Man, we’ve gone to Jon “localsurfer” for so many photos of the
day, we’ve lost count. He’s also a frequent, and frequently good, commenter here. We want to keep him happy so he’ll
keep putting up photos. Which is why once again, we’re going to
one of his shots for our POTD. We here at
gadling think localsurfer and
jrawls ought to get together and start a photo agency. What do you
think?
Who Invented the Wet Suit
A very interesting article in
the
LA Times examines a question that has perplexed surfing aficionados for decades: who invented the wet suit?
Who woke up one day and said, let’s take this neoprene stuff and make it really tight, and allow a wee bit of
water to enter so that it gets warm, and people will be able to go in the water whenever and whereever they want.
We’ll even make it black so that people look like seals and will become tasty snacks for sharks.
Turns out that three BIG names in water sports lay claim to this invention. Bob Meistrell runs Body Glove
International, of Redondo Beach, and says he’s the one. Jack O’Neill is a surfing legend who has leant
his name to one of the surf industry’s most recognized brands. He says he’s the one. And finally Hugh
Bradner, a UC Berkeley physics professor and Manhattan Project scientist, who lives in La Jolla…well, he says HE’s
the one.
Who to believe? Sh*t, I don’t know. But it’s still a good article.
Photo of the Day: (10/14/05)
Seems folks are still out there surfing as we move swiftly into Autumn, as this
well composed photo of a surfer
walking the beach shows. The shot was taken by one of our frequent contributors by
localsurfer, whose
surf shots always dazzle. One question: Where was
the shot taken?
Surfer Mag: Interview with Gerry Lopez
It’s been a while…perhaps too long…since we posted anything about surfing here, and I couldn’t pass up posting about
this interview with surfing legend Gerry
Lopez in this month’s Surfer Magazine. Lopez has retired to (of all places) the hills outside of Bend, Oregon, but the
story finds the Duke of Curl still savoring good waves and keeping busy designing surf boards. As someone who grew up
around the beaches of So Cal, I was pleased to find Lopez still kicking about, and reading about his early exploits as
one of the Pipeline Pioneers brought back some good memories.
Wave Watch
Here’s a handy online tool for surfers. Called Wave Watch, this
Flash app provides up to the minute surf conditions around the globe and offers forecasts through the week so you know
whether the conditions outside are ripe or rancid. It also helps in the planning of surf trips, so you can tell whether
you should book next for Tahiti or Australia.