The Wetsuit has developed into the surfers saviour. This piece of attire has made the impossible possible, allowing surfers to ride waves in the freezing temperatures of the Atlantic and also has paved the way for epic long days of surfing. Years ago some conditions might not entice the average boardrider however the integration of the wetsuit has seen more surfers in Australia surf all year round. In the early days of the hot pink Tom Curren style wetsuits they were almost more hassle than they were worth, they were heavy and thick, they took a large amount of effort to get into let alone get out of. Luckily over the past few decades they have developed to the point that they are so comfortable and integral to surfing that it rarely plays any issue fitting a wetsuit and wearing one in any surfing condition. No longer are they made of a stiff rubber composite fibre but now a rubber material that is stretchy and suites almost any body shape(neoprene). There are two main types of wetsuits.
Springsuit
Steamer
Springies have short arms and short legs, similar to wearing board shorts and a rashvest they are used by most surfers in Australia in moderate conditions. Steamers are long arms and long legged wetsuits, I guess you could relate it to wearing trackies and a jumper. Obviously both are suited to different levels of ocean temperatures and outside temperatures. The Springsuit is the most common for surfers as it is easy to fit and provides a reasonable level of comfort in the water all year round.
Wetsuit generally have two thickness levels. There is a thickness for the limbs (Arms and Legs) and a thickness for the body. The limb sections are thinner than the body itself, this allows the limbs to move seemingly uninhibited by the wettie itself, whilst the core is kept warm by the thicker body sections. The body is up to around 8mm in thickness maximum and the limb sections hover around the 2mm thickness mark. This is important to check when purchasing a wetsuit for each individuals surfing environment.
How do they Work Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water between the body and the rubber of the wetsuit. When the body skin heats this thin layer, it acts like insulation for the body. Protecting the surfer from the extremes of the Australian weather. So knowing this its easy to see why a thicker core is important. This traps more water and keeps the core body parts warm, in turn this heats the remainder of the human body. If you were to run in a wetsuit as many do when they jog down to the local, you would heat up very quickly and soon find it unbearable. The Zipper or Velcro on a wetsuit is important as it allows surfers to partially remove the wetsuit in these situations allowing the body to breath and prevent what could be overheating to the body.
Furthermore there are some wetsuit out that provide complete water sealing, this means they keep the water away from your skin completely. These are very expensive and are used only in the most extreme surfing conditions. The option is also made available to purchase wetsuits that take on aspects both of the steamer and the Spring suit. Surfers are able to choose Wetsuits with Long arms and Short Legs or visa versa they can acquire a wetsuit with Long Legs and Short Arms. Also available is the choice of a wetsuit top only, this is similar to wearing a jacket. It is worn with Board Shorts and keeps the upper body only warm in cold windy conditions.
