Wetsuit Guts

Wetsuit guts.  The rarely seen, under-appreciated soul of a wetsuit.  When I first bought my Flash Bomb, I was surprised when I parted the head flap and saw pale red fur.  Obviously I hadn't done my research, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a warm, incredibly comfortable and quick-drying material inside the suit.  This got me thinking: what about the inside of other wetsuits?  I'd never know what's out there unless I explored.  Here's what I found...

Patagonia seems to be leading a new charge for Merino Wool lining.  This is real sheep's wool that adds warmth while maintaining maximum flexibility.

Photo credit: fcdsurfboards.com

Patagonia Merino Wool Wetsuit

Then we have the Rip Curl F-Bomb Flash lining that I referenced earlier.  This suit is WARM and incredibly comfortable.

Rip Curl Flashbomb Lining

In the same vein is the C-Skins Polypro lining...

C-Skins Polypro Lining

And of course, we have the colorful linings.  These are fun to show off as you're taking off your suit.  Here's the double-lined Mystic Cure 5/3...

Mystic Cure Double Lining

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Surfing the Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands are home to a number of wonders.  Though for me the primary draw of the Mentawais is surfing, the 70 or so Indonesian islands are also home to twenty endemic species including the Kloss’s Gibbon, pictured below.

On all sides, the exotic species of the Mentawais are surrounded by beautiful reef and beach breaks.  The waves are remarkably consistent throughout the year and wave quality is unsurpassed.  There are a small number of competing surf camps and resorts where surfers from around the world come to stay.  Some of the ‘resorts’ on the islands are huts on the beach.  However simple the living is though, the average surfer will spend $125/day to stay in the Mentawais.  There are dozens of well-known breaks around the islands, but it’s the lesser-known spots where real beauty lies. 

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Surfing Deer

Surfing Deer?  Yes, they exist.  Apparently these...

...go in these:

I don't know what else to do about surfing deer, except to have a good chuckle.  Apparently, these creatures are quite graceful creatures despite their size and unlikely shape.

Deer have some amazing stories in the ocean (though they might not be the best navigators).  Here are a few stories about deer being rescued miles off of the coast:

http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_oddities/2011/12/deer-avoid-drowning-by-boarding-charter-boat.html

http://www.treehugger.com/travel/deer-rescued-swimming-15-miles-offshore.html

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