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Been almost 3 months since I've been in the water (too much good skiing to be had this season!), but damn, I forgot how cold that Maine water is!
First duckdive and I forgot to cinch up my hood, and flushed both ears = massive ice cream headache. Welcome back!
OUCH!!! Stay warm....that was a huge reason I moved from Mass to California. Deeper snow and warmer water :smile:
ya i just got back to nantucket after 2 months in fernie bc. jumped in the other day for some chest to head windswell with the boyz. when i put on my 6 mill realized it is all done with some small holes at the seams. lets just say i was not impressed. i did catch first wave i paddled for nice little right so i was stoked. ready for things to warm up tho...
Attachment 95792
so, what's your favorite wetsuit for the cold? I've been using a hooded 654 Rip Curl Elasto until I noticed seepage at the seams.
last season I replaced the rip curl with the Matuse Tumo hooded 543 , which at the time was the stoutest suit they made , this year they are offering the tumo in a 654 that
I'm thinking about jumping on.
another alternative is the O'Neil Psycho 2 or the PsychoFreak [ 654 hooded and
4.5/5.5 hooded ] up until now I've been happy with the 654 config. but with the
new geoprene being lighter and and more flexible, but still haven't found wetsuit nirvana yet. the matuse is warm but doesn't quite cut it when the wind
picks up
What have you found with the suits you've been using?
after trying all the major brands, i've come back to the xcel 654. best compromise of warmth/flexibility/longevity imo.
My friends back east (NH,ME) rock xcel and (for those with the cash) patagucci.
tgray - been a good five years since I've been in an o'neil, but was never too happy with durability. Great flexible suits, but they last less than a season.
Out here I've prefer my xcel, but have had some good luck with hotlines.
Always chest zips. Hooded for warmth. And something that fits your build well enough that it does not flush on duck dives. Ouch.
Water here dropped below 75 yesterday and I thought it was cold.
Heh. Water's up to a balmy 39 here!Quote:
Originally Posted by tief schnee
in terms of suits in winter, I'm in an xcel 6/5...used to just be in a 5/4 until I found out how much damn warmer the 6/5s are, with not a huge decrease in flexibility. 7 mm mitts, and 7 mm booties for me.
Lots of guys I know here wear West 6/5s, and if on the budget, hyperflex 6/5s (just didn't fit me well).
Next time I complain about it being cold, I will just reflect. 7mm mitt. Geez. That is a big difference from the .75mm glove that I rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by peterslovo
I do (slightly) recall the sub 40s. I am not sure how I made it through. It was certainly not technology and quality gear. It must have been youth and ignorance. I also remember get out of even warmer (sub 50) water being hard because the 15F air temperature is what really hurt. And then try changing on the boardwalk. Great way to get a dickicle.
I must say that I think the water temp here is mostly fine. At 50-55 it is pretty consistently chilly, but rarely cold. The air and sky makes a much bigger difference.
man...i couldn't imagine using 7mm mits...it would be like paddling with barbells in my hands (guess it would be good training for summertime). even on winter days in Washington when the air temp is at or below freezing and the water is in the low 40's, i'm comfy for hours in a quiksilver 5/4 front zip hooded with 5mm booties and 1.5mm gloves.
I definitely agree with the above comment. I've become admittedly soft in my middle age years ;)Quote:
I also remember get out of even warmer (sub 50) water being hard because the 15F air temperature is what really hurt. And then try changing on the boardwalk.
definitely remember the worst part of surfing sub 40 degree water was 1) getting flushed 2)trying to take my wetsuit off with numb fingers and prolonging the misery of standing in 15F air soaking wet and 3) the Fire roasted feeling my fingers and toes got once they started to thaw out, OUCH!!
My friend, who I trust his opinion on most things related to surfing, swears by his custom Axxe wetsuit. He said he starts to sweat in water that he would normally be chilly.
I'm always out of town for the NE winter surf season, but the shoulder seasons I get by with a Exel 5/4 and 2 mm booties/gloves, usually gets me down to below 50f
Pete, my Buddy said 'the wall' was pretty much all-time yesterday. you get some? ....so jealous.
Nah, unfortunately, work beckoned. Missed today as well before the winds killed it too.Quote:
Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat
But got a good 5 hours in on Friday during the storm, which was very nice - but really sore afterwards, since I hadn't done much paddling this winter!
^^^
Today was better at high tide. That video is uploading now.
^^^ 'Like' ^^^
This one is from today, firing.
^^^ skillz
Yeah, Utah must suck.Quote:
Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat
...well if they keep pushing back our snow totals!....only a couple feet now???:wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
Utah would be amazing if we had surf withing a couple hours drive.
ski, golf, surf. repeat
Those videos are supper rad.
Waters back up around 80 here. I'm glad that nightmare is over.
ya, having amazing uncrowded all winter bc skiing (presidentials) just a couple of hours from surf and home doesn't suck. only tough thing is, when there's good snow, there's usually good surf. good surf=crowds even in winter. high prezzies in winter=zero crowds. i used to spend winters in utah, don't miss the crowds or the instant snow fucking sun in the bc there. nice pow tho.Quote:
Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat
good waves this week in nh. amazing pow skiing up high nh as well. WIN/WIN
thursday 4/7 east side of washington. no bottom pow and no one around. 3 out of 4 days were just like this, this week:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...OS1_4-7-11.jpg
we got it pretty damn good round here:)
can't wait to get back in the water again. my excel 543, 5mm mitts and 7mm booties is all i ever use. did 3 hours last saturday with no chill.
rog
Man, I miss NE and that pic makes it look tasty. Always thought if I moved back, I'd do a lot of touring. Even Mt. Aggie seem enticing.Quote:
Originally Posted by icelanticskier
As for this:, I call bullshit. I bet your wetsuit quiver is bigger than your board quiver. When I lived back east, I had a longboard, a short board and a 6'8 1/2" mini gun. I owned a hooded 5/4, a 4/3, a 3/2, a long john, a shorty, neoprene shorts, neoprene vest and a neoprene vest with hood. I was comfortable every day of the year from 80F near NYC and 38F in southern Maine. Not to even get into my foot and hand optionsQuote:
my excel 543, 5mm mitts and 7mm booties is all i ever use
when i 1st moved back from alta in 96', i did a bunch of touring up high nh that spring. went back for another winter out west just to make sure that i really did prefer the solitude and unassumingly epic nature of our high peaks. never looked back. an inch of new on the summit usually provides up to a foot or more in the lee more often than not. it really is unreal, and no one is up there in winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
utah pow on east facing george. lower portion turns of a 1000 vert gully:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb7zM...&feature=email
actually i meant that's my winter setup. my only other suit tho is a ripcurl 4/3. no other rubber owned, suit, booties, gloves, or otherwise.Quote:
As for this: , I call bullshit. I bet your wetsuit quiver is bigger than your board quiver. When I lived back east, I had a longboard, a short board and a 6'8 1/2" mini gun. I owned a hooded 5/4, a 4/3, a 3/2, a long john, a shorty, neoprene shorts, neoprene vest and a neoprene vest with hood. I was comfortable every day of the year from 80F near NYC and 38F in southern Maine. Not to even get into my foot and hand options
i only ride one board as well. just one. a 6'0 x 20.25 x 2.5 lost blunt, thruster or quad. run it quad for under chest high and thruster for chest and above. awesome board and kills it in thigh junk as well. long boards always made me lazy and i'd be junk when switching back to a shorter board. i like having one board completely wired all of the time, just like i only have one pair of skis for all.
maybe some fun waves this week!
come back and visit at least!
rog
bout 90 farenheit in Tamarindo Costa Rica today wish you were here I'll quaff an Imperial for ya tho
Is 90 the temp or the number of gringos in the water?Quote:
Originally Posted by whipski
60 degree day yesterday, with swell and light offshores. Water still around 40, but man was it a beautiful afternoon and evening.
Just remember to put the hood back up before catching a wave.
Oh, in terms of the wetsuit quiver discussion, I'm guilty:
6/5 Xcel, 6/5 RipCurl (need to sell the ripcurl, as it barely gets used)
5/4 Xcel
3/2 RipCurl
2/1 BodyGlove shorty
that's some rubber collection peter!Quote:
Originally Posted by peterslovo
ya was torn whether stay home and surf yesterday, or head north for a perfect untracked corn day up high. chose the latter and had one of my best days in memory. doesn't get much better. threw some pics and vid on east coast roll call thread.
should be another perfect day up high tomorrow. you still skiing?
rog
hey rog, yeah saw your tr - jealous, looked awesome....yup, still skiing - not much recently, but some nice resort days up in Saddleback, but been swamped with work and away until yesterday late pm, and just hopped in the water. Schedule has me screwed for tomorrow and friday too; was planning a trip up this w/e with a big group but crowds and/or weather might dictate otherwise.Quote:
Originally Posted by icelanticskier
Would be up for a tour soon though!
any mon-wed, i'll be skiing thru june, weather willing. surf on work days till then. this coming monday looks promising and the smooth surfaces may stay that way due to limited to no softening this coming weekend. man i can't wait to get back on my blunt tho!
you know where to find me.
rog
Hi that all nce to hear
Hugh! chor buddy Whip! Spring break is over had the whole beach to myself this am. Headed down to Avellena this after noon. The solamente
gringo I saw was your girlfriend! Got a pic of her here:
http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/t...i/P4130075.jpg
those waves look awesomeQuote:
Originally Posted by whipski
you bring your girlfriend the golden along?
You mean Luke (Iam his faaather) is chillin in CO
ya those turns look sweet. i had my last day on april 5 did a nice tour high in the lizard range of fernie b.c. back on nantucky now stuck in work camp. we have had some nice days 2 this week. and last sun was a nice warm day no wind and solid chest to head groundswell.
lets face it tho if you are a new england surfer you have lots of rubber, even here where we have the gulf stream and enjoy water temps higher than the cape and northern spots. i remember my first winter surfing with 5 mm boots and gloves. after that it was like "give me the thickest boots and f ing gloves you got. use to get out of the water and drive home with wetsuit on and take it off in the shower. then buddy got a box truck for work and he put a sofa in it and we had somewhere to change at the beach. so yeah i got a 6 mm, a 4 mm, a 3mm a shorty a vest couple tops. many boots and gloves. only trunk it here in aug and some guys never do which is kinda pussy when you see kids playing all day in the water and you got a wetsuit on... cmon. truth is tho i kinda like the rubber that little cushion is nice. after a trip to el salvador my chest was bruised and sore for a while from trunking it.
any mags heading out to da island let me know we pick up a nice south swell.
^^^^HAHAHA!!
I was emptying out the folder for the swell this weekend and figured I should put something small together.
When the water was 38, it felt un-bearable.
It's 42.8 now, and feels sooooooo good.
Totally agree. For me, I think part of it is mental - it's really not that cold until it hits 39...something about breaking the 40 degree mark does it for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Breakwater
Anyway, nice to have it on the rise!
There is certainly a big mental block under 40 degrees. Putting your suit on in the front seat sucks ass.
The other part is air temperature. We're way up now. I couldn't even tell you what it's been, but pleasant.
I have some windsurfer friends that are on "The 100 degree rule"
Where the water temp plus air temp has to equal 100 degrees. 40 degree water, plus 60 degree air, and they'll go out. It's a pretty damn good rule for comfort
A few clips from this past swell.