www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk Jeff from the Wetsuit Centre walks you through the all new Oneill Kids Reactor shortie for summer 2010, highlighting the features and technology you get for your money in this fantastic kids wetsuit.

Water consumes heat from the body very quickly and more than air, and therefore you will notice that this phenomenon comes into being while surfing, diving or swimming. This is equally true not only in cold water regions as well as in the warmer regions also. Hypothermia is known for the exposure to too long in water and can cause damage to the body and its organs if haven't treated correctly. Wetsuits are used by surfers only because of this reason at coastal areas, enjoying the cold and hot waves irrespective of the temperature.

How much effective these surfing wetsuits are, is determined by what material is this made of.  Neoprene is frequently used, which is a type of rubber material, presence of this material turn out to be a barrier against the temperature of the water while surrounding the wearer. This layer of water present in wetsuits maintains body temperature.

Remarkable technological advances have been achieves in the surfing wetsuits, as the game became popular among common people. And marketer found the industry very much lucrative. Enough of research and development took place to make the surf comfortable while taking health in prime objective.

Heating panels powered by batteries, solar system cells and chemicals respectively became three main developers within this industry.

Then life style and of course the societal strata was never far away from the picture and designs and brands played the rest of the part. And availability of surfing suits became imponderable ranging from design, material, brand to quality.  Though professionals tend to opt for somewhat thinner wetsuit, and marketers stated customizing in order to capitalize their revenues while grabbing more and more customers from low prices to high prices.
Remember to shop for quality surfing wetsuits and surfing accessories before taking a dive.

Image taken on 2006-08-19 11:00:26 by monkeyc.net.

In the sport of triathlon, there is no question which sport most people have problems with. Out of swimming, cycling and running, the swim causes people the most problems by far. Whether it is terrible form, anxiety in the water, or poor upper body strength, any weakness in the swim is multiplied three-fold. If you have poor running form, you can still get by; even more so with cycling. If you are a terrible swimmer, this will cause you to fight against the resistance of the water much more than you have to. It is not uncommon to see super athletes that knock out marathons with ease unable to swim two laps in the pool without stopping.

Besides getting some swim coaching to help correct your form, there may be something else you can do that will make the difference between quitting half way through the swim, or finishing strong with energy to spare for the next two events of the race.

If you are a poor swimmer or a beginner to triathlon, listen to this…You MUST get a wetsuit if you plan on racing. A good wetsuit will allow full range of motion in the shoulders, chest, and legs while providing maximum buoyancy. When you float higher in the water, you will go faster and save energy, period.

So now you know you need a wetsuit, but what type, what brand, when should you wear it, and how much should you spend?

The USAT guidelines state that everyone may wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is 78 degrees or below. You are welcome to wear a wetsuit if the temperature is 79 degrees to 84 degrees but you won’t be eligible for awards. Anything 85 degrees or over, no wetsuits are allowed.

Therefore, if the water is 78 or below, wear a wetsuit – even a short sprint distance race. You will be much quicker in a wetsuit and save energy. Of course, you also have to deal with taking it off in transition-1 to the bike, but if you’re well practiced, you’ll more than make up for the additional time in transition.

For those that aren’t strong swimmers, wetsuits can (and should) give you more confidence. Have you ever tried swimming underwater in your wetsuit? If not, try it sometime. You’ll pop back up like a cork! This is great for someone that has a fear of drowning.

Second, make sure you have a triathlon wetsuit. It’s amusing to see people wearing their body boarding, surfing or even their SCUBA wetsuits. These aren’t made for our sport. So don’t rummage through the garage to find your old surf wetsuit, that won’t work. These are much too thick and will limit your mobility and speed in the water.

Third, it really doesn’t matter what brand you get. The main concern is whether it fits or not. You can spend all the money in the world on the best wetsuit, but if it doesn’t fit correctly, it will slow you down. It should be snug but shouldn’t limit your breathing or choke you around the neck. Too loose and water will get in and slow you down. If you try one brand and it doesn’t fit just right, try another. With so many choices you’ll find one that fits.

Fourth, I like the full-arms style of wetsuits. I used to have a long-john style, which means it had full-length legs, but no sleeves. I thought the long sleeves would limit my stroke, but they don’t. In fact, according to the manufacturer (Quintana Roo), the long sleeves actually help you go faster because it increases the water your arm “catches” as you pull through. It’s really up to you which kind you get. Just try some out and see what you like best.

Finally, triathlon is a very mental sport. If that carbon fiber frame makes you think you’re going faster, you do. If your new running shoes make you think you’re going faster, you do. And if your wetsuit makes you think you’re going faster, you do.

Image taken on 2007-11-16 02:57:14 by millzero.

Due to time pressure, majority of racers often forget that one of the central things in a race is for your gears to fit properly. When its too tight, then it must have the proper fit, right? Yes.

There are no standard measures that can help us in choosing our wetsuits. We only have to trust on our best judgement and trust on the luck that you have the perfect wet suit.

Triathlon races allow absolute personal choices for gears and equipments. However if you were joined in a racing team, it would be possible that you get to follow the prescribed uniform.

Wetsuits are critical during the race. If they aren't perfectly donned, they can create true differences. In most cases, they restrict your from moving freely just because the lower suit pulls the top from its proper place.

Wetsuits are designed to be pulled easily into and out from your body, especially when you and the suit are wet.

It is best to leave your socks on if you are to wear the wetsuit. This will prevent the material from stretching due to pulling from your toes. Pull the bottom of the pants further until the crotch is snugly fit. This junction is critical so please do it carefully.

If you are using a full-length wetsuit, you have to ensure that the dividing section between the lower and upper parts are placed on their respective positions.

Afterwhich, drive your arms into the armholes. Secure to it that the space between your armpit and the suit is just enough to let you move if you are using full suits. If however, you prefer to use Long Johns, you would no longer be bothered with the sleeves.

Now the question arises, which works better, Full Suits or Long Johns?

If it is the advantage of speed that you like, you can turn to full suits. These work well for more experienced swimmers who can produce long but lesser strokes since full suits help conserve energy by cutting the water easier.

Long Johns however, leave your arms free which can better help facilitate higher stroke counts. These also provide the feel of water.

If you have practiced enough, it is possible for you to wear or remove your wetsuit in less that 10 seconds during the race. After all, triathlon wet suits are designed to be taken in and off quickly. But whatever you do, never sit down while taking it off. This will add 5 seconds or more on your transition time.

The crew from mesurf.com have examined 11 market leading wetsuits, spoken with wetsuit experts and researched everything to do with neoprene. Creating the best damn wetsuit guide you¹ll come across. So if you want to know more about wetsuits and everything based around that neoprene material we all love then head to over to www.mesurf.com.au

Image taken on 2007-06-14 12:59:17 by mikebaird.