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Posts Tagged ‘surfing’

The Evolution Of Surf Clothing And Surf Accessories

July 5th, 2010

Back in the post war fifties, surfers were known as “beach bums”. Then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, everybody wanted to be a surfer. Everybody wanted to be a part of it and those baggy trunks that surfers wore became the first surf clothing fad. How did surfers go from being virtual outcasts to the creators of a fashion craze that has lasted to this day?

Most people attribute surfing’s meteoric rise to the Beach Boys. However, they were relative late-comers. It was a film made about a Malibu teenager that first brought surfing into the limelight. The movie, “Gidget”, was based on a true story that was published as a book in 1957 and released in 1959 as a movie.

James Darren and Sandra Dee starred in the film, supported by another big star of the era, Cliff Robertson. With its stellar cast and bevies of beautiful bikini clad girls and muscle built surfers, it was a sure hit. Not only that, but it captured the imagination of a generation, all of whom wanted to be a part of free and easy surfing life.

Other movies were made and before long, groups like Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys started producing hit singles. Interestingly, real surfers hated those movies and the “surf music, ” because they liked having the waves to themselves. They preferred listening to the guitar music of the Ventures and Dick Dale and the Deltones. They would listen to driving instrumental songs like “Walk, Don’t Run” and “Perfidia” to get themselves psyched before going surfing.

There was no stopping the tidal wave of interest in surfing, though. In just a few short years, surfing had gone from nowhere to mainstream. Suddenly the beaches were filled with surfers and where they couldn’t surf, young people wore surfing fashions and dreamed of riding the waves.

Other than bikinis, Hawaiian shirts and men’s surfing trunks, there really was nothing to define surf wear in those days. Surfwear evolved over a number of years and eventually, many surf-clothing brands emerged, some of which are among the giants in the clothing industry today.

Surfwear is not just for surfers anymore. You can find it in the most far-flung corners of the world. From the limited apparel of the sixties, the range of surfing related clothing and accessories has grown to include all kinds of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and even watches and jewelry. Today, you can be dressed for any occasion in surfing brands and styles.

Surf clothing has come a long way, as has the sport of surfing. Once considered a fringe sport, the top stars now command multi-million dollar contracts and surf industry giants vie for their sponsorship. One wonders what Gidget would think.

Locate great prices on surf clothes by heading online. There you will find the many choices for surf clothing that you have to choose between. Head online today.

Jay Jones Fitness , , , , , , , , , ,

Wetsuits For Protection Designed For Your Sport

November 30th, 2009

Choosing wetsuits that are designed for your performance level, your sport, and your climate is really quite important. There is nothing more discouraging than dropping a few hundred dollars on a wetsuit only to find that it chafes, doesn’t move in all the wrong places, and isn’t the appropriate weight for most of your wetsuit days.

Wetsuits are not made to keep all of the water out. As water builds inside the suit, it warms up and increases skin temperature. It also improves buoyancy and provides protection from things like stinging nettles.

Each water sport has its own requirements and therefore will not be appropriate for all suits. While surfing suits can often be interchangeable with windsurfing and kiteboarding, the different movements required for each sport will require different flexibility for each activity. It is vital that you choose the appropriate suit for the sport as well as for your body type and skill level.

Some northern climates will require a shorty even in the middle of summer. Some southern regions will require only a short or a “John” or “Jane” in the middle of winter. Each suit comes with its own weight to help you determine which suit will keep you the most comfortable the longest.

Full suits are very popular, as they come in various weights to help you choose the right one for you. It provides your entire body with coverage and can be used with hoods. If you need extra protection you can use gloves and booties to add to the set up. The thicker, or heavier, the wetsuit is the more protection from cold you will receive.

A shorty is a suit that offers core protection. It has shorts, usually to just above the knee, and short or three quarter sleeves. Using three quarter sleeves gives you the option to pull the sleeves down over the elbow or push them up a bit for more arm movement. Sports like windsurfing and kiteboarding require a lot of arm movement and most people find a three quarter sleeve below the elbow to be constricting.

A “John” or a “Jane” is a suit that offers full leg coverage and core protection while it also allows for total arm movement. It’s sleeveless. A light suit like this can be beneficial not just when you need a little bit of lower body warmth, but can come in handy when stinging nettles take over the water.

You will probably need more than one style and one weight when it comes to the perfect suit. You will have days when a shorty is perfect and then there will be days when a heavy, thick full suit with a hood is called for. Having multiple options extends your season and your session options. With every suit, you have to ensure that you have chosen well and have a back up on hand. Participating in a water sport with a suit that is too light can hamper your ability to perform well and can hamper your ability to swim to safety if needed.

Clement owns the wetsuits information website where you can find out everything you need to know about buying wetsuits. Just check this wetsuit buying guide for instance.

Clement Call Fitness , , , , , , , ,