Billabong Big Wave Portugal Adventure

SHANE DORIAN, BENJAMIN SANCHIS & ERIC REBIERE PADDLE INTO EUROPEAN SURF HISTORY Friday 18 Jan, 2013 (Hossegor France,)  Billabong Adventure Division’s latest project to the Portugal’s big-wave spot of Nazaré has resulted in Shane Dorian, Eric Rebiere and Benjamin Sanchis surfing some of the biggest waves ever paddled into in Europe. On Friday 11th January, all three surfers caught some giant waves, with Dorian flying in from his home in Hawaii for the one day and further cementing his reputation as the premier big-wave surfer in the world.  “As far as intensity, power and size goes you could compare this wave to anywhere, whether it’s Cortez Bank, Jaws or Mavericks,” Dorian said afterwards. “The waves I saw today were absolutely enormous and if you had paddled into the biggest waves today, you would have paddled into the biggest wave ever paddled.  I have no doubt about that.” Over the last few years Nazaré has become recognized as one of the premier big wave locations in the world. It was here that Hawaiian Garret McNamara rode a wave in May 2012 that has been registered as the biggest wave ever surfed, measuring at 78 feet high.    McNamara used jetski assistance to catch the wave however, while Dorian, Sanchis and Rebiere elected to paddle the infamous wave, a beachbreak with no real channels or defined peak.  “It is so scary and so dangerous, but it has everything,” said Dorian. “It’s super intense, super technical, big, gnarly, spooky, you know all things we love about big wave surfing. And to surf it with Eric and Sancho, who are a classic guys and did so well out there, was really special. François Leits and the Billabong Adventure Division also made it all happen so I’m just super stoked to have been a part of it.” “This is just the start for us,” said Rebiere. “That was the first time I had paddled Nazaré at that size. Both Sancho and I learned a lot from Shane, from his equipment to his whole approach. We are keen to keep paddling this wave and keep improving. The potential is huge.” While Nazaré has come to the forefront of the big wave surfing over the last few years, its offshore deepwater canyon concentrating huge swells onto the break, this session was historic in terms of paddling. Dorian, Sanchis and Rebiere proved that one of Europe and the world’s best and most gnarly big wave spots can be approached with paddle power only.

How To Dedice Which Wetsuit To Buy Summer or Winter

Wetsuits are essential if you plan on participating in any water sport which involves being in cold water. Advancements in wetsuit technology have helped water sports users to keep warm in cold water for extended periods. It is now possible to participate in water sports throughout the year with a well made wetsuit even in winter. If you want to keep warm in the water throughout the winter months it is essential that you purchase a good quality winter wetsuit.

Winter wetsuits are made up of thicker neoprene compared to summer wetsuits, this thicker neoprene helps keep in and insulate the body’s heat. The neoprene works by trapping a thin layer of water between the neoprene and your body. This layer of water conducts the heat from your body and provides warmth within the wetsuit. If you wear a summer wetsuit in the winter it is most likely you would get extremely cold and end up with painful cramps in your muscles. This is because the neoprene is too thin to effectively keep the water inside the wetsuit warm. It is as important to also get the correct fit as a wetsuit that is to big will let in water which will cool your body to quickly and make you cold. A wetsuit that is to tight will stretch out the neoprene making it thinner and a colder wetsuit. Below is a guide to which wetsuit to wear in different water temperatures.

20C’22C  2mm Shorty Wetsuit
18C’20C Short or 3/2mm Full Wetsuit
15C’18C 3/2mm Full Wetsuit
12C’15C 4/3mm Full Wetsuit
9C-12C 5/3mm Full Wetsuit with Wetsuit Gloves & Wetsuit Boots
9 C ‘ Below 6mm Full with Hood  and Gloves & Boots

As you can see if you are the colder the temperature of the water requires a thicker wetsuit and in water below 9c you will need to wear a wetsuit hood and gloves. The wetsuit hood insulates the head and helps stops essential heat escaping. Also the wetsuit hood prevents ‘Ice cream headaches’ when being submerged under the cold water. The wetsuit gloves are used to stop the cold water from physically hurting the hands through coldness and to give them warmth.

Choosing a winter wetsuit also may depend on how prone to cold you are and if you find yourself getting cold you could wear a thermal rash vest to go underneath your wetsuit. A thermal rash vest is normally made from a material called ‘Polypro’. This material is like a close knit fleece and provides and extra layer of insulation underneath a wetsuit. 

If in any doubt please feel free to call the guys at www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk 

e-mail: info@wetsuitcemtre.co.uk

Tel 01202 302943

Which Winter Wetsuit to Buy for Under £140

Which Winter Wetsuit to Buy, Wetsuit Centre takes a look at the best choices on the market

The first thing you should consider when buying your wetsuit for winter months is how much you are going to be using it. In other words there is no point buying a top end wetsuit if you are only using it for an hour every couple of weeks. Saying that if you do feel the cold more and are willing to get the best wetsuit on the market it will keep you warmer. All winter wetsuits are 5mm of neoprene on the body and 3mm on the arms. They are also all GBS, which means on the seams they are stitched and glued together minimizing water getting into the wetsuit.

In terms of do you get what you pay for in winter wetsuits then it’s a big yes, the more expensive the wetsuit the more flexible then become as higher grade neoprene is used which is softer and if it fits well the warmer you will be and less tired. It will also have added thermal lining properties, which are designed to wick water away from your body and act in much the same way as thermal underwear and retain your body heat.

Most of the entry level wetsuits now have certain critical areas such as arms, lumber region & certain parts on the legs with the high grade neoprene. They also contain the thermal lining on the chest & kidney areas. So we have come up with what we consider to be a really good buy if your looking for a mens winter wetsuit, ladies winter wetsuit or kids winter wetsuit

So lets take a look at a few recommendations:

Billabong Foil / Synergy Winter Wetsuit Range

Billabong Wetsuits produce a really good value for money entry-level winter wetsuit in the foil range as above for Ladies, Men & Kids. They all have a good amount of high-grade flex material where you need and include thermal properties. Smooth skin is on the chest panels and is designed to stop wind cooling the body down on winding cold days. This has proved to be a good cost effect with a decent amount of style. The mens & Ladies range are both £134.99 and the Kids £79.99 so they wont break the bank.

O’Neill Epic Winter Wetsuit Range

O’Neill Wetsuits are the market leaders in Wetsuits and for good reason these guys invented the first wetsuit. Since then the modern day wetsuit has been continually modified to get warmer and warmer. The Epic range again all 5/3 wetsuits all have thermal material on the chest and lumber regions and good flex on the arms and good quality neoprene on the legs so not to stiff. They all have smooth skin neoprene on the chest and kidneys which is designed to stop wind getting into the wetsuit once it is wet. Prices start at £119.99 for the men & ladies and £89.99 for the kids. Great value and great back up from the people that know all about wetsuits O’Neill.

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Mens, Ladies & Kids Winter Wetsuit Range

Rip Curl are another company at the fro front of wetsuit technology and in recent years have produced the flash dry thermal lining which is designed to wick water away from the body and retain heat unlike other thermal linings it is also designed to be the fastest drying lining meaning you don’t have to wait a age to get it back on again for your next splash. All companies keep pushing the boundaries which means now even the entry level wetsuits have the technology and features that a top end wetsuit would have had a few years ago. As before on the other brands Rip Curl also has good levels of stretch material in there entry level wetsuits. Prices start at £139 for mens & ladies and £99 for the kids.

Hope that this brief run down on the wetsuit centre recommendations for 2013 but should you have any questions please feel free to contact us info@wetsuitcentre.co.uk or call 01202 302943