Surfing Apparel

[DoorM4n]

Hey,

I am a bit new to the basic surfing apparel commonly used out in the waves, so I am going to ask a few questions regarding warmth and efficiency.

1.) What is the reason why board shorts do not have lacing inside as normal male swim-wear would provide?

2.) Do you suggest wearing boxers underneath board shorts?

3.) Would a rash guard keep me relatively warm?
(I question this because I am not entirely sure I would like to spend $100-$200 on a good wetsuit)

4.) From what I have noticed, "hanging-ten" is more common on longboards. Would it be possible to hang ten very well on a 7-10ft board?

Thanks for reading and helping out a kook

[RJD]

1) Boardshorts. let it hang. 11.

2) Sorry always too cold here for boardshorts... And when its not its too sunny.

3) Rash vest keeps you a touch warmer but nothing compared to a wetty. A good 3/2 modern wetsuit is comfy and warm.

4) You can likely hang 10 on most longboards, easier if there designed for it (concave, lots of volume at the nose etc) but its more down to technique than the board itself. Hanging 10 on a shortboad is a neat trick.

[DoorM4n]

Perfect answers. Thank you very much bud.

[b-lag]

[b]1.) What is the reason why board shorts do not have lacing inside as normal male swim-wear would provide?

When you wipeout, a lot of force is exerted on you and what you're wearing. IF you had a stretchy waist, your shorts would get ripped off when you take a bad wipe out. A good size wave has millions of pounds of water rushing past you at around 20mph laterally and 32 feet per second from above. Combined, they'll rip your shorts off even when they don't have stretchy waistbands. I've been disrobed before and it's fairly embarrassing walking up the beach on memorial day weekend hold a surfboard on your nuggets.

ANd don't wear boxers under boardshorts. You can get a lot of chaffing when they get wet and start rubbing back and forth across your jellies.

[garbarrage]

Combined, they'll rip your shorts off even when they don't have stretchy waistbands. I've been disrobed before and it's fairly embarrassing walking up the beach on memorial day weekend hold a surfboard on your nuggets.

ANd don't wear boxers under boardshorts. You can get a lot of chaffing when they get wet and start rubbing back and forth across your jellies.

at last a positive about wearing a wetsuit!

[greg@hoodatsurfco]

I was in San Diego a while back, and I was wearing just boardshorts and a rashguard.. and i noticed how the rash guard helped with any breeze but over all it was just collecting water and making it hard to paddle.

so i guess it depends how warm it is where you are DoorM4n

i think no lacing in the boardshorts is to prevent rashes and what not from the salt water.

I've seen people hang ten on a 6'6" shortboard before for a few moments... but eventually just bail off the board because of their lack of stability.

[isaluteyou]

I find wearing just a rash guard makes me colder than just skinning it. Mainly cause the rash guard is wet tight to the skin so a little cold breeze makes it worse. However wearing one under a wettie deffo helps particually the thermo kind

[greg@hoodatsurfco]

^^ya. I guess thats true especially if you are sitting on your board waiting for a set. Oddly enough I was surfing in PB on the north side of the crystal pier at about 830pm or a tad later.. sun had just gone down and my generic "south coast board shop" rashguard was helping me stay a little warmer.


(damn it talking about pacific beach makes me really want a breakfast burrito from that restaurant that is always slammed with a line out the door and around the corner whats it called again? sounds hawaiian i think)

[DoorM4n]

Oh, so I am hearing mixed answers about the rash guard. If the water temperature is 65F and little wind, would you prefer a rash guard or not? However, I will probably wear a rash guard, never the less.

Hanging ten is my goal this weekend and during my endeavor I am hoping my board is fit for the job. 7'6" board is the size I am looking at.

[RJD]

Sorry mate, not a hope of hanging 10 on a 7'6" , assuming your not Kelly slaters alter ego.

[surfitch]

1) 2 words: sack rash. no inseam or glued/covered seams help reduce this if not get rid of it all together. sitting on a board for hours can lead to a great deal of chafing on the inner thighs and more delicate parts.
2) some pros wear speedos or bike shorts underneath. another trick i heard of was using petroleum jelly. i opt for tighty whities or boxer briefs. regular boxers might add too much drag and i haven't gotten around to buying speedos or bike shorts yet.
3) i have to wear a rash guard because i get severe board rash. i find that i'm often colder with it on, mostly because of high winds blowing through a wet piece of cloth (like when you put a wet towel on a fan when the air conditioner is busted). for some reason i feel warmer/more comfortable with it off. but then again, the coldest weather i've surfed in was 60-65 degrees F. i've used a wetsuit top and noticed that i was a bit warmer, probably since wetsuits material is watertight and water that gets in it acts as insulation.
4) seen it done on eggs and mini tankers. i even saw one dude try it on a biscuit, but he ate it.

[pkbum]

[b]1.) What is the reason why board shorts do not have lacing inside as normal male swim-wear would provide?

When you wipeout, a lot of force is exerted on you and what you're wearing. IF you had a stretchy waist, your shorts would get ripped off when you take a bad wipe out. A good size wave has millions of pounds of water rushing past you at around 20mph laterally and 32 feet per second from above. Combined, they'll rip your shorts off even when they don't have stretchy waistbands. I've been disrobed before and it's fairly embarrassing walking up the beach on memorial day weekend hold a surfboard on your nuggets.

ANd don't wear boxers under boardshorts. You can get a lot of chaffing when they get wet and start rubbing back and forth across your jellies.

Taken some physics class?

[billie_morini]

door,
I wear a swimmer's supporter under my wet suit. My buddy wears a speedo. Even on the occasions where I can surf or swim in shorts, I'll wear a supporter.

I'll surf in 65F water without wetsuit. It's possible because I surf in much colder water all the time. When I go into water <50F, I'll wear a sleeveless polypropylene top and, sometimes, shorts. Was surfing in San Onofre in March 2008. It was so warm some bikini clad young ladies surfed without wetsuits. So did some board shore wearing dudes. It's all a matter of what you can stand.

If you are going to surf in TX, you'll be OK without a wetsuit, except in late Fall and Winter.

If you do hang ten this weekend, don't forget to post a photo for the rest of us!

[drowningbitbybit]

Hanging ten is my goal this weekend and during my endeavor I am hoping my board is fit for the job. 7'6" board is the size I am looking at.

[DoorM4n]

hahaha, my math was completely off there. I was under the impression that I should get a board 2-3ft taller than me. I somehow envisioned myself being 5ft for the moment in which I typed that. I am actually about 6ft and will probably get one around 8 or 9ft.

However, I do have this alter ego of me being Kelly Slayter and shredding immediately. Loving the headbutt, as well ^

Would you recommend a larger board?

[billie_morini]

Door,
If you are a beginner, I'd recommend a long board that is 9ft to 9ft 4in. I've written the reason in at least 12 posts by now: The most important thing for a beginner is floatation. You will get a lot of this much needed commodity from a board >9ft that is >2.5 in thick. I also like to see beginners get a board with these dimensions and a square tail. Some surfers much more experienced than me say the square tail is not required, but it really does provide a little bit more stability. Another feature common to long board is a broad nose. This helps beginners a lot, too, in the areas of paddling and pearling less when catching waves.

I may be going out on a limb here, but I think you are a long way from hanging 10 this weekend. Regardless of whether this is a stark opinion, always remember this about surfing: "The guy or gal having the most fun is the best surfer."

[DoorM4n]

Excellent reply, I have my mind set now on what size to get. hahah, well even though the realistic truth is that I will probably not hang-ten, but I am going to do my best to prove the popular idea that any goal is possible. I will post a picture of my success or failure; you will have to wait and see which image I post if you want to know if I accomplished my goal.

Thanks for all the replies fellas; it's great to have some sort of congeniality within members on forums such as this one.

[spark6]

(damn it talking about pacific beach makes me really want a breakfast burrito from that restaurant that is always slammed with a line out the door and around the corner whats it called again? sounds hawaiian i think)

Is it called Konos? if we are talking about the same thing that is...