BayAreaKiteboarding.com

We at ProMotion Wetsuits want your help designing a kite specific wetsuit! we have a working model right now but want more input from you!
right now we have this in mind...

4/3mm with adv wind skin on chest and arms( would 3mm be better?)
long sleeves with snug surf suit fit, not baggy like the windsurfing suits
3/4 leangth legs comes just below the knee.

?? would you wear a 4/3m with 3Q legs when its cold or should we make this a 3mm for spring to mid summer?
??any features you want or dont want?

we want this to be a suit by and for kiters!! let us know what you want!!
thanks, Derek
www.wetsuit.com

Derek,
My suggestions are:
Slightly snugger fit then windsurf.
Good durable cloth around croch/seat for seat harness users, smoothe and/or ribbed on lower chest ( something that helps prevent ride-up) for waist harness users.
panels around arms needs to be thin and flexable for full arm movement without bunching in arm-pits.
I personally like the idea of adding impact padding to the suit especially over chest and shoulders (like 5-7mm). I'd like padding or caps over knees (for dragging situations and knee-cap protection)
Finally getting a suit on and off needs to be addressed, some of the zipperless suits are impossable but we all know zippers leak and cause stresses and restrictions. perhaps a front zipper thats not so dry-suit hidous.
L.M.G.

I am pretty happy with the newer materials manufacturers are using thee days. Sure makes getting out a lot easier without zippers. I would just pay really close attention to making a suit that has great seam quilaity as my brand new Oneil came new with about 10 different poor glue spots. Gregs idea of built in protection is good but would that make the suit hot as hell during a normal day? How about a key holder that doesnt rub your nuts? If there was a way to make the velcro on the footstraps "snag" proof that would be great!

If it's not 3/4 leg, then some type of strap to keep the leg 'o water from happening.

I like the idea of integrated protection, but it wouldn't be as effective as a vest, so maybe separate it better. If you guys end up making an impact vest, make sure it has some places to attach stuff like a knife, keys and make even a marine radio.

john

I don't know if i'd wear a 3q suit when it's cold. I like having everything covered up when it's cold in the winter. When it's warm in the summer I do my best just to wear a shorty.

my biggest complaint with wetsuits are the ankles. I really like suits with ankles that have velcro so it's easy to get into and tighten down, but you have to figure out a way so that you don't end up with huge bags of water around your calves.

oh, and put some cool graphics on there. the mystic wetsuits have cool flame patterns all over them, and honestly, a wetsuit that looks cool would be a plus for me.

I have got to throw in a word for The Mystic steamer here, since it IS designed for Kiting, Has Drain holes around the ankles, ribs/smoothskin to hold onto a waist harness, and built- in shin protection. some other neat stuff too. Check it out.

I was really trying to think of something I dont like about my wetsuit and the one thing that is a complaint is that it is hard toget the long sleeves on. Hairy arms, big bulging muscles (ok thats not me) but basically I was wondering if there is any reason you cant put velcro straps on the arms too? Is it a snag point? Anpther rediculous comment would be that I hate how my new suit is sticky when it comes to sliding boardshorts over them. When sliding a harness or material over the new stuff they are using it sticks like glue. This may be good for harnesses but annoying elsewhere. And on the subject of being good for harnesses, my 2 cents on that is this: If the wetsuit clings to the harness it can be good but it also makes it harder to readjust the damn thing when it does(and it will eventually) ride up on you. And for this same reason it also gives my skin a good rubbing when switching stance as the harness doesnt rotate without grabbing the suit.

My old suit is the type of material that slides and is great but it is much harder to get on. the newer one has excellent stretch but is super sticky...hmmm

And graphics are a must. I saw a Mystic team rider that looked like a dork because he matched too well. i think it can be overdone, but some subtle effects, like neon lighting..kidding, would be due. Hell whats wrong with a=making a white suit. It would go great with my Liberace bi-centenial diamond studded hotpants that I wear under my wetsuit. Seriously though, a tribal drawing is never out of place in the surfing industry. I dont know if anyone has seen Ardee's wetsuit but it is an older one but has the coolest looking texture to it. If anyone has seen the Coppola gallery at the winery you would see the resemblance to Dracula's battle suit. Now that I would buy right now if it existed!