Surf fashion (boardshorts etc)?

[bikemaniac]

Hi,

I'm from a cold Scandinavian country and decided to learn surfing. I have no experience whatsoever. In order to kickstart that project I bought a 1 month ticket to Siargao Island in the Philippines incl a 1 week surf school. After the first week learning the basics, I want to just rent a board and become better myself.

I am a bit confused about surf clothes. The air temperature will be something like 30 degC all year round, and the water will be something like 28 degC - hence I will not need a wet suit. I was planning on using my swim trunks (short legged) and then I started reading about rashes, waxed boards, boards with a rubber decking instead of wax. Then I sort of got the impression that all men use these long board shorts (to avoid rashes when sitting on the wax/rubber), however girls seem to use a regular swim suit outfit - so they dont have rash problems? I am not very fond of these long legged shorts - is it just fashion, or does it really serve as a purpose to avoid rashes? Moreover, I see from old retro pictures that men used short legged shorts in the 70s.

Can anyone explain whats up and down?

Lucas

[oldmansurfer]

Long ago the worst surfing related injury I had was a boil on the back of my leg most likely from rubbing on my surfboard. However I am not sure if the longer shorts I wear now prevent that. They aren't quite long enough to protect the back side of my knee from rubbing on the board. So my guess is it's mostly fashion. The shorts I wear now are very comfortable and have a string to hold onto my car key and that is why I wear them.

[jaffa1949]

Lucas a month in the Philippines, a must for Scandinavian skin
Rash shirt UV protection level 50+ , long sleeve consider a surf cap or hat with ear or neck cover. Zinc cream and body sun block for exposed skin 50+ UV
Long board shorts,not tight, baggy, good for dancing ...... ball room.......no lining ala European style, usenylon swim brief underneath, buy dedicated surf shorts so you are not sitting on seams eroding your lower regions, reef booties to walk around coral sand can cut and the more active the reef the larger the particles.

Anti malarial, typhoid, typhus, dengue andother tropical diseases. Learn good disinfection techniques for coral cuts, local freshly squeezed limes work wonders, remember I mentioned dancing, the lime in the cut dance is quite common there.

A hat for non water wear, long sleeve and long legged clothing and closed shoes for evening wear, not to look sexy...... but to keep the malarial and dengue mosquitos away. Insect repellent.

That’s just the basic kit, learners beaches a little less risk of coral cuts, all the rest is there!
Have fun

[RinkyDink]

Hi,

I'm from a cold Scandinavian country and decided to learn surfing. I have no experience whatsoever. In order to kickstart that project I bought a 1 month ticket to Siargao Island in the Philippines incl a 1 week surf school. After the first week learning the basics, I want to just rent a board and become better myself.

Something you might want to consider is a rashguard that protects your ribs. When I restarted surfing, I went out a lot because I was unemployed at the time (surfed the mornings and job hunted the afternoons). Anyway, I ended up with horrendous rib pain. I don't get the pain any more, but I'm pretty much a weekend and long vacation surfer these days. The point is that rib pain can occur if you do a lot of heavy surfing for the first time. I'm talking pain that will stop you from surfing. In order to avoid that, I recommend getting something to protech your ribs. You might not need it (some people don't get the pain), but if you do need it, you'll be glad to have something to soften blows to your ribs.

http://paddleair.com/ribrocket/ (These guys helped me get over the rib pain part of beginning surfing.)

[dtc]

Jaffa gave the most important advice. A Scandinavian skin in the tropics is a recipe for very bad sunburn. Whatever you get, absolutely must focus on sun protection. Jaffa and I are both Australians and have seen plenty of northern hemisphere skins burnt to a crisp within a few hours of unprotected beach action. No better way to ruin your holiday

A long sleeve rash vest is essential (take a couple so you dont have to keep putting on damp clothes). Surf hat very highly suggested. Lots and lots of water resistant sunscreen (zinc is good for the face, or Island Tribe etc). I dont know the Phillipines but its often hard to get sunscreen in Asian countries, so take it with you. Long shorts are useful - but if you dont like them, I suggest getting shorts you like and also taking along some knee length compression pants ('bike pant' style). If you dont need them, no problem; if you do start getting a rash then slip them on. Or you can also get 1mm wetsuit shorts, which might be a better option.

[waikikikichan]

however girls seem to use a regular swim suit outfit - so they don't have rash problems ?

Well I don't know about Scandinavian women, but the girls from where I'm from SHAVE THEIR LEGS. That's part of the rash problem, when wax get stuck in the hair and chaffs, tugs, pulls on the skin.

[Big H]

I always free ball my boardies....never thought of wearing anything under them.


Then again it’s the same for all my pants......

[oldmansurfer]

I always free ball my boardies....never thought of wearing anything under them.


Then again it’s the same for all my pants......

Hahaha yeah well at least surf shorts I don't wear anything under them which reminds me of a story that pertains to the advantages or disadvantages of short board shorts which were much more popular long ago. Back when I went to college I was wearing short board shorts with nothing under them and a T shirt and I was invited to a pool party. Board shorts and a T shirt were pretty much my normal attire even if I wasn't surfing. So I am sitting on the edge of the pool after swimming a bit and a very attractive women swims up to me and says "Hi" and then after introductions she says "Don't you ever get sunburned?" I proceed to explain to her that I had 3rd degree burns to my chest and neck and face and that it took me a couple years to get the new skin tanned and that I did get sunburned but was careful. All the while she was looking in my eyes. Then she says "No. I mean down there," and she glances down to my board shorts and I notice my package is out getting some sunshine and I make appropriate adjustments. I guess you might think this was an advantage because she was a beautiful woman and we ended up dating for a while after that but it might have been a disadvantage and if she didn't say anything I might have gotten sunburned.

[bikemaniac]

however girls seem to use a regular swim suit outfit - so they don't have rash problems ?

Well I don't know about Scandinavian women, but the girls from where I'm from SHAVE THEIR LEGS. That's part of the rash problem, when wax get stuck in the hair and chaffs, tugs, pulls on the skin.

So to understand you correctly: Skin rash is not caused due to skin alone but only the combnation of skin and hair? I had the impression it was a pure friction issue.

[Big H]

My chest doesn’t have much hair and I don’t get rashes in spite of surfing bare chested. Indonesians are the same. Maybe lucky, maybe the hair (or lack thereof).....I always wondered about it and why I was immune.

[oldmansurfer]

I forgot to mention that as far as women are concerned regular bikinis are not good for surfing as they become dislodged too easily. A one piece maybe if it is comfortable while moving around and snug enough. But for men, guys surf in speedos, swim suits, other shorts as long as they are tight enough not to fall off when you wipeout. It's a matter of what you prefer but most of the surfers I know prefer board shorts with nothing underneath. My impression of surfing related rashes is that hair makes it all worse.

[waikikikichan]

So to understand you correctly: Skin rash is not caused due to skin alone but only the combnation of skin and hair? I had the impression it was a pure friction issue.

You of all people, considering your name Bikemaniac, would understand that racers not only shave their legs for the aerodynamic advantage ( air friction ) but also recovering time in a crash from the hair tearing the flesh. But agreed it's not the ONLY reason, but one of the reasons. My friend who is very very heavily hair chested, doesn't even need a rash guard ( or padding ). I guess there's a tipping point to advantage / disadvantage of having hair.

[waikikikichan]

An interesting sorta un-related information, Jellyfish Stings. You only get stings on the top of your hand and not on the palm. Why ? Because there are no hair follicles on the palm of your hand. So same theory, may apply to some types of rashes. ( not sure about sea wasps you get in Australia )
But friction rash happens to me on my knees if the board shorts has a hard stitching. Also after surfing a while and the collar of my rash guard / wetsuit top gets dry and chaffs my neck, got to remember to splash water on it once in awhile.

[bikemaniac]

I got another idea. In order to avoid the wax (and thus rash), is there a way forward in using Vibram five finger shoes? Will their rubber give enough grip on the board compared to wax? I also see the advantage that you reduce reef cuts with those shoes.

[dtc]

If you can film yourself giving that a go, at least you will be internet famous!

[waikikikichan]

I got another idea. In order to avoid the wax (and thus rash), is there a way forward in using Vibram five finger shoes?

There's another watersport called Stand Up Paddle boarding. They don't need wax because the rider is ALREADY standing up. So basically traction only under foot is needed. So in that case the Vibram five-finger shoes might work ( been there-done that on a SUP without a deck pad ). But in SURFING, we also need traction for our Hands to push off the deck when popping up and in grasping the board to turtle or duck-dive. ( I guess you've never experienced busting your chin on the deck after your hand slipped ? ) During the paddle your chest needs to not be sliding around either.
So your next "idea" might be some sort of wax replacement traction or pad or spray. Those have been tried done and failed for decades. Wax is where it's at. (well, for the front / middle of the board )

[jaffa1949]

I use a product other than wax for my longboard. It is called Versa, it is a stick on sheets with diamond texture cut to the shape and size of the board you have. Been using it since about 2010 each set of sheets last about 3 years or more.
You can check it out at Riley Balsa Boards in Australia, they ship!
A few things to consider at first the sheet edges can rub exposed skin, long leg shorts no problem, when brand new and you are wearing a wetsuit they initially feel a little slick, under bare feet great grip.

IMPORTANT like all pads and these are a very thin sheet not a pad ( so no loss of feel or feeling elevated) the board must be scrupulously clean, grease free and dry, the sheets need to be applied without any air bubbles, slow and steady applying as you peel off the backing and strongly roll glue the edges with downward and length pressure .

I found the product more grippy than wax , less messed up by and not needing something for different water temps, Indo tropics to Tasmanian cold.
Adds probably a 1mm extra layer of protection to the board.
Yet to see how it goes in Arctic Circle surf, Lotofen Island surf soon.

[kookRachelle]

You only get stings on the top of your hand and not on the palm.

not true. absolutely not true. I got stung on my palms and bottoms of my feet when I was 10 years old and went to the beach, thinking the man o wars washed ashore were pretty crescent shaped balloons and so I ran around picking them up, squeezing, popping and stomping on them. Oh boy howdy, did I get stung. And yes, I'm aware that the tentacles probably touched the dorsal sides of my hands and feet as well, but judging by the extent of my stings and the trip to the hospital I took, it's safe to say they are capable of stinging the palms. Plus, I looked it up.

[kookRachelle]

I got another idea. In order to avoid the wax (and thus rash), is there a way forward in using Vibram five finger shoes? Will their rubber give enough grip on the board compared to wax? I also see the advantage that you reduce reef cuts with those shoes.

You're overthinking this, I think. You'll be fine in a rash guard and regular shorts. I surf all the time in a bikini with a rash guard to protect my belly and am fine. In fact, the only thing that regularly gets chaffed are my knees. You'll see.

But to echo others, definitely think sun protection as the UV index there is insanely high compared to what you're used to. Get the good zinc that doesn't run into your eyes - I like Raw Elements. As for the Five Fingers, they will be a little too bulky - just get a pair of 2 or 3mm booties. Booties also protect the top of the foot and ankle, unlike Vibram Five Fingers. Urchins don't discriminate when it comes to body parts!

[Big H]

You only get stings on the top of your hand and not on the palm.

not true. absolutely not true. I got stung on my palms and bottoms of my feet when I was 10 years old and went to the beach, thinking the man o wars washed ashore were pretty crescent shaped balloons and so I ran around picking them up, squeezing, popping and stomping on them. Oh boy howdy, did I get stung. And yes, I'm aware that the tentacles probably touched the dorsal sides of my hands and feet as well, but judging by the extent of my stings and the trip to the hospital I took, it's safe to say they are capable of stinging the palms. Plus, I looked it up.

You only get stings on the top of your hand and not on the palm.

not true. absolutely not true. I got stung on my palms and bottoms of my feet when I was 10 years old and went to the beach, thinking the man o wars washed ashore were pretty crescent shaped balloons and so I ran around picking them up, squeezing, popping and stomping on them. Oh boy howdy, did I get stung. And yes, I'm aware that the tentacles probably touched the dorsal sides of my hands and feet as well, but judging by the extent of my stings and the trip to the hospital I took, it's safe to say they are capable of stinging the palms. Plus, I looked it up.

Does describing a person as being accident prone a valid descriptor when said person goes well out of their way to court trouble!? LOL