Event #2 of the American Pro Surfing Series is this Friday and Saturday, September 28-29, and a good solid swell is expected to bring even more fun, challenging waves for the competition. Surf fans have a lot to look forward to with really great waves forecasted for the competition, a pro-am event that brings some top notch competitors to the south side of the Huntington Beach pier.

According to Adam Wright from the Official Event Forecaster, Solspot.com, “You can’t really get a much better mix of swells for the HB Pier. We already have S-SSW swell on the way that will be mixing with some medium-period WNW-NW energy from a waking North Pacific storm track that will work to set up peaky conditions. If that wasn’t enough, ‘Major’ Hurricane Miriam is just starting to move into the North Orange County SE swell window and she will likely be adding additional tropical SE swell to the blend.”

With this mix of swells, Solspot expects the competition days to have consistent shoulder to head high surf, with waves going a couple of feet overhead on the best sets. This should make for some really good surfing for the APSS.

The APSS consists of three events. The first event was in late April, and the last event will be in early November. On top of the great waves expected, world-class surfers competing include Chris Ward, Anastasia Ashley, Cory Arrambide, Tom Curren, Lisa Andersen and Parker Coffin.
Created by industry veteran Scott Waring, the contests offer an opportunity for domestic surfers and up-and-comers who sit outside of the top-ranked 32, a chance to earn prize money and bragging rights while competing near home. The series allows mid-ranked competitors the chance to showcase their skills in a contest that keeps their surfing sharp, and their names in the public. There will be 64 men and 16 women competing in the event.

After event #1, Chris Ward (San Clemente) leads the series with Torrey Meister (San Diego), Kilian Garland (Santa Barbara) and Gabe Kling (Saint Augustine, Fla.) in second, third and fourth, respectively.

In the women’s division Erica Hosseini (Newport Beach) leads the charge followed by Meah Collins (Costa Mesa) in second, Anastasia Ashley (Malibu) in third, and Kulia Doherty (Rancho Santa Fe) in fourth.

Follow the APSS live action webcast online at AmericanProSurfingSeries.com.
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Now that summer’s over, the temps are going to get a little chillier. But, that shouldn’t prevent you from going out in the water and catching some waves; just be prepared with the right equipment. For surfing, that means, a good wetsuit. Choosing the right one will help you maintain your flexibility and lessen the effects of cold water so you can surf comfortably for hours.

Since this will be your biggest purchase after a surfboard, do you know how to get the right one?

Style
Two of the most popular options are spring suits and full suits. A spring suit is a short sleeve/short pant combination, while a full suit covers your entire body from your neck to your ankles. If you can purchase only one wetsuit, go for a full suit. It’s always better to be too warm than cold.

Most wetsuits come in black, but there are also a variety of colors/designs. Some have zippers in the back, some in the front, and some, none at all.

Fit
First, get rid of the misconception that a wetsuit is going to keep your body completely dry. A wetsuit is designed so that it lets in a little water to keep you core body temperature warm. Wetsuits are made of neoprene rubber, and are designed so that a thin layer of water is trapped between the wetsuit and you, enabling your body to warm the water to a comfortable level.

A wetsuit should feel snug and tight all over and conform to your body shape like a second skin, but it shouldn’t be so tight that you feel any loss of circulation in your hands or feet.

Also note that most manufacturers’ sizes are different, so you’ll need and want to try them out. In general, though, a guy’s T stands for tall, and a MT means medium tall. If you’re a tall and skinny guy, don’t get a large because an L will be too loose.

Thickness
The thicker the suit, the warmer you’ll be. The thickness of a wetsuit is indicated by two numbers separated by a slash mark. The first number is the thickness of the wetsuit in millimeters (mm) for the portion that covers your torso. The second number is the thickness in millimeters (mm) for your limbs. More thickness is given to the torso to increase your body’s core heat. Less thickness is given to the extremities to increase flexibility and range of motion. Therefore, a 3/2 is 3mm covering your torso and 2mm covering your arms and legs.

In most cases, a 3/2 or 4/3 will keep you insulated down to 53 degrees. If it’s colder than that, you’ll need a thicker wetsuit, and may even want booties, gloves and a hood to keep warm.

Below is a general guide we found on surfingsite.com which gives a good idea to which wetsuit thickness is right for your area’s seasonal ocean temperature:

Ready to invest in a wetsuit? We’ve got some great ones available! Check out the guys’ styles here and the women’s selection here. Continue reading →