Ok, the snow might have disappeared and the weather in the UK has actually been feeling quite mild the last few days – but we are still in the depths of Winter.
However, the designers at Billabong have obviously been busy and launched their ladies Spring Surf Series collection to whet our appetites – and not a Billabong Wetsuit in site.
The range includes 4-way stretch boards shorts made from recycled PET bottles and a rather daring neoprene cut out racer back one piece swimsuit.
It’s one of those things that you think will go one forever – but looks like the sponsor world is having a shake-up.
After 10 years with Rip Curl, Steph Gilmore announced her move to Quiksilver in a deal rumoured to be worth at least $5 million over five years.
Steph Gilmore - a winning smile for Quiksilver
While industry sources believe Gilmore’s sponsorship is more than all but three men in world surfing, four-time world champion Gilmore said wanting to “keep things fresh” was the main reason behind her move.
Steph’s move comes only a fortnight after her wrist was broken in a bashing outside her Gold Coast home, Gilmore revealed the five-year deal with Quiksilver, which includes joining 13 female artists, musicians, photographers, writers, philanthropists and fashion designers as a brand ambassador.
Gilmore, who declined to confirm the financial details of the new deal, said that moving to Quiksilver was “not a monetary thing”.
Steph Gilmore looking pleased with herself
The deal is believed to be worth more than $1 million a year for the 22-year-old, with speculation rife there are also big money incentives for winning major events, including the ASP world title.
Gilmore’s career earnings, according to the ASP website, are $419,050. The surfer last year earned $94,200 as she secured her fourth successive world crown.
In Australia only the likes of dual world surfing champion Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow, Ace Buchan and rising starts Owen Wright and Julian Wilson are believed to be on bigger contracts than Gilmore, a star of the women’s surfing tour and an articulate spokewoman off it.
“I had an absolutely fantastic 10-year relationship with Rip Curl and I can only speak highly of them,” said Steph.
“This is just a personal thing where I kind of wanted to sort of rejuvenate my career halfway through and it was a personal choice. I really wanted something to get me excited.
“Globally they are such a giant brand with so much opportunity in the industry with music, fashion, surfing, skating . . . the whole lot.
“Everything I’m learning about the company is it’s more about the lifestyle, music, art, philanthropy and being creative, being independent, being young and successful and having fun.”
Gilmore, who many believe can go on to match if not exceed the seven world titles won by the great Layne Beachley, is the only surfer among Quiksilver’s female brand ambassadors.
“One of the most important things for any athlete is to stay fresh, inspired, to go out and keep competing and winning and keeping that balance in your life,” said Gilmore, who will creatively contribute to Quiksilver’s new collection.
The announcement of Gilmore’s switch came hours after rising star Wilson revealed he was moving from Quiksilver to Nike. Wilson’s deal is a five-year agreement believed to be worth about $1 million a year.
It’s the New Year and if there was any more reason to get out into the water then here it is….
Santa Cruz surfer and trickster Zoltan Torkos claims to have pulled the first two kickflips ever pulled on a surfboard.
While there is no doubt that the man-with-the-magicians-name did indeed do a kickflip, the questions is: Did he ride it out well enough to claim it?
Either way, it’s as close as we’ve see so Zoltan definitely deserves some props!
You decide……
Ricardo Wendhausen made a claim in 2009 and here’s his attempt
So looks like 2011 could see even more skate moves coming across into the surfing world – keep your eyes peeled on your local beach for some radical moves!
It’s Christmas. You’ve had a few drinks, you feel a bit merry, you fancy going for a surf to burn off some of those Christmas calories. It doesn’t feel too cold outside, so you’re tempted to just jump straight in without putting on a wetsuit, but is it safe?
Santa scoring a wave!
The short answer is no, it isn’t a good idea at all! We’ve actually seen folks out near Bournemouth Pier without wetsuits in previous winters obviously trying to prove their mettle. Most don’t stay in the water very long, but even a short dip in the sea carries dangers if you’re not wearing the right kit.
The main issue with going into the water without a wetsuit is that you will get cold very fast. Surfing in particular carries the real danger of hypothermia, particularly as most of us will be idle in the water for extended periods waiting for the best waves.Wetsuits are a worthwhile investment for the added protection they offer against hypothermia.
Let’s be honest, even in the summer months Britain’s Seas can still be a little on the cold side, so a lightweight and skin tight wetsuit is ideal for letting you enjoy your water sports activities over the summer while keeping the chills at bay.
A Shortie made of 2 mm neoprene will do fine for water temperatures above 70 F. Anything below that temperature you’ll want to think about a full wetsuit. We strongly advise against anyone wearing a summer wetsuit in winter, it simply won’t be up to the job!
A properly fitting winter wetsuit is really the only answer if you want to continue surfing in safety and comfort throughout the winter months. Add to that a decent set of boots, gloves, and even a hood to stop heat loss from your head, and you’ll stay in the water much longer.
As an alternative to a top of the range winter wetsuit, you can combine your standard winter wettie with a thermal rash vest.
Rip Curl H Bomb - The Ultimate Winter Wetsuit
For the ultimate in winter warmth check out the Rip Curl H Bomb wetsuit – with this one you’ll never have to worry about the cold again!
It’s the world’s first power heated wetsuit. It’s a wetsuit designed to keep you super-warm by positioning two coated fibre elements that generate heat on your upper back. It has three temperature settings, Low, Med & Boost!
Okay, so all things considered, surfing without a wetsuit just does not make sense. If you are going to go in the water this Christmas, make sure you wear a decent winter wetsuit.
With the UK now firmly in Winter’s icy clutches, it can be tempting to just stay indoors and keep yourself warm until the Spring comes around. However, if you love the outdoor lifestyle and have a passion for watersports, then the winter climate need not throw a spanner in the works. Buying a winter wetsuit enables people to enjoy surfing all year round and to stay in the water for extended periods.
Does a Thicker Wetsuit mean Better Warmth?
A higher neoprene material thickness is the key benefit of the winter wetsuit in comparison to the summer suit, as it provides better warmth, protection and insulation. Hypothermia is an ever-present danger in winter, as cold water makes you lose your body heat very quickly. A wetsuit ensures you stay insulated from the cold as a thin layer of water comes between your body and the wetsuit, the body heats it naturally, providing a warm insulating layer.
As with most things, the quality of neoprene you get is likely to reflect the price you are willing to pay. You can find suits for under £100 with basic neoprene and a few stretch panels, but the top-end suits, consisting entirely of highly flexible neoprene, are going to cost you considerably more.
Here are some of the features to look out for when shopping for your winter wetsuit:
The best winter wetsuits have a neoprene combination of 5 (for Torso) and 4mm (around your limbs to allow you more flexibility to paddle and swim) or 5 and 4 and 3mm.
Wetsuit Seams and Zips
Glued & blindstitched seams offer maximum stretch and strength with zero water penetration. The stitching appears on the front and glued on the reverse to form a watertight seal.
On the top-end thickest winter wetsuits, heat welded tape can be applied over the blindstitched seams on the inside to strengthen and waterproof the wetsuit.
Zip system and adjustable neck collar provides maximum water seal and surfer comfort. Look out for smooth surfaces around the neck lining to prevent skin becoming irritated. Some people wear rash vests, however, the downside of these vests is that they don’t offer any heat retention.
Fit = Warmth
Your best bet is to go for a tight or snug fit with plenty of stretch. A full style wetsuit is perfect for winter with long legs and long arms to cover all parts of your body except for your head, neck, hands and feet.
Final things you might want to think about when buying a winter wetsuit are knee padding to protect the knees, and an external secure key pocket for easy and secure access to your key.
A great wetsuit for a great price, the Dawn Patrol for 2011 boasts all the key technical features you need that without requiring you to blow your budget.
Rip Curl have put together a great package with F Bomb, offering ultimate warmth, flexibility, durability and comfort to create a very strong overall product.
The 2011 hooded Heat winter wetsuit combines the fantastic value and technology of the Heat wetsuit and pushes it to the next level, offering serious warmth and flexibility
The Billabong Solution Gold incorporates the Solar Mesh solar panel designed to absorb and transfer the suns heat to the body, meaning it is 30% warmer than any nylon covered neoprene.
Price: £249.94
All these winter wetsuits are available at the Wetsuit Centre, with free next day UK delivery. You an find more information and reviews of winter wetsuits on the Wetsuit Centre Youtube channel.
See Jeff introduce the new C Skins React Winter Wetsuit Range, the latest winter wetsuit video review:
It has been a bit of a crazy week in the world of surfing.
First off, the ASP World Tour hit Puerto Rico and Steph Gilmore was crowned both World Champ and Rip Curl Search Champ Today – what an achievement.
Andy Irons
But then within the space of 24 hours the surfing world was turned upside down with the unexpected death of 3 x World Champion Andy Irons.
The Legend that is Andy Irons
We are still finding it hard to belive that such a talented surfer can pass away so young. There are lots of tributes out there on the web and we would like to add our own condolences to his family and friends in this painful time – and let you guys know our thoughts are with you. Rest in peace, AI, and thank you.
The massive memorial paddle-out in Puerto Rico was a fitting way to give Andy the best send-off from all of his ASP Surfing Tour buddies.
Andy Irons Memorial Paddle Out
Billabong have released a tribute clip for Andy Irons. There’s not much to say about this… The clip is amazing but it’s definitely sad to watch.
We had the first frost this morning so looks like winter is well on its way.
The technology behind wetsuits these days is just phenominal and we are blown away by some of the suits that are coming out from the likes of Billabong, O’Neill and C-skins.
If you are in line for a new Winter Wetsuit there are endless choices – but don’t forget the most important aspect of buying a Winter Wetsuit is getting the fit right! Get a wettie that fits well – reasonably tight around the neck, good seals and limited space around the small of your back – and you won’t go wrong.
We have been nusy building up a bank of Wetsuit Video reviews which are now online under the Wetsuit Centre YouTube Channel – there are 104 in total to date with over 80,000 views – so we think our customers like them :0)
Here’s one of the latest from Jeff as he takes you through the 2011 Rip Curl FBomb Winter Wetsuit. A cracking Winter Wetsuit that ticks all the right boxes and will mean you can enjoy your surfing right the way through the Winter.
Suggest you grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and watch this 14 minute video clip that shows Dane Reynolds, Julian Wilson, Jeremy Flores and Kelly Slater in Quiksilver’s Cypher Vision Short Film.
Filmed to coincide with the new Quicksilver Cypher Vision Wetsuit, the film was shot at 1000 frames a second with a revolutionary camera that had never been used to shoot surfing or film in the ocean.
You will be amazed at the high definition footage and super slo-mo sequences of the world’s best surfers.
See every drop of spray, their boards flexing when they land big airs, their body contortions, and the unique lines they draw on every wave. It’s high performance surfing as never seen before.
Rip Curl is releasing a signature Mick Fanning watch as a part of Fanning’s Ultimate Titanium Oceansearch platform. Less than a thousand watches will be distributed worldwide, with only 100 pieces being released in the United States. Fanning’s signature will be engraved on the watches caseback, along with the individual number.
Mick Fanning Ultimate Oceansearch Titanium Watch
This classy bit of kit is finished in stealth black titanium carbide plating and comes in a custom black packaging that showcases the product and includes a commemorative booklet chronicling Mick’s historical achievements in the world of surfing.
The watch features a programmed tide system for over 200 surf beaches around the world through 2022 and an automatic tide system that can be set to thousands of beaches worldwide. It also features tide prediction for tide forecasting and a digital compass.
Made out of titanium and depth tested to 200 meters, the watch also has dual time with tide spot storage, a stopwatch, timer, two alarms, and a full screen backlight.
We are not sure how many are coming to the UK – so keep your eyes peeled. This could be a pretty hot product for any surfers christmas present list, so no doubt eBay might be showing a couple up for auction in the future too.
