THIS WEEK'S POLL
What's your favorite
thing about summer?
Shorts
Grilling dinner out
on the patio
Long days
The kids are out
of school
That it's only 3 months long
View Results
High Performance Wetsuits
iDesign : Episode FLIDN-101

Click here to view a larger image.

Water temperature is a big factor for surfers when determining the type of wetsuit to wear.

  • Full body wetsuits are needed for waters 65deg F. and below
  • Neoprene was invented during World War II to replace rubber.
  • In the early days, surfers put cornstarch on themselves to get into their rigid rubber wetsuits.
  • In 1988, Stephen Peart created a molded neoprene wetsuit he dubbed "the Animal," based on studies he'd done of the skin movements of whales and reptiles.
  • The Animal wetsuit is now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
  • When buying a wetsuit, look for warmth, quality of seams, flexibility and fit.
  • Higher quality wetsuits have glued and taped seams, not stitched

Resources

ZJ Boarding House
www.zjboardinghouse.com

O'neill Surf Products
www.oneill.com/surf

Museum of Modern Art, New York (Animal wetsuit exhibit)
www.moma.org/mutantmaterials


Site Extras