Which wetsuit to surf the Shetland Isles?

The British Masters team is currently lapping up the sun and surf in Puerto Rico, in preparation for the ISA World Surfing Masters championship. I, on the other hand, am about to leave balmy West Cornwall for the Orkney and Shetland Isles. There is a reason for the disparity in our respective destinations. The Masters are all top-quality surfers, deservedly picked for a contest in one of the world's most favoured locations. In contrast, I'm much better at going over the falls than inside a barrel, and will await the team selector's call to my dying day. And, in truth, duty calls. How to write Surf Nation without a trip to the northernmost part of the British Isles? Granted, I can't hope to visit everywhere in Britain and Ireland where people surf, but too few people take the ferry from Thurso to Orkney, and as for the Shetlands, virtually no one ever tries to surf there. Both the Orkney and Shetland Isles have surfing communities, and there is an appealing grandeur about surfing so far north, in such ever-present cold. Yes, the cold... Would my old Second Skin 5ml steamer do the job for a trip like this?

"No," was the unequivocal pronoucement of Sam Bleakley, whose wisdom I sought. "Maybe you should be a bit less old school," were the words of Al Mackinnon, who will be joining myself and Fat Face longboarder Chris Thomson on the trip. As Sam added: "Wetsuits have moved on massively in the last few years. That old suit will feel like a sack of Hessian cloth in comparison to what you can buy now."

There was only one thing for it. Painful as it was to say farewell to my worn and reeking Second Skin steamer, I would have to - at least for this trip. I resolved, reluctantly, to part with some cash, and set off to my nearest surf shop.

Pat at Sennen Cove's Chapel Idne was on hand to guide me through the maze of choice. Twenty five years ago it was simple. Each suit was much the same and if you couldn't afford gloves a pair of Marigolds did the job. Now the creation of a wetsuit has become a science, and one that requires demystifying (well, for the likes of me, anyway). Pat began by extolling the new suits' collective virtues: "It makes me smile when I see people come in to buy a new suit after having a Gul or Snug for the last nine years. They're totally blown away by the qaulity of these new, super-stretchy neoprenes. One thing to remember, though, is that if you surf fairly regularly you'll find that two years' use is about right - the new suits are not as durable as the old ones."

So which was the suit for me? Pat himself favoured an Xcel Infiniti 5/4/3, which retails at £239. Pat recalled the first time he saw the suit - as worn by a friend who'd put it on back to front. "But once he'd got used to the front chest closure system he was laughing and couldn't stop raving about it. The suit was originally designed for the US Navy Seals, the idea being that they needed a suit that was going to keep them warm and super-flexible enough to swim 10 miles after being dropped out at sea on exercises. Not having a back zip really helps reduce wasted energy where your back being arched would be fighting against a straight zip. It's a great cold water suit."

OK, that sounded good - but there were other options. My eyes drifted to an O'Neill Mutant 5/3, a heftier purchase at £260. "It's a high-end suit and it's proving very popular this winter," said Pat. "It's a mutated, two-headed monster but also completely unrestricted, bone-dry, Velcro-less and easy to get on and off. Free floating zippers and shoulder Fluid Seam Seals minimise bulk and flush." I decided to try one on, and it fitted perfectly. Still, one shouldn't be hasty, so there were three others to consider - the Quicksilver Cell 5/4 Hyperstretch (£270), the Alder Fluid 5/4/3 (£150) and the Rip Curl E-Bomb 5/3 (£200).

The Alder suit was tempting, not so much for its price but because my first suit, all those centuries ago, was an Alder. "This is the best one they've ever released," said Pat, but neither the Quicksilver suit nor the E-Bomb could be called slouches either.

I'll spare you the technical spiel but suffice to say that all five suits are light, ultra-flexible and well-made. Even the thought of my old suit makes me feel leaden. It has served me well over the years, but I'm looking forward to surfing in my new suit - and seeing just how warm it keeps me up in the Shetlands.

Which did I plump for? The O'Neill Mutant. It's all in the name.

Photo of Skara Brae courtesy of Michael Hagen on www.flickr.com
 

Comments

[Antoine Wilson]

I got a new Psycho 2 4/3 for this winter (LA, Ventura) and I couldn't be happier. O'Neill makes a great suit. Enjoy!

[simon jayham]

Alex an Xcel 6 mil with hood, 7 mil boots and mitts for me when I get back into the Uk surf. I have tryed most of the other brands and none compare to the warmth the xcel surf equipment gives.

[Paula The Surf Mom]

Alex you need to become a test subject for the new H Bomb suit...

[Paul Smith]

Hi

I'm an intermediate surfer who's going to be in Orkney next week with a wetsuit. Can't take my board though, is there anywhere to hire one?

Ta

[Paul Smith]

email:
pms21@uk2.net

[Alex Wade]

Hi Paul - you'll struggle to hire a board but you might be able to persuade one of the locals to loan you one. There aren't many of them though! I'll email you some names. Cheers, Alex