YOU ARE A BEGINNER SURFER
You're new to surfing or only surf a few times a year, on vacation or on a surf trip. You stay where you are, in small waves or foam. You practice for the pleasure of being in the water and for the sensations it gives you. During your sessions, you often fall, but you fall in waves that are not very powerful. We've designed a wide range of products to suit your occasional practice and your morphology.
How to choose the right combination (Part 1)
The first criterion for choosing a wetsuit is water temperature.
Water temperature varies according to location and time of year.
Always check that the water temperature on your spot corresponds to the recommended temperature range:
Waters above 20°C.
Waters between 17 and 22°C.
Waters between 12 and 17°C.
Waters between 7 and 12°C.
Consult seatemperature.org for the temperature of your spot.
How to choose the right combination (Part 2)
The 2nd criterion to consider is the duration of your sessions. If your sessions last less than an hour, the 100 models are ideal. For up to 2 hours, choose a 500 model, and for up to 3 hours, a 900 model. Compared to 100 models, 500 models will limit fatigue more (+ freedom of movement) and limit irritation better. The same applies to 900 models compared to 500 models.
NB: 900 models are easier to put on.
Choosing the right size
To get the most out of your wetsuit, you need to choose the right size. A wetsuit should fit snugly and there should be no visible creases. When dry, it's normal to feel too tight, but this discomfort disappears as soon as the wetsuit gets wet.
Closing
Our zips and fasteners are laboratory-tested to ensure optimum durability and resistance to salt water. We position the zipper at the back of the wetsuit for greater comfort when practicing board sports (lying down while rowing).
For every temperature range
When we're in the water, we lose more than half our body heat through our extremities (feet, hands, head). We therefore recommend the following accessories:
- in water > 17°C: neoprene socks.
- in water 12 to 17°C: high booties and gloves.
- in water 7 to 12°C: high booties, gloves, balaclava and balaclava top.
OLAIANDECATHLON'S SURF BRAND
Based in Hendaye, in the south-west of France, OLAIAN is the new surf and bodyboard brand from Decathlon. In our "feet in the water" offices, we can design a swimsuit or wetsuit in a single day, then test it directly in the sea to see how it holds up in the wave.