Smorgasboarder_11_May-2012

Seventhwave
I must admit I have fallen in love with all
things New Zealand and the Seventhwave
wetsuits were no exception.
Everyone has a different body shape and
for that reason certain wetsuits suit certain
people. A standout feature of all the
Seventhwave wetsuits for me personally, was
the fit. I found them incredibly comfortable.
Another positive was the speed at which
they dried. The Seventhwave suits dried
the quickest. No one likes putting on a wet
wetsuit. It sucks.
Our requirements were pretty stiff. We
surfed several times a day and didn’t really
give the suits much time to dry. They were
literally hung up in the bathroom of our
motorhome and didn’t even get aired at
night as we experienced torrential rain for
the first week of our trip.
So why do they dry so quickly? Apparently
it is because the Japanese Yamamoto
neoprene featured in Seventhwave wetsuits
use a special polymer made from limestone
as opposed to petroleum and this enhances
their drying capabilities and eco credentials.
Further to this, the neoprene cells are filled
with nitrogen to prevent water penetration.
The other thing that sold me on
Seventhwave was the business itself. We
visited the factory in Christchurch on our
third last day and were graciously given
a trip through the factory by owner, Paul
Zarifeh. All suits are handmade on the
premises and the company is 100% New
Zealand owned and operated.
We stress time and time again about the
importance of supporting local industry.
Australia, New Zealand, we are all brothers
in arms. Think of the ANZAC spirit. If there
was ever a time Christchurch needed us,
it’s now. After what they have been through
and their unyielding courage to get on
with things, the guys at Seventhwave are
deserving of our support and their great
suits make it an even easier choice.
Notable points
• These guys know cold water and how
important it is to protect yourself from
the elements. Based on the south
island of NZ they have been building
suits since ’87.
• Custom fitting – Apparently around
a third of people don’t fit a standard
wetsuit so it stands to reason why
it’s important to get the best fit, and
hence best performance, from your
suit. You can get your suit custom
fitted using 22 unique measurements
and even submit these online.
• You can trade in your old
Seventhwave wetsuit for a new one
• The suits just don’t seem to get
waterlogged and dry extremely quickly
Visit the showroom in NZ at 243
Dyers Road, Bromley, Christchurch.
Freephone NZ on 0800 843 928 or
Austraia on 1800 091 770, or simply
order online at
www.seventhwave.co.nz
Retro
Jacket
$259 NZD (approx $205 AUD)
One part syle, one part
warmth, this trendy little
top is perfect protection for
those cool breezes when the
temperatures are not too
extreme. And with its retro
stylings, you’ll automatically
sprout a pencil moustache
from pure awesomeness
when you slip it on.
Titanium
Hot Top
Long sleeve
$179 NZD (approx. $142 AUD)
Perfect complement to your
Seventhwave wettie or on its
own with a pair of boardies.
I wore it at Raglan with
Seventhwave’s watershorts and
was more than comfortable.
Titanium-lined to reflect your
body heat. Comes in short and
long sleeve.
Watershorts/
SUP shorts
$179 NZD (approx. $142 AUD)
A two in one board short combo,
a 2mm neoprene inner keeps you
warm and stops any unwanted
rashes or chaffing. These shorts
are perfect for getting out on your
SUP when you don’t want to look
like a Russian gymnast.
I loved these and made plenty of
use in them in the surf. A great
alternative to boardies when the
water’s chilling down and the
boys need warming.
142 may/jun 2012