It has become indispensable for our sessions and we cannot imagine practicing surfing or any other water sport outdoors without our wetsuit.
The wetsuit has a fascinating history that goes back several decades. Here's an overview of its evolution.
The first wetsuits date back to the beginning of the 20th century, with rescue divers starting to use them in the 1910s to combat the cold during dives.
Then, during World War II, Italian swimmers used neoprene suits.
In 1952, American physicist Hugh Bradner, working for the US Navy, invented the first neoprene wetsuit . This material, discovered a few years earlier, had very interesting thermal insulation properties for nautical activities.
But it was only at the end of the 1950s that Californian Jack O'Neill conceived the first wetsuit designed for surfing, namely a wetsuit that allowed freedom of movement.
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The beginnings: Early wetsuits were quite rudimentary. They were often made from materials like rubber or neoprene. These suits were primarily designed to keep surfers warm in cold water and to protect them from rashes caused by friction with the board.
- The innovation of neoprene: In the 1950s and 1960s, the introduction of neoprene revolutionized wetsuits. This synthetic rubber material was much more flexible, lightweight, and insulating than previous materials. This allowed surfers greater freedom of movement while staying warm in cold water.
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Technological improvements: Over the decades, wetsuits have continued to improve thanks to technological innovation. Features such as waterproof seams, water-resistant zippers, and strategically placed panels for better mobility have become commonplace.
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Diversity of styles and thicknesses: Surfers now have a wide variety of wetsuit styles and thicknesses to choose from, depending on the surfing conditions. From thick, long-sleeved wetsuits for cold waters to lighter, short-sleeved wetsuits for warmer climates, there's a wetsuit to suit every surfer and every situation.
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Impact on the sport: The wetsuit also had an impact on the sport itself. By allowing surfers to stay in the water longer and in colder conditions, it contributed to the expansion of surfing into areas once considered inaccessible. Furthermore, it allowed surfers to push the boundaries of what was considered surfable, paving the way for remarkable feats in gigantic waves and extreme conditions.
In summary, the wetsuit is much more than just a garment; it is an essential piece of equipment for the modern surfer that has shaped the evolution of the sport itself.
