While surfing has long been a passion for Patagonia’s founding Chouinard family, the company has only recently begun to be recognized for its advancements in surf product. Fletcher Chouinard, son of legendary founder Yvon, is pushing boundaries with his FCD surfboards, and Patagonia has been slowly building its reputation in some of the top surf shops by pushing the boundaries of technological innovations in the wetsuit world. Add in one of its best looking surf apparel lines for 2012, and next summer is looking to be a break out surf season for the brand.

At the helm of the Surf Division is Jason McCaffrey, a self described surf bum who paid his dues working up through Patagonia’s retail division, living in the parking lot of FCD’s shop, becoming best friends with Fletcher, and eventually going to Pepperdine to get his MBA, which helped him land the position of director of the surf division five years ago. These days McCaffrey has his sites set on nothing less than revolutionizing the company’s surf group by leading the charge with ground breaking wetsuits. We caught up with McCaffrey to learn more about his vision, how surf became the company’s fastest growing division, and how Patagonia’s culture makes it possible.

read more at transworld

In the most recent issue of Wired Mag (October) wired reviews some of this year’s new wetsuits. I have to say I am a little disappointing that they did a halfhearted review and did not review more suits like the relatively new Billabong SGX.

1. O’Neill Psychofreak – $530, oneill.com
2. XCEL Infiniti Drylock – $440, xcelwetsuits.com
3. Matuse Tumo – $475, matuse.com
4. Rip Curl H-Bomb – $1,000, ripcurl.com

see story @ wired

Photo by Jens Mortensen

A MELBOURNE man has accused surfing giant Rip Curl of stealing his concept for the world’s first heated wetsuit.

The battery-powered wetsuit with a heated panel could be worth millions of export dollars.

Rob Vassallo, who heads family-owned company Jett Performance Products, is trading allegations with Rip Curl.

He said he designed the core technology for the surf specialist in 2006.

“Rip Curl shouldn’t be selling this wetsuit as their own. They’re taking credit for my ideas, ” he said.

Torquay-based Rip Curl, whose global wetsuit sales are said to have topped $30 million last year, denied Mr Vassallo’s allegations. It has sold 200 heated wetsuits since last year for $1500 each.

“We absolutely refute the idea that we have stolen anything from Rob Vassallo or Jett,” spokesman Gary Dunne said.

“If Vassallo believes he has a legitimate claim against us he should launch an action against us, because the only appropriate forum to resolve this issue . . . is with an independent arbitrator.”

Mr Vassallo said he was inspired to make the wetsuit after a jockey mate wanted to lose weight but not spend hours in a sauna. He wrapped him in an electric blanket and cling wrap and after six, 10-minute sessions he had lost 2kg.

Mr Vassallo said he spent 18 months designing a battery-powered heated vest and showed it to Rip Curl in 2005.

“They loved the technology and, after I provided mock-up samples, they sent prototypes to the US for feedback and finally, in 2006, they ordered 500 units,” he said.

Rip Curl unveiled the wetsuit last year as the H-bomb using a surfing video shot in Iceland.

Mr Vassallo said that a week later Rip Curl told him it had lost faith in Jett’s ability to make the wetsuit.

“We gave them the idea and they made up excuses because they wanted it all on their own,” Mr Vassallo said.

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