Surf Talk Guru

Watching from the beach as pro surfers navigate giant whitecaps with ease can be a bit intimidating, but don’t worry – those professionals didn’t master the sport overnight. As with any challenging pastime, it takes practice and determination to excel on a surfboard. And it goes without saying that sticking with time-tested techniques will help you avoid developing bad habits.

As the old saying goes, before you walk you must learn to crawl. This figure of speech is literally true in the world of surfboards, where just lying down on your board and learning to paddle is a feat in itself. The first step to successful surfing is finding the balance point on your board. Take note of the way it rests on top of the water without any weight applied on top. When you lie down on the board, you should aim to achieve that same angle except that the board will be pushed down slightly in the water.

Wetsuit Zippers:
When researching which wetsuit to buy next, one of the most imporant aspects to look into is the zipper. Zippers can let cold water into your suit if they’re not completely waterproof. Every trickle makes a difference in the length of your session when the weather is cold. . .like it’s starting to get here in Oregon.

The following information was obtained from wetsuitgear.com.

1.) YKK #10: The industry standard. This is a big, beefy, durable zipper that offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship. Comes with either a plastic zip head or a heavy duty metal slider.
2.) PK-G Lock: The best cold water zipper on the market. This high end zipper is used in cold water suits. There are no spaces between the teeth of this zipper. The result, a virtually waterproof zipper. No more cold water trickling through the teeth of the zipper and down your back.
(Xcel wetsuits have the Infiniti Drylock waterproof system. The zipper that does not leak. Infiniti wetsuits feature a 100% waterproof Drylock zipper as part of Xcel’s X-ZIP 2 entry system.)

3.) Mini-Zip:Term used for a super short zipper used in a wetsuit. The advantage is less water can enter through the zipper area. It also means the wetsuit will be more flexible. The dis-advantage is the suit will be slightly more difficult to put on and take off.
4.) 3/4 Zipper: A shorter zipper than a full length zipper. Benefits are increased flexiblity. The dis-advantage is the suit will be slightly more difficult to put on and take off.