I plan to visit family who live in a great surfing area soon, but realized I have outgrown my old surfing wetsuit. I do, however, still have my tri suit which still fits and I haven’t raced in a couple years. Has anyone used a tri suit for surfing? Is there enough grip from the neoprene, or do you easily slip off? Would it ruin the suit because of the wax? I don’t want to damage the suit, but I also don’t have enough money to buy a new surfing wetsuit.
I know tri suits are much thinner, so obviously I would have to be careful putting it on, etc, but besides that, would it work for a few days of surfing?
San Diego, late december. I wasn’t sure how cold the water would be…mid 60’s? I don’t want to damage the suit as it was a mid-level (not cheap) one I would like to use in the future.
I’ve done it. But paddling out on your board will damage and cut up the suit. Swim wetsuit rubber is way too soft to withstand the abrasion and sharp edges of the board.
Ahhhh, that’s what I figured. If nails can cut through the suit, I figured anything else would slice right through it. Sounds like I need to find a better option.
SIDE NOTE: Is anyone reading this from San Diego? How’s the water temp for surfing mid-late december?
Even if the suit stays completely in tact, do you really want all of that surf wax messing with your drag?
If you didn’t care about the wetsuit though, should be fine. You should basically be able to surf in anything. I occasionally use my dad’s old wetsuit to surf, which is the old school two-piece jaques cousteau style. The thing must be 12mil thick. But then again surfing in Maine in November the thickness pays off.
San Diego the water is likely to be low 60s. Could get into the high 50s around Imperial Beach (weird current can cause the border area to be colder) but you don’t really want to surf there anyway.
I think Tribodyboarder lives down there. He might be able to recomend a rental shop.
I’ve got a rip curl 4/3 size large you can borrow.
If you’re going through Santa Barbara PM me.