How to Find the Perfect Wetsuit

Ahoy Mateys,

Commodore Pruitt is pleased to announce the Fall 2010 Wetsuit Guide brought to you by the Wet Dream.
We at the Wet Dream know that buying a new wetsuit can be tricky, not to mention pricey, so we've highlited a few of our favorites. Check them out.

Oneill Wetsuits

 

Here Dreamers is Oneill's Psychofreak. Equipped with:

• Pullover internal neck seal that blocks out water for maximum performance
• Plasma seals on the wrist and ankles
• A double seal neck
• Lightweight firewall thermal insulation jersey that wicks away mositure and increases warmth
• Available in 3/2 4/3 5/4 and 7/5mm. sizes
• msrp. $295-570

Commodore's Thoughts: A great wetsuit. Really the top of the line when it comes to innovation and materials.  Oneill has pretty much dominated the neopreme game since the 1970's and although they have some of the best products out there for all forms of acquatic sports, $300-600 is a lot to pay for some stretchy rubber.

Rip Curl Wetsuits

What some call the greatest suit ever made, Rip Curl's H-Bomb literally is the bomb. Featuring built in body warmers, this wetsuit has taken the first step into the future of wetsuit design.

• Non-metallic heating element is evenly dispersed on the rear of the suit, and a high-stretch titanium lining reflects heat back to your body
• 3-setting temperature switch located at right hip customizes the warmth for changing conditions
• 2 lithium ion batteries carried in internal pockets on lower back power the heating element
• 120g batteries are positioned to promote flexibility and require a 3 hr. charge time
• Stretchy neoprene forms to your body for a flexible, comfortable fit; the H-Bomb uses the lightest, most flexible and warmest neoprene available from Rip Curl
• Soft polypropylene inner lining wicks moisture and feels comfortable against bare skin

Commodore's Thoughts: The Best.  There are no wetsuits on the markets that can even come close. That being said I would recommend checking out Rip Curl's web site for something that will serve the same functions, but will cost a tenth of the price.  I have worn Rip Curl suits my entire life, so there is a little bit of bias on my behalf, but from what I have seen Rip Curl puts out a great product and offers some great warranties.

Quiksilver Wetsuits

Hello Cypher 2, I think I love you.

Quiksilver's Cypher 2:

• 3mm Hyperstretch II Neoprene body
• 2mm Hyperstretch II Neoprene arms
• 3mm Vaporstretch mesh chest and back panels
• Inner gusset panel HFT Heating System
• GBS (glued and blindstiched) seam seal with Flexmax seal seam taping
• Cypher seal wrist and ankle cuffs
• Cyberfuse kneepads
• Hydroshield water barrier with key pocket
• Hydrowrap neck closure 

Commodore's Thoughts:
Quiksilver will always offer a great quality product within the surfing industry.  Their Wetsuits have never been quite on the same level of Oneill and Rip Curl in terms of popularity, but they truly are works of art.  Quiksilver takes time when designing new models, and that time is reflected in the number of interesting gadgets and innovations that the Cypher has to offer.  Check out the site for other cool designs such as the "cell" and "syncro."

Patagonia Wetsuits

Long renowned for its outdoor clothing Patagonia has recently released a Men and Woman's Wetsuit line. Pictured here the "R3" is a finely tuned machine.  With a little help from the Malloy Brothers, Patagonia was able to launch a wetsuit line that has since become a staple for the modern day cold water adventurer. Check out these specs...

More Environmentally Conscious
Patagonia wetsuits use the highest quality Japanese neoprene. It has a 98% closed-cell ratio, which adds dead air space and with it, warmth.R3 48° - 55°F

• Made for cold water, 3mm smooth-skin neoprene lined with chlorine-free merino wool grid lining.Features - Men's R3® Front-Zip Full Suit We use high-quality 3mm neoprene backed by a grid patterned recycled polyester/chlorine-free merino wool laminate to increase warmth by creating a larger dead air space (Patented)
• Smooth skin exterior on torso, back and hips results in greater warmth by eliminating evaporative cooling in windy conditions
• Dual neck gaskets (internal and external) keep water from flushing in• Internal silicone bar tacks reinforce cuff and ankle seams• Critical seams reinforced; all seams glued and blindstitched
• Overlapped back yoke for easy on/off
• Anatomical, PVC-free kneepads

Fabric: Torso & Back: 3mm smooth skin neoprene exterior lined with chlorine-free merino wool laminated to recycled polyester. Arms & Shoulders: 3mm nylon-faced neoprene exterior lined with chlorine-free merino wool laminated to recycled polyester.
Seat & Legs: 3mm nylon-faced neoprene exterior (with smooth skin at hips) lined with recycled polyester jersey.

Commodore's Thoughts: Perfect for the NYC surfer.  Patagonia understands adventure surfing, and let's face it, surfing NYC is advenutre surfing.

Surf Spot Break Down: Far Rockaway 90th Street

Every time I step off the subway at 90th street I’m filled with an unexplainable euphoric joy. There’s always that strong chance that Surfline has lied, the surf could be flat, but after sitting on the subway for two hours coming from the Bronx, the thought of Surfing dominates your mind.

To get to Far Rockaway Coming from Manhattan, you’re going to want to jump on the A express train downtown to Far Rockaway.  Anytime the NYC subway goes above you know its going to be a long train ride. After getting off at 90th street it’s about a 2-3 block walk to the water. 
I’ve surfed 90th street several times as well as 96th street, and all have been during hurricane swells so I don’t really know what the surfs like during non-hurricane swells.

My first trip last year was to surf Hurricane Bill. After walking up the berm at 96th street, this being my first time at Far Roc,  I was totally impressed with what Bill had to offer.  The surf, a solid 4-6 (though rather mushy, and without current) necessitated that the lifeguards on the beach not allow anyone in the water.  Now I’ve been swimming for the past 15 years so I’m not going to let some lifeguard with bleached hair and earrings tell me where and when I can swim. So I start charging out into the mediocre surf sans fins.
Immediately I hear whistling and sirens, and probably several gunshots, remember this isn’t exactly the best neighbor hood.
I guess if the surf’s over 3 ft. they don’t let swimmers in.
What’s worse I wasn’t whistled out of the water by the lifeguard who was too busy making out with his girlfriend, I was whistled out by 200-300lb. black woman wearing pants and shoes.
Needless to say her rules did not apply to me, so I headed straight back out.

Surfing is a completely different ball game.  With no restrictions anyone is free to paddle out, and I mean anyone.  Surfing the jetties at 90th street is a free for all hodge-podge usually complete with a couple of navy landing crafts sprinkled in just for fun.  At 90th street there is a left that comes in and shoots off the rocks. If you position yourself right in the perfect spot you can get some decent lefts.  Now for those regular footers there are rights, but they are usually not as consistent and you have to walk. 

The locals are pretty mellow, although this probably changes day-to-day and swell-to-swell.  From what I have seen of surfing in New York is that it is still an intimate thing.  Fellow surfers understand how hard it is to wake up early and to carry your stuff though the city, and to sit on the subways for hours, and to brave the crowds and snow…

It’s a very beautiful mutual respect...

Go get wet, if not keep dreaming.

 

Down With Christie

 

OK, So I've actually never surfed in New Jersey. 

That being said I would like to announce that the dunce of the week award goes to NJ state gov. Christopher Christie.

Now I'm sure that Chris is probably a decent human being, hell, there's a strong chance that he might have even done some good things for the state of New Jersey, but what's up with backing out of the Hudson River Tunnel Project?

Let's get past the facts. Never mind the 6,000 construction jobs. Never mind the 44,000 permanent jobs that would be created after its 2018 completion.  Frivolous in my mind. What Chris Christie and dozens of New York politicians and businessmen are failing to realize is the Hudson River Tunnel (HRT) would make it so much easier for NYC surfers to get to NJ.

After much coercion, I would be able to borrow one of my friends' cars, load up my gear and not have to spend two hours in traffic. JUST TO LEAVE THE CITY. I mean, I'm sure this would help other people out too. So if you are as outraged as I, Chris can be reached at:

Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000

I guess they should work on getting email before a $13,000,0000,000,000,000,000 tunnel.





Breathe it in. The dirty Jerz.
Long Branch, NJ


Surf ya later

Hurricane Igor

Well, East Coasters rejoice.  Hurricane Igor has come and gone, and needless to say, the near perfect storm surf that it created only left the eastern surf crowd lusting for more.  From Florida to Massachusetts  people of all ages  were grabbing their gear, ditching work, and heading down to the beach to make the most of what mother nature had to offer.  Northern portions of Long Island observed 12-15' swells with near 70 degree water.  North Carolina's Outer Banks witnessed perfect firing point breaks with not a person in sight.  Das Pruitt unfortunately had to attend class so his week was dramatically less fun.  Nothing like the combination of statistics and an awesome hangover to make you appreciate what you truly love in life.

Who Has Wet Dreams?

What a beautiful little beach  The quintessential lone Mexican dream wave.  Just because this glassy behemoth has been un-surfed since the beginning of time, doesn't mean that southern California chargers aren't willing to gas up the old Econoline, grab a few cases of beer, and brave the treacherous roads, not to mention the drug fueled corruption capital of hell Tijuana to score perfect conditions.  What makes this picture even harder to look at for me is the fact that just up the road, about ten miles to the north is a taco stand that will seriously make you believe in God.  Bullet proof vests are recommended.

So if southern Californians stuck in the clusterfuck that is LA are willing to venture out in hopes of scoring some epic surf, why aren't New Yorkers out there doing the same?

Well, they ARE...

Right coast surfers are as tough as they come.  They venture out into near freezing temperatures, trudge through snow and ice just to maybe surf some two footers peeling off a lone point in the middle of nowhere. Alone.

The Wet Dream is a chance to escape. A type of heeling/dealing process for those that the god of swell so often neglects.  The Wet dream is for surfers by surfers. A truly guerrilla approach, because after all this is warfare. It's warfare against the elements and against those rude assholes in the subways who incessantly bitch about you hitting them in the knees with your "over sized" bag (board bag).

The Wet Dream will chronicle East Coast surf spots, surf media trends, surf events in the city, and everyting in between.

Go get wet. If not, keep dreaming...

Here's an appropriate shot. courtesy of LIFE magazine.