I've been watching this thread with interest. I rinse my wet suit in freshwater and then hang it over the washing line without pegs. I then turn it inside out, so that both sides dry equally. I have 3 wet suits and all are still fine after 3 years. I also try to rinse off my SUP surfboard with a light spray of freshwater and Leg rope (2 years). I'm amazed at what people ask questions about and need to know. Most equipment tells you what you need to do to keep it. People are so overthinking the art of surfing and surf supping IMHO, it really surprises me. I'm not sure but I think a lot of guys and gals are not worrying about posting anymore because you can only say the same thing so many times.
I read the other forums as well and they have a distinct lack of these often very basic equipment care questions. I suppose it goes to show that SUPPING is very often the entry point surfing activity that people are using to start surfing/down-winding. I changed to Surf supping from boogie boarding after years of short board surfing because I replaced a hip, had a lower spine Laminectomy (Spine was carved open and spinal cord put in the space) and I'm now 58. I keep going on about it because I'd love to still surf on short, long or fish surfboards and of course I love Sup surfing - I urge all you guys who haven't tried other surf craft to give it a go , and I seriously don't mean to belittle anyone's choices, I would probably do the same if I'd never surfed before and had the opportunity to just get straight into it. We all know Supping is not as easy as it looks. I've got to say all this wet suit care, polishing your paddle and buffing your board seems a bit over the top.......not that you shouldn't do it if it floats your boat, but do we really need to have two pages of discussion on it? I'd rather find out about new surf spots, good sessions in decent swells, new equipment, tips on paddling etc., but whether you get fold marks in your wet suit from putting it on a coat hangar? Post it in the short board forum, it would be interesting to check the response? Really? Do it by all means but I don't think we need to discuss it for two pages. I'd rather watch Tha Dogman carving. I apologise if I sound dismissive but just try googling the manufacturers website.
I bet you we have another similar question within the next few months. I hope I'm wrong. Sorry to waste all your times. Maybe there should be an index column of equipment care posts linked to this page with all the often repeated answers, Laurie?? Keep Suppin dudes !!
Maybe people don't realise there is a search function at top of page. But yes it would be a good idea to have a Tips section within each category. I think these days people are looking for the quickest, easiest answer without the leg work or experimentation.
I'm with you Leroy - would much rather be watching videos of sweet waves. However, from my experience, I found that there is conflicting advice out there about best practices for taking care of suits. I'm a relatively long time surfer and happy to learn from others. Also, I only recently learned about the hangair and guessing many others hadn't heard of that either.
I don't know about you, but I've found SUP community to be heaps more friendly, sharing, welcoming than prone surf. I appreciate that one doesn't have to worry too much about asking dumb questions. Finally, it's just pleasing to see topics on things other than the SIC FX 14 .
I guess the simple answer is: if you don't think it's an intersting topic - don't click on the discussion thread & certainly don't read all the comments
I've been watching this thread with interest.
yeah, me too, & recently bought a new steamer to replace the old stiff one that hung in there for over 15 years. New wetties are a far cry from the days of boardies & footy jumper in the middle of winter (in the 60's, cos old man hated us surfing in winter & no way would he buy us a wetsuit), then long john over long-sleeve vest (one owned the long john, the other owned the vest, so we'd take turns, short straw would get the wet wettie!).
And still learning something new most days, thanks to the Forums!!! In this writer's humble opinion, less surfing videos would be welcome if it meant filtering out those boring videos taken from a go-pro on the nose of someone's board..........
Yeah Mick. BTW is it my imagination or are some people writing negative posts about DJ ? I'm probably just getting paranoid with old age and lack of sleep (osteoarthritis). But what has happened to his Downwind posts? I miss them. It is a SUP forum after all. Gear and board talk is the next forum along.
Yeah Mick. BTW is it my imagination or are some people writing negative posts about DJ ? I'm probably just getting paranoid with old age and lack of sleep (osteoarthritis). But what has happened to his Downwind posts? I miss them. It is a SUP forum after all. Gear and board talk is the next forum along.
Haven't noticed it more than usual, I mean there are always the stirrers or haters. Tall poppy? He knows we love him
IMHO the modern large surf conglomerate most likely wants you to take care of your wetsuit just enough to avoid a warranty issue and yet most likely wants for you to not care for it too much in the hope you will need to purchase a new one every two years or sooner preferably.
If there was any time one of those Woolworths "buy 2 for XXX price" type offers was really needed It would be for wetsuits ensuring you almost certainly had a dry one when you needed it.