Who invented wetsuits

With time on his hands, he bought balsa wood and began shaping surfboards for sale in his garage. Previously, surfers wore oil-soaked wool sweaters to keep in heat and repel wetness. But as much as he demanded from his family on behalf of the surf business, he also sacrificed for the cause. He managed to make the accident work for him, of course, turning crisis into opportunity. It suited his seaman and surf-pioneer persona perfectly, giving him the mythical air of a fairytale pirate and fueling the legend he invented.

By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. Editions Quartz. Meanwhile, at Bells, the hardy pioneers of the Jarosite cliffs were paddling out in VFL footy jumpers, itching and chafing and probably increasing their windchill through the creation of a greater wetted surface area.

But technological progress had a way to go. Early wetties were unlined, meaning the wearer had to be coated in talc to get them on. And the delicate neo tore when they came off, if they ever did come off — carpark egress from the suit was like watching a hairy-arsed cicada trying to climb out of its carapace, only twice as time-consuming. Nylon linings evolved, ending the idiotic practice of putting plastic bags over hands and feet. Next came glued and taped seams and colours.

Surfers adhered resolutely to black, ignoring the safety and marketability of colours until the garish 80s, when they briefly went berserk, before reverting gloomily to black again. Wasting energy is something surfers must avoid; otherwise they will not be perform to their fullest potential. There are various types of wetsuits, designed for specific types of climate, skill level and comfort preference. The full suit covers the entirety of the surfer. With long arms and legs, encasing the whole of the body asides from the head, feet and hands these particular suits are best for the coldest of temperatures.

The rash vest is a thin, stretchy material with long or short sleeves that covers the top of the body only. This type of top is normally worn with board shorts and is ideal for hot, tropical climates and warm waters. Rash vests have also been used in surfing competitions as they come in a variety of colours and enable spectators and judges to differentiate between surfers. While still good at insulating the body, shorties are best worn in a slightly warmer temperature.

A semi-dry suit is a thick suit with tight closures at the openings — wrists, ankles, etc — this restricts the amount of water that is able to enter and exit the inners of the suit. With extras available in addition to the variety of wetsuits on offer, such as neoprene shoes, boots, gloves and hoods , surfers can choose to wear as much or as little as the particular environment requires. The wetsuit has allowed surfers to explore and experience parts of the ocean in which previously was not believed possible.

With such cutting-edge and robust suits available to buy, surfers can enjoy the waves in comfort. This was submitted by Bethan Grylls, writing on behalf of wetsuits lovers and online surf shop, TransSurf.

Now Week Month. The best surfboards in options for every surfer.