Are Wetsuits the Burka for the Cold-Water Surfer Girl?

As if any guy in a lineup isn't aware of any chick within 50 yards. Hot is hot and not is not whether they're wearing a burlap sack. Neoprene doesn't hurt that. The real question is can they control and hang onto their boards? I don't care if she's a grrrl if she rips, can control her board, and otherwise follows lineup etiquette.

I've always thought neoprene made people _more_ attractive.

But maybe I'm just a perv!

I stopped reading at "So, I saved and I bought a custom-made pink wetsuit"

Seriously?

We're women. We don't HAVE to wear bikinis. We sure as hell don't have to wear pink! Yeah, would be nice if women's cold water gear was more advanced, but I'd hardly call a wetsuit a burka nor do I feel it's inhibiting my gender in any way. I don't feel androgynous (even in my men's wetsuit and hood) and I don't give a crap about feeling sexy. I care about making the drop and not shivering my ass off.

Don't call it a burka, call it what it is: really effective sunblock. ;)

Effective sunblock and great anti body ding padding

On a side note I would add that I am always glad to have a woman in the line-up, regardless of her attire. Seems to keep some of the agro vibes in check.

This article has some winners in it:

"We are covered from head to toe by thick black neoprene, which is usually designed by men. If I think about this too hard I get dizzy. " Dizzy from thinking?

"When sporting a bikini on vacation, it’s fun on multiple levels. It is less constrictive, more individualized and I feel a lot sexier when surfing. It is also very easy." Yes, very easy-to loose your top in the surf. I feel a lot sexier then.

"If I buy booties, they are men’s booties." Women's booties are now widely available, fyi.

"It’s hard to feel like a hot surfer chick when you’re covered in black neoprene," Nah, it's just too cold to feel anything-try going without the black neoprene and see how sexy you feel.

"I wonder if guys see us as one of their own while we are suited up?" You may need more than some black neoprene to throw them off. A burka perhaps?

" Are we seen as less sexual or more sexual?" I honestly could not give a rat's bottom about this. Now, where's the surf?

turns out Burkas are the new Burkas.

How can a skin-tight wetsuit be compared to a burka?!

The surf media has worked hard to reduce women - even the best female pro surfers - to sexual objects, and apparently they've done that well. It's not supposed to be about looking sexy; it's about surfing.

This is my story and obviously it's not for everyone. If everything I wrote appealed to everyone how boring and bland I would be. Even if the goal of your comment is ridicule, I'm still kinda secretly stoked that people are taking the time to comment at all, I'll take it! and hey, I'm in the water like a bad habit so feel free to follow up in person.

@tehdely your comment makes me think of what my editor said when he first read the story, why aren't you addressing the obvious S&M appeal of the wetsuit?

your right.... women should just not wear wetsuits and only the sexy ones will be able to withstand the cold. what a perfect life =)

I'll take a stab (or pinch) at this: YOUR right Mr Crabs. That idealism yields us to the stark fact that only the most voluptuous women with the most bodacious curves could withstand the cold.
Anyway, back to my thoughts. I liked the article because I like to admire women, and if Miss Pickle has no compunction to express herself as a female in the water, with more feminine vestments, then I'm all for it. Simply put, that's what gals do: They dress like they are gals. (Valencia St Hog riding leather flannel chaps pickup trucks aside :) )
Have a nice day, and express yourself as you see fit.

I can see wanting to feel like you're getting something that expresses who you are when you're shelling out $400+ for a wetsuit, but to me I loathe seeing a rack of pink gear with flowers on it. I hate feeling like I'm shoved into a little box of "Girl"

You're a "girl" here's your wetsuit. It's not as warm as the guy's suits, it's not as durable as the guy's suits, but look, it has a little pink, teal, or purple flower right here on the side! Just for you! You'll need that that dob of pink to make sure everyone gives you waves, because you couldn't possibly get one on your own (especially with your teeth chattering because of this sub par suit.) Maybe if you're lucky you'll nab yourself a husband!

Forgive my snark, but I've spent the bulk of my gear buying experiences dealing with sub-standard crappy "shrink and pink" gear so it saddens me to hear a woman complain that there isn't MORE pink, restricting, less-than-practical gear out there. For every time you've walked away disappointed that you couldn't find something pretty, I walked away disappointed that I couldn't find something functional.

I don't want to be told I have to wear a bikini to be a woman surfer. I don't want board shorts that cut into my leg because they were only made for me to look pretty on shore, not for me to actually surf in (looking at you, Roxy.)

I don't want to be in the pretty princess box. :(

Sure, I want to look good, but my priority is reliable gear. Knowing I can last through a 3 hour dawn patrol in the 40's gives me a hell of a lot more confidence than a little flower on the sleeve.

Don't get me wrong, I think you should be able to have the choice to pick the pink wetsuit and I'm not going to judge you in the water for it. But I feel I should also have the choice of quality top of the line gear that doesn't treat me like I'm beach bunny. Rallying for more pink, to me, only reinforces that "women don't surf" stereotype.

I'm pretty sure when the writer of this story is out in the lineup, other surfers are treating her like a dude.

I read the article and thought the question "Is the wetsuit the burka for the cold-water surfer girl?" was never really answered. Ah headlines......

The burka is designed to reduce a woman to a theoretically unappealing moving black object.

Wetsuits hardly do this.

And who can't tell the wetsuit wearer's gender at a glance? Well, sure if they are overweight, out of shape, and you have poor eyesight, it might be a little difficult from 100 ft away. Or you just don't really care to notice such things....sometimes I am like that.

In any case, I thought Hotline wetsuits out of Santa Cruz was a woman owned company (at least it was at one time, right?). I used to own a Hotline suit, and can't think of a reason why they would use cheaper materials for a woman's suit. All that should be different is the pattern...well, at different price points, you can get better (more expensive) materials and stitching.

As for the custom option, you can get thicker than 3/2 custom suits, get really good rubber, in a variety of colors (or not), and have it done by people earning a living wage. Just gotta search for the Japanese maker, send them your measurements (20 to 25 measurement points) and around $500-800 USD.

But I digress.

Much like the article did from the headline of the article.

Which is fine; I like to wander.

This is a important topic to me since, in my opinion, the wetsuit choices for women just plain SUCK!! Try finding a decent 5/4 - there are about 4 to choose from for women - men have literally dozens of styles and brands. Just look at the O'Neill line. My friends and I have all had salesmen actually suggest trying a men's suit; which I have done but they just don't fit properly. Someone needs to do some serious research into women's sizing and make REAL quality wetsuits that fit well and are meant to be surfed in - Not foofy pink 3/2's with no taped seams and leaky zippers. Good news is I recently got a RipCurl G-Bomb and I love it. The fit is vastly superior to O'Neill - which is awfull awfull awfull.
As far as booties go mens are fine. I'd be afraid of what they would do to the booties to call them women's anyway. Probably make a crappier version and paint it pink.
By the way, I don't think I am an unusual or hard to fit size: 5'7" and 125 lbs.