Surf Talk Guru

The day for the Nelscott Reef Tow In Classic and Big Wave Paddle-In has been set in (sand)stone for Thursday, October 22, 2009. The report is for up to 17 foot swells at 15 second intervals. That’s gonna be big! Participants might want to bring their Quiksilver Electric Heat Vest to wear under their suits because the air temp is going to be in the 40’s and it gets cold riding those skis.

The repeat winning team for 2007 and 2008 of Adam Replogle and Alistair Craft is interestingly not on the list of confirmed participants in this year’s event. Neither are Jeff and Josiah Schmucker, the Aussie father and son team whose debut performance earned second place in 2008. That could have something to do with the $1000 entry fee and the small amount of prize money. It looks like so far, the only local surfers competing this year are Jeremy Rasmussen and Tom Miller for Nelscott Reef Surf Shop. Big name pros coming to Lincoln City are Tom Carroll, Brad Gerlach, and Mike Parsons. Garrett McNamara, a participant in years past, is injured.

If you’re interested in the PS+ Cypher Heat Vest, the Electric Heat Vest by Quiksilver, check out this review–Field Test Report: Quiksilver Electric Heat Vest posted on 10/14. The vest is made with a 95% Polypropylene 5% spandex blend, Polypropylene being a heat retentive material with wicking properties to help add warmth.

It heats up with FAR infra-red heat technology, has high and low heat settings, and is easily operated under any wetsuit. The rechargeable battery provides hours of heat, but you can also get extra batteries for a longer session or if you forget to recharge. Car and wall battery chargers are included, so you’ll never be stuck without a place to recharge.

Xcel wetsuits boast 100% lightweight, quick-dry, UltraStretch, UltraSoft neoprene. What does this mean? It means that 100% of the suit is made with this stretchy neoprene.

Normally, stretch panels include the shoulders, back, underarms, arms, crotch, and knee areas. Many wetsuit manufacturers focus on these panels as the stretchy parts, and use standard not-as-stretchy neoprene for the rest of the suit.

You will pay a little more for a 100% stretch suit, but based on preformance and ease of use, it’s worth it.

Big wave tow-in surfing is the epitomy of extreme surfing, but it’s not your only option. Thanks to improved technologies, you can surf in the coldest parts of the globe, varying your exposure to new waves in new places during different seasons. Xcel wetsuits of at least 5/4mm and Quiksilver Heat Vests will keep you warm if you’re looking to access new waves this winter.

The main advantage to going for colder waters is the lack of crowds. Unlike Hawaii or California, cold water peaks don’t attract just any Joe Schmo who wants to crowd the lineup for easy surfing without a wetsuit. They attract dedicated surfers who are willing to go to the extreme to find the best waves.

The Raw Waters in Cedars blog has this quote: “Surfers make sheep look like independent thinkers…..” credited to “Pat King (surfer/author).” So I looked this Pat King person up to see in what context this quote was given, what did he mean, was there an elaboration, etc. I couldn’t find anything satisfactory. Now I’ll pose the question–does anyone know more about Pat King or his quote?

While you’re thinking on that one, keep in mind that fall is here, and while it has gotten a little stormy of late, it is generally the best time to surf the Oregon Coast. Take adventurous advantage of the El Nino winter coming up and get out and enjoy the water. Just make sure you are safely prepared for misadventures. Replace your old leash plug, get a new leash, grab some gloves, maybe even a warm new Xcel wetsuit, and make sure someone knows where you’re going out.

I just got back from surfing on a brisk Oregon day, the water temp was about 50 degrees and I was wearing the new Quiksilver Electric Heat Vest. I easily slipped on the Quik electric heat vest like you would any rashguard, pulled my 4/3 Hooded Xcel Drylock full suit on and headed down the trail. On the way to the beach I turned the electric heat vest on to HIGH by pushing the button and paddled out.

I instantly noticed a warm cozy feeling in my back. After paddeling out I had to turn the vest to low because I was too hot! This is when I realized….from now on being cold is optional!

Wetsuit Seams:
The quality of your wetsuit has a lot to do with the quality of your surf session in the fall and winter Oregon waters. The more you know about the ins and outs of wetsuits, the happier you’ll be with your purchases. Consider this information from wetsuitgear.com.

Seam construction is an important factor in selecting a wetsuit. Cold water temps (under 55 degrees) need sealed seams to keep in the warm water your body is heating and the cold water out of the suit. Currently there are 3 major types of seams available on wetsuits, flatlock, glued and blind-stitched, and glued, blind-stitched and taped.

There are many types of wetsuit seams:

Flatlock Stitching: Recommended for warm water above 55 degrees. The fabric is layered where
the seam meets and stitched completely through to form the seam. This seam looks like railroad tracks. The interior seam construction is flat on both sides. Some water may seep in through these seams.

Glued and Blind-stitched: Also referred to as GBS (Short for Glued and Blind-stitched). Recommended for cold water 55F and up. This construction is best for cold water because the seams are glued, then stitched. It looks similar to Flatlock stitching, but is narrower in width. Very little water will seep through these seams.

Sealed & Taped: (Glued Blindstitched & Taped)
Recommended for very cold water 55F and below. Same construction as above plus interior seam taping. Tape can be fabric tape, rubber “liquid tape”, or neoprene tape. The tape reinforces seams for added durability, and prevents any water from seeping through. These features are commonly found on very cold water suits and most high end suits.

All Xcel wetsuits’ seals are double glued and blindstitched and curved for maximum stretch. Xcel boasts the patented “Fusion Seam” where a stretchy, waterproof material is fused onto the blindstitched seam. No water getting in those seams!

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.

Yeah, it’s nice to surf without a wetsuit. Everyone should get a chance to do that once in awhile, but it can be overrated. Why go to crowded-ass Costa Rica where surfers swarm the peaks like ants on ice cream, when you could explore maritime Canada? Wetsuit technology has improved so much in recent years, that cold water destinations like Russia, Japan, and Europe are possible for even the biggest wuss.

Xcel wetsuits are some of the best at keeping you warm. The 6/5/4 hooded with ThermoBamboo Barrier is excellent for cold water conditions. Pair the 5/4/3 Drylock with Quiksilver’s Electric Heat Vest System and you’re set to surf with the polar bears.