junior ranks. In the past couple of years he’s been a regular in semis and finals across all contests. This year his goals are to break the top ten of the Pro Junior Tour, something he is well capable of doing despite the competitive nature of the division. The powerful goofy footer is definitely one to watch out for over the next couple of years.
Photo: Courtesy of Alder
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freeride 3/2
stealth 3/2
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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: JOHN WESTLAKE OF ALDER
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How old is Alder? It was started over 35 years ago by my parents Bob and Anne Westlake and remains a family owned business. How important is it to Alder that the key message of the brand focuses around being British - and for British waves? It’s really important to keep that message clear because most of your readers will enjoy their next surf in UK waters and if they buy an Alder product they can be sure it will have been designed and tested in similar conditions. Do your team riders work closely with the design team? Yes we send out prototypes to the riders for testing, their feedback helps us to ensure the new suit is working in the way we need. The riders are surfing a lot more than most of us so the equipment gets a thorough test, if it isn’t working then we have to go back to the drawing board. What has been Alder’s most significant advancement since it’s beginning? There are two things; one is the amazing materials we can now source that give our wetsuits and accessories incredible performance and the other is the recent strengthening of the design team. Do most of design team surf as well? Yes, we are all grommets at heart, the thought of a surf is never very far away. In your eyes, what constitutes as a good wetsuit? It has to fit - you can have all the technical qualities you like but if it doesn’t fit then it won’t work well. After that I’m looking for warmth, comfort and durability with value for money.
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contact: web: c-skins.com email: info@c-skins.com tel: +44 1208 78845
Features: • LQS Liquid seam technology – 100% externally sealed water tight seams – No flush • 100% use of Ultra stretch C-FLEX neoprene – light weight and low water retention properties through entire suit • Glued and Blindstitched construction • SMS – (Simulated Mesh Skin) – chest and back panels – ultimate warmth and durability • Fire Core Thermal interior chest and back panel – draws water away from body • Optiwick interior light weight water wicking poly pro lining on front of legs • LQS ankle cuff seals – for a secure seal • Lock Down Wrist seal with internal silicone seal • DFZ - Diagonal front zip with adjustable bungee attachment • Pre bent elbows and knee areas • Stealth Dura tex knee pad panel with embossed resin impr egnated knee pads • Minimal panels for more stretch and greater freedom • Hidden key pocket on exterior of suit • Closeout system – front zip seal and barrier – internal to suit • Super seal glideskin single seam collar • Pre bent elbow and knee areas • Available in Mens
React
Wired Series one
Features: • LQS Liquid seam technology – Upper body externally sealed water tight seams – No flush • Ultra stretch C-FLEX neoprene upper body – light weight and low water retention properties • Glued and Blindstitched construction • Titanium Mesh Chest and Back panel – increased warmth and protection • LQS wrist/ankle cuff seals – for a secure seal • DFZ - Diagonal front zip • Pre bent elbows and knee areas • Stealth Dura tex knee pad panel • Minimal panels for more stretch and greater freedom • Super seal glideskin single seam collar • Pre bent elbow and knee areas • Available in Mens
Features: • Glued and Blindstitched seams • LQS Liquid seam technology – upper body internally sealed water tight seams • Reinforcement inside on critical areas and junctions – high durability • Ultra Stretch Neoprene under arms / shoulder – for freedom of movement • Dura Tex Knee pads with resin impregnated print over the top • Engineered fit – specifically for surfers • Closeout wing system – back zip seal and barrier • Titanium Mesh Chest and Back panel – increased warmth and protection • Super seal glideskin fully adjustable wrap around collar • Available in Mens/Ladies & Kids Styles RRP: 119.95
RRP: £159.95
RRP: £199.95 TEAM RIDER: FERGAL SMITH Born and bred in County Mayo, Fergal Smith has done more for Irish surfing than Litmus ever did. After getting good results on the Irish team and on the UK Pro Tour, Fergal concentrated his focus on waves closer to his home, waves of consequence, waves that didn’t look out of place in surf mags around the world as images of him pulling into huge Irish caverns were printed alongside shots of the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves. As well as surfing some of the biggest waves ever ridden in Ireland, Fergal has spent a lot of time surfing the heaviest waves of West Oz and landed covers pulling into big Teahupoo. Working closely with his band of brothers, Mickey Smith and Tom Lowe, the mild mannered lad has inspired the next generation of young Irish surfers to paddle out at spots like Aileens and Rileys, and push Irish surfing to a new level.
Photo: Aaron Pierce
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Wired Series two
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FOUNDER: CAREY BROWN OF C-SKINS
windsurfing at the beginning of the eighties. They became part of a PLC who purchased Gul, where Carey worked until he left in ’97 to turn his focus back to his love of surfing. His small business selling Mr Zogs Sex Wax out of his van soon grew to incorporate leashes, boots, gloves and eventually a line of 1mm rash vests, which he branded C-Skins. The huge popularity of the C-Skins convinced Carey to design a range of wetsuits and bring his son Mark on board. With the knowledge passed down a generation, C-Skins is at the cutting edge of wetsuit technology thanks to Mark’s attention to detail and Carey’s continuing close involvement after almost 40 years in the wetsuit industry. There is no one in Europe and only a couple in the world that have been in the wetsuit industry as long as Carey Brown.
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Carey was just a young boy when his uncle, Dennis Cross, started mocking up his first jacket and trouser wetsuit in the mid sixties. By ’67, Dennis had founded the company Gul and four years later Carey was out of school and helping his uncle develop the world’s first “Steamer” wetsuit, an all-in-one with a front zip, specifically designed for the frigid British waters. Carey remembers when they phoned Jack O’Neill in the states who at the time was still very hands on making his wetsuits and buying 100 sheets of a new super soft rubber specifically developed for the surfing market, this rubber was called Rubatex, that was way back in 1974/5. As well as making suits for the increasing British surfing population, Carey and Dennis enjoyed huge demand for wetsuits thanks to a boom in
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contact: web: animal.co.uk email: sales@animalwetsuits.co.uk tel: 01642 498543
WOMENS Antidote
No compromise. No short cuts. Just the most technically advanced product line currently available. The Assassin collection is the culmination of every piece of technical knowledge and experience our design and manufacturing team has, combined with athlete input from some of the best surfers on the planet. Features: • A-Flex, Pro dynamic stretch neoprene • Liquidised seam system • Watergate barrier system • Thermacore Tri Ply Chest Panel • Toastex hollow fibre insulation • Available in 3/2 and 5/4/3
Men’s Antidote
Features: • A-Flex Pro dynamic stretch neoprene • Liquidised seam system • Watergate barrier system • Thermacore Tri Ply Chest Panel • Toastex hollow fibre insulation • Available in 3/2 and 5/3
Outstanding performance and incredible features, the women’s Antidote is the perfect cure! Features • A-Flex pro dynamic stretch neoprene • Liquidised seam system • Watergate barrier system • Thermacore Tri Ply Chest Panel • Toastex hollow fibre insulation • Available in 3/2 and 5/3 RRP: £180
RRP: £180
RRP: £270 TEAM RIDER: ALAN STOKES Alan Stokes has become one of the most recognisable surfers in the UK, he’s the full all round package of contest and free surfer. In his early years he had really crazy long hair, but with age his hair shrunk and the surf rat from Newquay has matured into one of the countries greatest board riding athletes. He’s won everything at a national level, and other than Russell Winter, he is the most successful ever Britain on the WQS, with his crowning achievement being a quarter final birth at the Boardmasters in 2009. Now on the WQS full time he is giving the whole qualifying for the WCT thing a pretty serious go, don’t rule him out either he’s in the top 150. As well as being an insanely fearsome competitor he is an exciting free surfer, aerials being his specialty and on any day at his local Fistral he is more than likely going to be the stand out. On top of all of this Stoker is an all round nice guy, unless of course you draw him in a heat!
Photo: Greg Martin
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Assassin
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BRAND MANAGER: TIM METCALFE OF ANIMAL How far has Animal’s development as a business differentiated from the original plan? Our vision hasn’t altered since our launch in 1987, but we have evolved and we’re now doing watches, snow sports outerwear, eyewear, footwear and wetsuits. When did Animal first decide to produce wetsuits? Wetsuits have always been part of our long-term strategy. Our ambition is to be a market leading international wetsuit brand. We could’ve launched earlier, but it’s only in the last couple of years we’ve truly had the right team in place. We didn’t want to just produce a lower quality wetsuit for the mainstream market, we wanted to build our commitment to the core market and making performance products helps reinforce our values; quality, innovation and authenticity Do you work pretty closely with your team riders? The UK team has been involved since the start. It’s great to
have surfers on the team who have different requirements they helped us test new construction methods and different neoprene weights to improve product longevity and flexibility properties. We have always kept a UK focus on design and creativity. Our brief was simple; “Develop a range of wetsuits for the needs of the British surfer.” Being UK based we understand what a good suit is for the conditions we get. This is an ongoing programme and we have already made changes to the first range of suits from testing this winter. Where do you see wetsuit technology headed? I think improving flexibility without compromising quality with new construction techniques and being able to control your body temperature with new lining materials. Plus a commitment into reducing the environmental impact by using sustainable or recycled materials wherever possible in wetsuits.
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contact: web: circle-one.co.uk email: sales@circle-one.co.uk tel: 01363 773005
NOIR ZIPPERLESS
A stylish suit that is well equipped with performance enhancing features that will truly appeal to the discerning surfer. An anatomical design with the strategic use of super stretch materials maximises flexibility and comfort allowing you to surf harder for longer. While the sophisticated looks will turn heads both in and out of the water. Features: • 75% Super Stretch • Superlight Neoprene 3/2mm for summer, 5/3mm for winter • Glued and blind stitched and spot seal reinforced seams • Kevlar reinforced knee pads • Glide skin wrist and ankle seals to prevent water flush • Anti-chafe Lycra bound adjustable neck • Barrier System
A unique, revolutionary, true zipperless suit. No fiddly mini zips, poppers or bungee cord. No leakage. This zipperless suit uses stiction seals for water-tight closure combined with a large transverse opening for fast easy entry. The ultimate in high performance suits. European Team tested to be outstanding in cold waters. Features: • 3/2mm 100% Ultra Stretch for amazing flexibility • Glued, blind stitched with Liquid sealed seams • Double Barrier System sealed entry • Adjustable collars for personalised comfort fit • Velcro zipper-less stiction seal closure • Glide skin ankle seals prevent flush • Poly-plush Thermal Lining • Armoured kneepads • Pre-bent legs RRP: £150
DRIFT
The Drift Summer Steamer is created using some of the softest and most advanced materials available. Its strategic panel layout and robust flat lock construction around an anatomical design offers real warmth and comfort. The cool graphics confirm that this is a suit that cannot be beaten for its good looks and great value. Features: • 3/2mm Super Light Neoprene • Single lined upper body panels • Anti chafe Lycra bound adjustable neck • Chunky YKK metal zip • Flat lock construction • Kevlar reinforced knees RRP: £80
RRP: £110 TEAM RIDER: MATT CAPEL South Devon’s Matt Capel has quickly become one of the UK’s best surfers. He had the benefit of leaving England early on when his dad moved to Australia, and Matt got to grow up on the beach at North Narrabeen. This meant he got to surf in world class waves with world class surfers on a day in day out basis, thus when he returned to the UK in his late teens he started smoking everyone on the junior comp scene. He took out two pro junior titles over here as well as numerous amateur contests. Since then his surfing has matured, he travelled the world extensively and thanks to his sponsors Circle One and Rusty he has become one of the best all rounders in the UK. He’s a classic character too, a great bloke to have on a surf trip – he’ll surf anything, pull into anything and have a blast on land as well. Matt’s plans for the year are to hit some of the WQS as well as try and win the British Pro tour, a title which he has come very close to on several occasions.
Photo: Ben Selway
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ORIGINATOR: JEFF TOWNSLEY OF CIRCLE ONE
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It was Jeff’s surfing adventures with friends through France, Portugal, Canaries and Morocco in an old VW campervan back in the early ‘60s that inspired him to start shaping his own boards. Back home in Exeter, Jeff was offered the opportunity to take over his friend’s surf shop that he had started supplying boards to. The shop was named Circle One, and the company was founded in 1969, just in time for Devon’s boom in surfing in the ‘70s. By the end of the decade, Jeff’s shaping business had outgrown his workshop in Exeter and he relocated to larger premises in nearby Crediton. The huge demand from local surfers for wetsuits so they could surf throughout the year drove Jeff to have a go at making his own. By taking an old American wetsuit apart, he was able to work out his first set of patterns. After a full day of shaping, Jeff would drive 2 hours and work until midnight using his friend’s Mauser machine to stitch the wetsuits. As well as wetsuits and boards, Circle One have produced of all sorts of watersports gear over the years, from windsurf boards and snowboards to rash vests and leashes. By the mid nineties Jeff decided to stop shaping due to respiratory problems he was suffering from. To cope with the growth in wetsuit and board sales and to keep the retail prices down, Jeff moved all production to the Far East, but started shaping again in 2001, and to this day, spends most of his time at the factories personally hand shaping every new design,
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contact: web: westsurfing.com email: europe@westsurfing.com tel: +44 (0) 1179 555 770 +44 (0) 1179 555 771
Lotus Air-O Features: • 100% west gen 3 ultraspan • 100% limestone ecoprene • 100% fluid seams • Pyro-fibre chest • GBS triple glued & blind stitched sealed seams • Seamless lower back • Thermal mesh skin • Wrist / ankle waterlock fluid strips • Pre-bent and contoured arm and leg panels • Embossed action panels (behind knees) • YKK metal zips • Taped stress areas • Tatex skin on K-Foam knee pads • Forte collar closure • S-Foam super-light neo • Zip pocket on lower leg RRP: £185
Features: • 100% west ultraspan – air filled honeycombe • 100% limestone ecoprene • 100% fluid seams • Pyro-fibre chest • Bat wing • GBS triple glued & blind stitched sealed seams • Seamless lower back • Thermal mesh skin • Wrist / ankle waterlock fluid strips • Pre-bent and contoured arm and leg panels • Embossed action panels (behind knees) • YKK metal zips • Taped stress areas • Tatex skin on K-Foam knee pads • Forte collar closure • S-Foam super-light neo • zip pocket on lower leg RRP: £220
Nitro Plus 3/2
Features: • 50% west gen 3 ultraspan • 50% superlite neo • 100% limestone ecoprene • 100% fluid seams • Bat wing • GBS triple glued & blind stitched sealed seams • Seamless shoulder & underarm panels • Seamless lower back • Pre-bent and contoured arm and leg panels • Embossed action panels (behind knees) • YKK metal zips • Taped stress areas • Plasma skin on K-Foam knee pads • Taped stress areas • Forte collar closure • S-Foam super-light neo • Zip pocket on lower leg RRP: £130
TEAM RIDER: Blake Thornton Blake hails from Little Bay on the south side of Sydney, Australia. The 25 year old ripper has developed a reputation as one of the lucky countries best all round surfers, which he has proved grinding it out on the WQS. 2009 was a full breakthrough year for the natural footer; he took out the O’Neill Coldwater series and with it a cool $50K, and along with a bunch of other solid performances snuck into the top 15 of the ‘QS thus qualifying for the WCT. He’s one to look out for too, not shy of solid waves he also has a solid repertoire of airs and turns as well as a real savvy contest ability. He’s not a surfer who derides contests either, just doing them for the money; he loves to compete, thus making him a dark horse for the tour. He’s part of West’s constant striving for a better wetsuit too, always feeding back on the technology; this along with the rest of the teams input then passes back to the customer.
Photo: Courtesy of West
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Lotus 3/2 Chest zip
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WEST WETSUITS A HISTORY IN SURFING Founders Patrick Leahy and Roger Liley originally come from Rockingham, Perth in Western Australia. Both Pat and Roger began surfing in their pre-teens in the days when a wetsuit was just a dream. They were hardy adventurers, pioneering vast tracks of the then desolate surfing wilderness that was WA. Inaccessible and barren it was hard going and brutal on body and vehicles, but the rewards were many and perfect. They started designing and manufacturing West wetsuits in 1982, recognising the need for a real wetsuit designed for surfers out west. Since then, West has set new standards and developed many new technologies within the industry which has kept them at the forefront of design
and comfort in the water. West is now known internationally as a hardcore, premium surfing brand and although globally distributed, West remains a fiercely independent company. This way of working allows each global territory to feed into the design of the wetsuit range to fit the local climate. The West European licence is run by brothers, Pete and Dave Bush based in Bristol, UK. Pete and Dave have been surfing from childhood and run an entirely surfer driven company, this passion flows through the wetsuits on to the shelves in UK and Europe today. As well as this they have a solid team, both in the UK and across the word. It’s these characters and their constant feedback that keep West Wetsuits at the forefront of surfing.
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WETSUIT GUIDE
contact: web: ripcurl.com tel: +44 (0)1637 859359
Features: • Elastomax 3. The lightest most flexible neoprene ever • Fireskin lining, thin, warm and light to wick the water away • Ultralite durable and flexible neoprene developed for classic wetsuits. • Blue steel sealed zip, water resistant, steel head zipper with engineered overlapping teeth and a urethene coating • Hydro-loc collar, adjustable soft seal neck for increased comfort and seal • Glued & blind stitched, maximum seam stretch and strength with zero water penetration • Seamless shoulder panel for unrestricted flexibility whilst paddling • Critically taped junctions and stress areas add strength and durability to seams where required • S-Flex knees, highly flexible and durable knee pads to handle copious amounts of duck- diving • Stash pocket, external zip pocket with wax comb for easy access RRP: £125
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e.bomb back zip
Features: • Elastomax 3. The lightest most flexible neoprene ever • Aquaban 3/4 liquid tape, a flexible and durable seal applied to both the inside and outside of a glued and blind stitched seam • Hydro-Loc 2 collar, adjustable collar to seal the neck and prevent water flushes • Glued & blind stitched, maximum seam stretch and strength with zero water penetration • Drainage system allows excess water to drain freely • Seamless shoulder panel for unrestricted flexibility whilst paddling • S-Flex knees, highly flexible and durable knee pads to handle copious amounts of duck-diving • Stash pocket, external zip pocket with wax comb for easy access RRP: £220
E.bomb pro chest zip
Features: • Elastomax 3. The lightest most flexible neoprene ever • Aquaban 3/4 liquid tape, a flexible and durable seal applied to both the inside and outside of a glued and blind stitched seam • Chest zip, the ultimate chest zip gives you the freedom of a zip free, with the easy access of a back zip • Hydro-Loc 2 collar, adjustable collar to seal the neck and prevent water flushes • Glued & blind stitched, maximum seam stretch and strength with zero water penetration • Drainage system allows excess water to drain freely • Seamless shoulder panel for unrestricted flexibility whilst paddling • S-Flex knees, highly flexible and durable knee pads to handle copious amounts of duck-diving • Stash pocket, external zip pocket with wax comb for easy access RRP: £220
TEAM RIDER: Seb SMART It seems like only yesterday that Seb Smart was a cheeky little grommet, terrorising his neighbours around Sennen on his skateboard. Having survived a short nonsurfing emo phase, some tough love advice from his older brothers, and several shallow reefs in Sumatra, Seb Smart is back in the line-up surfing harder and stronger than ever before, and than many more experienced pros. Having spent a lot of the winter exploring Sumatra, Seb has been surfing at every opportunity since he has been back, even paddling around in heaving onshore closeouts for a new music video that was filmed in Cornwall. On one of the best days at Porthleven recently, Seb paddled out with his bodyboarder mates and for most of the morning was the only stand-up taking on the chunky barrels. As well as his new found confidence in heavy waves, Seb is one of the best aerialists for his age group.
Photo: Ben Selway
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Dawn patrol
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Photo: Ripcurl archive
RIP CURL SURFING SINCE 1967
Rip Curl was born out of the shortboard revolution of the late sixties, but it was not immediately a wetsuit brand. Founders Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer originally set out to make boards and other hard wear. But with the boom in other board companies the two Victorians realized they needed to go in a different direction if they were to keep the dream alive. At the time, 1970, there were only two wetsuit makers in Australia, and one of those was purely designed for divers, there was nothing innovating for the surf community. The boys though sat down and realized that for surfing to progress in their chilly waters surfers needed wetsuits; in fact along with boards they were the only essential to ride waves. So Rip Curl took over an old house in Torquay (Victoria, Australia), the guys purchased a pre World War II sewing machine
and Rip Curl wetsuits was born. They enlisted a crew of locals to put into a production line of rubber cutters who laid out the patterns before giving them to a single overworked machinist. Those first suits were primitive by today’s standards but they had one thing which set them apart from other brands on the market, they were designed and evolved through direct interaction with surfers, this ethos formed the foundations for Rip Curl then and has continued as the company has grown making them one of the leading wetsuit manufacturers. Back then the people who ran the company were test pilots, and they still are now. Over the following forty years Rip Curl have been at the forefront of wetsuit development, better form fitting suits, more flexible material and of course the first heated wettie.
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WETSUIT GUIDE
contact: web: billabong.com email: billabong@billabong.tm.fr tel: +33 (0)5 58 43 42 05
SG5 3/2 - Back Zip
RRP: £210
FOIL 3/2 GBS - Chest Zip
Features: Made of 90% B9 Flex, a recycled Polyester coming from fishing nets and returned Polyester products. 10% is unique flax textile to achieve amazing elasticity and softness. It’s the highest recycle rate, currently used in any material we could find suitable for wetsuits. The recycled Polyester material is woven in a particular way to increase its volume, and retain body heat (B9 Thermal Flex). It also channels the water away, making it dry approximately 40% faster than regular stretch nylon.
Features: The Foil is a perfect combination of quality, fit and performance. It’s a durable all round suit at an unbeatable price. It’s made of the new Airlite Superflex material which is incredibly flexible and durable. The panels placement has been redesigned to improve paddle movement. Other key features include a barrier and thermal lining. RRP: £ 120
RRP: £ 275
Photo: Ben Selway
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Features: The new SG5 uses Billabong’s new zero gravity Superflex neoprene. Increased cell size in the foam core makes this warmer, lighter and more flexible than ever before. The integrated Solar Mesh 5 on the back and front act in the same way as solar panels, by absorbing the suns heat and trapping it within the cell structure of the mesh. It is 30% warmer than any Nylon covered neoprene. • Available in Back zip and Chest zip.
Billabong B9 3/2 Recycled - Back Zip
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TEAM RIDER: REUBYN ASH Reubyn Ash just goes from strength to strength, he was the next big thing as a grom, and for once the next big thing actually lived up to the reputation. He is without a shadow of a doubt the best aerialist this country has produced and is one of the few British surfers who has cut it onto a major international surf movie. He’s started making some serious moves on the contest circuit too, with a solid couple of years on the Pro Junior circuit led him to the WQS, where he has impressed on occasion with a couple of solid final placings. He made the biggest impact when he scored the wildcard two years running for the Billabong Pro at Mundaka, going head to head with none other than Mr Slater in the last event. But it is his free surfing which sets him head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, and the lad from Bude has one of the most solid bag of tricks in the business. If he can turn this into solid contest ability, then he could end up being a solid contender on the ‘QS.
Photo: Eric Chauche
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HEAD OF WETSUITS EUROPE FRANCOIS LIETS OF BILLABONG Billabong wetsuits are designed in Australia by Scott Both, but input and testing of these designs happens at a global level. In Europe the wetsuit development division is headed up by Francois Liets and he takes up the story – “Scott designs the suits, and twice a year we all sit down and look at the designs and the new materials and give our feedback. Conditions in Europe are different from Australia and we make changes to deal with this. Not in the design so much but in the thickness of the suit, so the suits are the same models here as they are in Australia, but the thickness changes to compensate for the colder water of the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe” The suits are then intensively tested. Francois is also head of Billabong Adventure Division, so the suits get onto
some of the best surfers in Europe for testing. “We have surfers like Benjamin Sanches, Tiago Pires and Fabrice Gelez out charging some heavy slabs, all testing the new suits. Everyone in the office surfs too, so when prototype suits turn up we grab them and go surf, so we are constantly feeding back to the design team in Australia” Francois explains that they are also constantly looking for new materials, this has led to their range of re-cycled wetsuits. Now in their second year they are made from old polyester products like bottles and fishing nets and the manufacturing process uses around 80% of the energy of that of a standard suit. They go through the same testing, to make sure we get the best suits to keep us warm and comfortable in a European summer.
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contact: web: cypher.quiksilver-europe.com email: liam@quiksilver-tech.com tel: 01392 877641
Cypher: The pinnacle of technical surf performance. Hyper stretch II is made from strong, durable ultra elasticized material that increases your flexibility and stretches when you do. This is the most flexible material available with 4 way stretch for supreme flexibility, its lighter weight absorbs less water and provides superior warmth and durability.
CYPHER BACK ZIP
RRP: £225
CYPHER CHEST ZIP
CYPHER CHEST ZIP
Features: • 100%Hyperstitch II • GBS Seam with Flexmax seam taping • Cypher seal wrist and ankle cuffs • Cypher fuse kneepads • Glide skin neck seal with hydrowrap neck closure • Hydroshield pullover water barrier • Short YKK back zip/ Chest zip • External leg key pocket • Ultraspan Xtend
Features: • 100%Hyperstitch II • GBS Seam with Flexmax seam taping • Cypher seal wrist and ankle cuffs • Cypher fuse kneepads • Glide skin neck seal with hydrowrap neck closure • Hydroshield pullover water barrier • Short YKK back zip/ Chest zip • External leg key pocket • Ultraspan Xtend RRP: £225
RRP: £225
Photo: Ben Selway
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Features: • 100%Hyperstitch II • GBS Seam with Flexmax seam taping • Cypher seal wrist and ankle cuffs • Cypher fuse kneepads • Glide skin neck seal with hydrowrap neck closure • Hydroshield pullover water barrier • Short YKK back zip/ Chest zip • External leg key pocket • Ultraspan Xtend
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TEAM RIDER: TOBY Donachie Quik poppet Toby Donachie is a city boy at heart and originally hails from the bustling metropolis of Bristol. Nowadays, after relocating to Cornwall, he lives in the sleepy reclines of Constantine Bay. His rise to British surfing stardom kicked off when his mum met his now step dad Adrian Phillips (who, if you didn’t know already is the owner and brains behind Fluidjuice Surfboards) – the person responsible for teaching him to stand up on a board. Evidently, Toby was a very quick learner and in the short time the youngster has been surfing, he has firmly managed to stamp his authority as one of the UK’s most prolific juniors and fiercest competitors on the UKPT. As with many talented surfers, Toby now spends his time gallivanting around the globe and more recently was spotted taking on fairly good-sized Waimea Bay during the Hawaiian winter. At time of writing he is in Australia on the Gold Coast under the watchful tutelage of Newquay nugget, Spenny Hargraves.
edge of suit design. The latest Cypher range of summer suits emulate this. The main material Hyperstretch 2 is designed to flex with your movements in four ways, giving both comfort and maneuverability, as well as absorbing just the right amount of water to balance warmth and weight. Likewise the seams are also designed for maximum control and flexibility as well as warmth, these seemingly small areas of design are the difference between a good suit and an exceptional suit. Quik also have continuous feedback from their team riders, riders like Kelly Slater, who have been with the brand for years of wetsuit development. They know what has come before and can give knowledgeable and continuous feedback to make sure we have the best suit possible on our backs.
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Formed in the heady days of the early seventies, Quiksilver have blossomed from a brand created from necessity in Victoria, Australia, to a global institution which still creates some of the best surfing hardware, out of necessity, not fashion. The early days were all about board shorts, but as the brand expanded globally, thanks to the charismatic Jeff Hakman taking things over to the USA, there became a need to create a wetsuit department. As with any company made up exclusively of surfers, the design and development process was done by company employees in the only place such research can be done, the sea. This has meant that function over everything else has driven Quiksilver into producing some of the best suits around. It’s all about innovation and evolution, in both cut and materials used and this has delivered a range which is at the cutting
Photo: John Conway
QUIKSILVER STILL ON CLOUD NINE
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WETSUIT GUIDE
contact: web: xcelwetsuits.com email: info@danielsurf.com tel: 01752 330772
Features: • The Xcel Infiniti X-Zip is constructed of 100% ultrastretch superlight foam with a super soft snag resistant outer lining • The Infiniti front zip system combines an engineered fit with minimum seams and panels giving maximum flexibility and warmth • The X-Zip front zip sysytem has a water resistant interlock zip and a crossover neck entry • The water repellent lining is infused with recycled fibers and heat retaining bamboo charcoal • With pre-bent elbows and knees, four way stretch knee pads and fusion sealed seams the whole suit is designed to fit close to the body without restriction RRP: £210.00
xcel xflex xzip xcel drylock
Features: • Voted wetsuit of the year the Xcel drylock offers the ultimate in cold water performance • Constructed with 100% multi density ultrastretch foam with airprene chest and back panels • Drylock wrist seals and a waterproof closed front zip reduce waterflow and the water repellent thermobamboo and recycled fibre lining sheds water and retains heat • The Drylock has an engineered fit with minimal panels and seams giving total flexibility and increased performance
Features: • The Xcel Xflex X-zip 3/2 is a performance front zip wetsuit at a very competetive price • Constructed from 100% superlight neoprene with double glued and bindstitched seams and a supersoft snag resistant outer lining • As with all Xcel performance wetsuits the Xflex Xzip has an engineered fit with minimal panels and seams for greater warmth and flexibility • High on performance low on price RRP: £150.00
RRP: £280.00
Photo: Andrew Shield
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xcel infiniti
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TEAM RIDER: BEDE DURBRIDGE Bede Durbidge is one of a crop of top Aussie pros from Queensland, but unlike his compatriots the Coolie Kids (Parko, Deano and Fanning) he has always remained a little more undercover. However in the last few years the Queenslander has consistently placed in the top ten of the WCT and in the last two seasons has been in the hunt for a world title. The highlights of his career came winning the Pipeline masters in 2007. As well as etching his name on the famous trophy he also won the coveted Triple Crown, after a world title, the most significant tour to win in surfing. As well as this he won the 2006 Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles, the most high performance wave on tour, he faced Kelly Slater in the final and comfortably beat the nine time world champ. He had issues along the way, most notably from a headline sponsor, but that is where Xcel have helped massively, coming on board as a title sponsor and meaning he has been able to not just compete at the highest level but also challenge for titles.
Photo: John Conway
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LEGEND STEVE DANIEL OF XCEL At the end of the seventies, New Yorker Ed D’Ascoli, moved to Hawaii and started making diving wetsuits from the bedroom of his Sunset Beach house. After securing the orders to make them for the US Military, Ed’s business quickly expanded and he founded Xcel in 1982. Meanwhile back in England, South Devon surfer Steve Daniel had just won a long overdue British Title. His involvement with wetsuits began sometime earlier, back in 1968 when he bought his first suit, which came as two sheets of neoprene rolled up in a cardboard tube with a pattern, a piece of chalk and some glue. Steve would often go and see Gul founder Dennis Cross, who encouraged him to test out his latest wetsuits and give him feedback. Steve soon got
sponsored by Gul and turned his attentions to the professional world tour, and with Nigel Semmens, travelled extensively making many great friends with the talent of the time, like Shaun Tomson and Mark Richards. Some years later, in 2001, Steve got a call from Greg Wade, who he had known through Mark Richards. Greg had been working with Ed D’Ascoli on Xcel wetsuits and had thought of Steve for UK distribution. Initially unenthusiastic about taking on the brand, Steve agreed to try out a suit. Immediately impressed by the warmth and flexibility, Steve ordered 100, which he sold in a week. Almost ten years later, Steve, with his wife, two sons and daughter, is still very involved in developing Xcel wetsuits and absolutely believes them to be the best.
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