Is it a Mirage?

Ok, so the wintry weather may only be a short distant memory but we have been unpacking a lot of Summer surf kit and getting it ready to add to the website.

The surfing brands have begun to unleash their latest gear, designed to make you surf faster, feel more comfortable and up the ‘cool’ factor. Well at least that’s what the marketers tells us.

In the boardies line, Rip Curl have unveiled their main feature 2009-2010 summer boardshort…The Rip Curl Mirage Boardshort.

Rip Curl Mirage Boardshort

The Rip Curl Mirage Boardshorts are already on sale in Australia, but we are hoping to see these amazing shorts in the UK very soon. Rip Curl have done a cracking job in creating a material that has taken the boardshort market to the next level.

Check out the video below to see how Rip Curl show off these fantastic shorts.

“They’re a high performance surfing short, designed and developed with high performance surfing in mind. We’re talking electromagnetic welded seams, rip curls quadroflex quick dry fabric and a heap of other technology outlined in the features list.”

- Rip Curl

The Mirage Boardshort is released in three flavours:

• Mirage 3 (Owen Wright model)
• Mirage Fanning (Mick Fanning model)
• Mirage Flow (Stu Kennedy model)

Rip Curl Mirage Boardshorts Technical Specification

• 21″ outseam
• Performance style
• Metallic ink
• Flex Fly- Eliminates Velcro and reduces bulk
• Silicon laced drawcord- Lightweight- Silicon treatment makes it lock together when tied
• Curved inner Gusset- Moves seams away from critical rash areas
• Flow system- Perforated water release areas allow water and air to flow and reduce drag
• Quick dry
• Quardoflex- 4 way stretch water repelling material- Super durable
• ES3- Beyond 4 way stretch- The lightest most comfortable fabric in the water

Check out more lovely Rip Curl products over at Sorted Surf Shop.

Kelly Slater paddling

World Champion surfer, Kelly Slater has concluded the principal photography for the new Ultimate Wave Tahiti Movie that is due to premiere early next month.

It’s the first 3D film for IMAX® theaters to capture intensity of Tahiti’s famed Teahupoo break.

Kelly Slater and a group of friends arrive in Tahiti. With their host, Tahitian surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer and will seek out the best waves breaking on the reef at the famed surf site Teahupo’o. Kelly and Raimana share a passion for the waves, but different ideas about what surfing means: is it a modern competitive sport or an ancient Polynesian wave-riding art?

Either way, if the right conditions arise, they hope to surf some unique giant barrels created by storm swells breaking atop the shallow reef.

As the surfer’s quest unfolds, the film explores the hidden forces at work shaping the waves and the islands that lie in their path. In stylized animated segments, the audience is propelled into the cosmos to discover the sources of a wave’s energy; and then back to Earth to witness the swirling dance of the atmosphere that will transfer energy deep into the ocean and shape a wave’s long journey across thousands of miles of open Pacific.

Kelly and Raimana consider what makes a great surfing wave. In an extended surfing sequence showcasing Kelly and Raimana, we see the magic of high-performance surfing on modest breakers.

Raimana muses that

you don’t have to chase the perfect wave; if you are patient, it will come to you

He swims across the reef, through the waves — around him are dolphins and humpback whales and the wide Pacific.

The Ultimate Wave Tahiti Movie premiers in Los Angeles on February 12th but we hope it won’t be too long before they bring to an IMAX cinema near you!.

First Love Teaser from First Love on Vimeo.

O'Neill Psycho 2 Winter Wetsuit Close Up

Winter surfing can be extremely exhilirating. Get the perfect combination of wind, waves and tide and if you have a good quality Winter Wetsuit then the cold doesn’t really matter.

However, it is easy to be complacement and the fact that water is 25 times more heat conducting than air you quickly lose body heat and hypothermia can set in before you even know it.

Ok, so the snow has gone for the time being, but with UK coastal temperatures hovering around 7 degrees Celsius it is worth investing in a wetsuit that is going to give you that ultimate warmth and protection from the elements so you can get on and enjoy your surfing.

The new O’Neill Psycho 2 wetsuit will definitely give you that extra warmth for your winter surf sessions, if you are one of those surfers that perhaps feels the cold more than your surf buddies.

O’Neill have taken the extremely popular Psycho 1 wetsuit and added in a stitchless Double Fluid Weld and UltraFlex Firewall technology and produced a wetsuit that is one of the warmest, lightest and most flexible suits on the planet.

O’Neill Psycho 2 Specification

O'Neill Psycho 2 Winter Wetsuit 2010

Additional features to keep you performing at the top of your game include:

Double Fluid Seam Weld (stitch less) technology creates the wetsuit that is 100% sealed. O’ Neill also seal the reverse side of the seam giving you the ultimate in coldwater proof protection.

• Patented Z.E.N. Zip Closure System with Pullover, pullover internal neck seal blocks out water for maximum performance in cold to frigid conditions.
• Barrier 2 / Double Superseal Neck / Drainhole with a below-the-neck zipper, the no-flush Barrier and The Drainhole to move water out, and making it easier to get in and out of the wetsuit.
• Plasma Wrist and Ankle Seals at the wrists and/or ankles to prevent over expansion and seal out water.
• Double Super Seal Neck to prevent water flushes
• Handcuff Wrist Seal
• External Key Pocket with Loop is easy to access and completely secure
• 2x Fluid Seam Weld

The O’Neill Psycho 2 Winter Wetsuit really is loaded with high performance features which means you retain more body heat whilst being able to surf without any restrictions. Get the fit right with this wetsuit and you have the ultimate Winter Wetsuit.

O’Neill Psycho 2 Video Review

Check out the full specification and buy the new O´Neill Psycho 2 5/3 Mens Winter Wetsuit 2010 online.

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3mm 2010

The current cold snap has probably put pay to a lot of surfing sessions over the last week or so - but we surfers are a hardy bunch and given a good Winter wetsuits, hood and gloves we can usually be coaxed in to the coldest of UK waters.

For many of you it will probably seem an age since you last donned a 3mm Summer Wetsuit but having a decent winter wettie can make all the difference and even make those winter surf sessions quite memorable.

With all the main wetsuit manufacturers building even more technology into their suits, this year’s crop of Winter Wetsuits are even better than ever - and we are not just saying that.

Rip Curl, have been making wetsuits for over 35 years now, so they should know something about making a decent wetsuit. For 2010 they have taken one of the classic wetsuits and re-designed it using the latest Elastomax and SlickSkin technologies.

The new black Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 Mens Winter Wetsuit 2010 is now even more flexible and offers greater warmth and comfort. And all this for under £130!

The Dawn Patrol 5/3mm Winter Wetsuit has a 5mm body and 3mm on the arms and legs, ensuring your torso remains toasty whilst giving you enough material to main flexibility around the arms and legs.

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 Winter Wetsuit Features

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol showing Fireskin chest

Rip Curl’s very own ultra performance neoprene, called the E3 is now lighter, warmer and stretchier than ever. It is used in the arms, back, crutch and leg gussets along with a durable high grade Ultralite neoprene for all round performance.

Rip Curl also use their new orange Fireskin lining on the inside of the chest for warmth, it wicks water away form the body while retaining body heat. The new Blue Steel Sealed Zip and Soft Seal collar is integrated for maximum water seal and surfer comfort.

The Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 suit has glued & blindstitched seams which provide maximum stretch and strength with zero water penetration. The sealed seams hold a thin layer of water against your skin which once warm works as insulation. The Blindstitching technique does not involve the material being punctured and it is combined with glue to form a watertight seam. The hydroloc collar seals the neck area preventing water flushes.

An external stash zip pocket is provided with easy access.

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 Mens Winter Wetsuit 2010 Video Review

Why not visit The Wetsuit Centre at Boscombe to try on the Rip Dawn Patrol 5/3 Mens Winter Wetsuit 2010, we employ surfers with first hand knowledge of the products on offer and the conditions of the local surfing reef.

Star Trek Wetsuit Close-up

No it’s not a fancy dress remnant of the New Year’s Eve party - it’s true you can now buy a Star Trek Wetsuit to enjoy your surfing.

The 7mm wetsuit is only available in the US but has already had the twitter fraternity buzzing with excitement at the thought of being able to dress up like Captain Kirk, Spock or Scotty whilst hitting the waves.

The one-piece wetsuit created by JMJ Wetsuits, features iconic uniform colors & rank insignias from Star Trek: The Original Series.

You might be thinking these are just a novelty gimmick - well these 7mm wetsuits are the real deal, made using the highest quality materials and expert craftsmanship. Each individual wetsuit is custom made and tailored to your exact measurements for a perfect fit and unmatched performance. According to their website - “this is the ultimate in warmth and exposure protection when exploring strange new worlds!”

Star Trek Wetsuit

The 7MM Star Trek wetsuit is available in three colors:

• Command Yellow
• Science Blue
• and Engineering Red.

Each wetsuit features a durable Star Trek chest insignia, Rank Braids, and RDT shoulder logo.

Star Trek Wetsuit Range

If you want one from outside of the US - then you will probably need to speak nicely to the guys at RDT as these wetsuits are made-to-order.

Beam me up Scotty!!

More info: RDT Star Trek Wetsuits