AIR SUIT

DID ANYBODY EVER EXPERIMENT WITH A WETSUIT THAT HAS A FLOATABILITY SO BIG THAT HE FLOATS ON THE WATER, OR NEARLY?

ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE GREATER ACCELARATION WHEN PADDLING, AND BE ABLE TO SURF SMALLER BOARDS…

CURIOUS WHO DID EXPERIMENT WITH SUITS TO CHANGE THE SURFING EXPERIENCE

There are a few companies like Billabong and Quicksilver making low profile flotation vests for the tow-in folks. For paddle surfing, I have a feeling an air suit would hinder more than help you. Plus duckdiving would be a bitch.

Wheeeeeeee!!!

That was something I thought about, adding like a 1’ thickness of foam under my belly/chest and ride very thin boards. I never tried it though…

I would be very interested to hear about such experiences.

Another solution was to build very thin boards that could flex well and add a thick pad on that to regain flotation, but that would be a compromise…

and from the 1970s ,

the Woody waverider suit …

…it was a ‘sleeper’ , or ‘bananas’ ! [I forget which]

ben

You might be interested in Paul Boyton and his inflatable Merriman suit. In the late 1800’s he floated a claimed (and mostly documented) 25,000 miles in the prone position. For propulsion he alternated between hands, paddle and umbrella. His first major accomplishment was swimming in from a ship, 30 miles off of the Irish coast, in a gale that sunk 54 vessels. He most certainly had some surfing escapades along the way. Mr. Boyton also used the suit for some interesting clandestine operations. Look for his autobiography, Roughing it in Rubber, for more inspiration.

Long live Pablo Delaporte!

My standard 4/3 wetsuit floats me. It’s tough to dive under a wave if I have to. I really have to kick for the bottom. I’ve literally grabbed onto rocks to hold myself under in bigger surf. mike

when i was smaller i was even more lanky than i am now, one summer i had a wetsuit and when i peed in it it would look like that suit woody is wearing, though normally it filled with more sea water than pee water.

Quote:

and from the 1970s ,

the Woody waverider suit …

…it was a ‘sleeper’ , or ‘bananas’ ! [I forget which]

ben

We’ve got a new improved version

Seem to have put on a bit of wieght over the winter, too many paste’s and clotted cream ice creams. Now if I could just get up and make it to the waves maybe I could burn off some of those cals.

CarveNalu posted some pictures a while back of a rash guard that was inflatable with a tube out the top. I believe it was for people with back problems (all surfers). This works with a suit or not to keep your head up and let you paddle with out strain on your lower back.

www.paddleair.com

Ian

hey woody … looking gooood…that’s you at Gennith right?

nice t - shirt…I think i’lll go for the same design… we’re planning a trip to france this summer so i’ll def blend with that look

he silverback, step by anglet where i live, i can show you where go, and where NOT!