Surf Talk Guru

Are you too cheap to buy that 5/4/3mm Xcel wetsuit? You can warm up that 4/3mm with a new pair of 7mm booties, some gloves, and a hooded rash guard.

If you really want to get some bang for your buck, get the new Electric Heat Vest from Quiksilver. It’ll cost you $200, but you won’t need to buy a new wetsuit anytime soon. You’ll stay toasty and warm as long as you keep your batteries charged.

Brett Simpson, $100,000 Winner at US Open of Surfing

Have you heard about the pro surfers’ list of complaints about the pro tour? This is from the “Open Letter to the ASP”:

The Key Issues With the ASP
Disaffection from Senior Tour Surfers caused by:

1. Minimal growth in prize-money compared to other sports
2. An appearance of control by surf industry companies and charges that this is stifling outside sponsorship
3. Little change in formats and rules
4. Poor conventional TV and general media coverage

In a way, I can sympathize with them. People have been working hard on making surfing a mainstream sport for many years, and it’s still not up there with golf, or even pro bowling. But at the same time, do we want it to be mainstream? The only reason to increase media coverage and popularize the sport is to increase profit for those who stand to profit. The rest of us would get nothing but MORE kooks in the lineup.

Surf industry sponsors aren’t supplying enough freebies? Besides free comprehensive world travel, free Xcel wetsuits, C.I. surfboards, and Hurley sweatshirts aren’t appreciated perks? What do they want? Lifetime supplies of Bud Light and Doritos as well?

So Big Waah, tour surfers. Count your blessings and be happy knowing that the rest of us would kill to be able to make a living off our hobby.

For beginning surfers, the initial investments into surfboards, wetsuits, booties, and other accessories might be plenty to chew on. But if you’ve had a few years to collect surfing gear, you know the benefits of having two of something. Let me sing the praises of having two (or more) wetsuits.

Having two good wetsuits means one will always be dry. Having a dry wetsuit on hand is important for those early morning sessions when the air is crisp and the water is a rude awakening from your warm bed. It’s also good to keep the dry one in your car in case there is some unexpectedly good surf on the way home from work. A man with a spare has no care.

This time of year is good for stocking up on any extra surf gear, like Xcel wetsuits, because surf shops are trying to get rid of their summer inventory and make way for the new fall lines. Check out your local surf shop for deals.

Some of you may know that Xcel Infiniti Drylock was recently named Wetsuit of the Year two years running, for 2007 and 2008 by the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association. The Drylock is where it’s at, as surfers in Oregon have known for years. The Infiniti Drylock system, the most watertight, flexible wetsuit on the market today, features a 100% waterproof Drylock zipper as part of Xcel’s X-ZIP 2 entry system.

“We’ve been seeing the Infiniti Drylock system consistently deliver in all aspects of performance,” said Greg Wade, Xcel vice president of sales and marketing. “Its performance in the water, at retail, and now at SIMA’s award program, are all testaments to Xcel’s position as a leader in wetsuit design and innovation, and an inspiration to us to keep pushing that leading position even farther.”

We’ll have to wait until 2010 to find out who this year’s winner is. My guess is that SIMA will be looking for not just performance, but for breakthroughs in using sustainable materials, like bamboo. The Thermo Bamboo Barrier Xcel wetsuits put out for Fall 2009 has already been a hot seller and has gotten excellent reviews.

The shell necklace means #1

Did I call it or what? I said Newport’s Ollie Richardson was one of the best longboard competitors around, and he proved it last weekend at the Noll Longboard Classic in Crescent City, CA. In his new Xcel wetsuit, “The Real Deal” Richardson beat out all other contestants from Oregon and California alike, in the Hot Shots (ages 30-39) division, coming in first place.

I had predicted rain, wind, and junky surf, but Ollie said the weather was beautiful and the conditions were perfect. I’m glad I was wrong about that.

A lot of people like to get new wetsuits every year or two. Most wisely make their purchases at the start of the colder seasons, fall and winter, for reasons having to do with warmth, I presume. But there is another reason why this is the perfect time to buy a new wetsuit.

The end of summer and beginning of fall is when many wetsuit manufacturers come out with their new lines. That means surf shops have last season’s inventory to get rid of to make room for the new stuff. There are great deals to be had right now, especially on Xcel wetsuits, so get ‘em while the gettin’s good.

A recent discussion of surf gear and wetsuits revealed that Xcel wetsuits and accessories are the preferred brand of Oregon surfers. The reasons?

1.) Warmth–Across the board, people agreed that hooded Xcel 5/4/3’s are warmer than other brands. This was especially true for those who’ve upgraded to the new ThermoBamboo line of Fall ‘09.

2.) Durability–Stitching and tape seems to hold up with heavy use better than other brands. Those who’ve had tears and loose tape commented about the year-long warranty and how easy it was to get it fixed.

3.) Comfort and flexibility–People commented on the ease of getting the suits on and off, joint flexibility, and comfort against the skin.

Whoa ladies, back up! It only looks like he’s two feet long. The fact is, this is one stud who doesn’t need a girlfriend. He can pick up anything on the beach and it’ll go dowtown with him.

Seriously though, here’s the real story: Here’s Jedi Jonny Knape posing with a two-foot salmon shark he attacked at Agate Beach yesterday. His nice, thick Xcel wetsuit is protecting him from the serrated teeth of this and other lurking sharks. “Remember kids,” he touted to the group of gathering children, “Wear armor. Don’t get bit!” Thank God there are heroes like Jonny out there to protect the rest of us surfers!

October is here–Oregon’s best month of surf–and with it comes one of the coast’s best contests (albeit in California), the Noll Longboard Classic on October 3 and 4. The Noll family has been putting this one on for 14 years, and contestants say it’s the best-run, most organized contest out there. Competitors will be riding longboards 9′0″ or longer, and for the second time, there will be a SUP competition. Newport’s own Ollie “The Real Deal” Richardson will be competing, so I wish him good luck, but he won’t need it. He’s one of the best longboard competitors in Oregon.

The weather looks pretty rough, windy and possible rain, and the swell forecast looks junky at best. But if you feel like road-tripping it this weekend and hanging out on the beach with a bunch of cool people, head south to South Beach Crescent City.