Beat The Burn

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Australia is ranked number two in the world for cases of skin cancer and surfers receive more sun exposure in one session than they need in a month. So, 12 surfs into the year and you’re adding  to the damage to your skin and dramatically increasing your risk of skin cancer. Give that summer has landed we thought now’s a good time to remind you of the dangers of sun exposure and show you some damn fine ways to beat the burn this summer.

Cover Your Noggin

Surf hats today are well-designed and not an impediment to your surfing. The good folk at ProtecSun Surfhats specialize in these things and have a wide range to choose from. They’ve thought of everything from two different adjusting mechanisms to a mesh ear covering, so you don’t feel like you’re living inside a shell, to a plastic insert in the peak ensuring the rim doesn’t flop into your face while riding. They’re light weight, quick dry and they’re the best we’ve ever tested.

Between the peak cap and the wide-brimmed hat we’ve found the wide-brimmed hat to be better, not just because it was more effective in sun protection but the shorter peak in front doesn’t obscure your vision when you’re scratching into a set. You can buy these at select surf retail outlets or online for $39.95 . If you want to avoid looking like a prune when you’re older or if you’re unlucky enough to be folically challenged, you really should use one this summer.

Get your hat on here:  www.protecsun.com.au

Slip slop slap

We’ve heard it all before. We know sunscreen is as essential as wax, but which brand do you choose? There are many different types and most are reliably tested and rated so as a surfer you’ll be looking for the highest Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and checking that it’s water resistant. The problem with water resistance is that while most sun creams claim to be water resistant, few actually withstand the rigours of a good session. The greasy gels and the smudgy zinc’s being the only types that really stand the test of a 2-3 hour slay.
We looked into a range of suncreams that have a zinc base to them. Some of the products in this range appear clear when applied and are not greasy or smudgy. The brand is called Sunzappa and their products are actually pretty darn good for surfers.

They have a range of zinc sticks that come in white and skin tone (be sure to check the colour because you don’t want to buy the pink or the blue coloured  sticks accidentally...). These are 100% effective in blocking the sun because zinc is a physical barrier. Plus the lipstick-like container is hassle free and will survive in your car boot the whole summer without leaking bursting or getting your hands all greasy, forcing you to botch your first duck dive as the set of the day unloads on your head. Single pack $8.99, triple pack $15.99.

They also have a product called “clear zinc sun screen lotion ultra” and “dry touch sun screen lotion for sport”. Both of these have zinc that but goes on clear, while retaining all the sun protection qualities of zinc. It’s non greasy, non smudgy and lasts four hours in the water. It comes in a 100ml tube and retails for $12.99.
There are other little extras like vitamin-e and Aloe Vera which moisturize and do all that other good stuff too. But the bottom line here is this is a reliable, Aussie made product that works for surfers. And you should use it.

For more info: www.sunzapper.com
 

Lycra-Like Rubber

This is where the line between a wetsuit and a rashy becomes blurred. O’Neill’s half millimeter surf jacket feels like a rashy but gives you more 100% sun protection – unlike a rashy. Rash vests are made of lycra and like sun cream, lycra can be SPF rated too.
This little number retails for under $100 and is the bomb. It’s lightweight, flexible, has panels that seem designed to make you paddle faster and even has a little toggle thingy at the back so you can tighten the wetsuit around your waist preventing it from creeping up, and avoiding the old racing-stripe-over-the-top-of-your-arse thing. The torso is neoprene and the arms are eight ounce thick lycra. It’s new school wetsuit technology and a real pleasure in summer. Don’t ask for the lycra-like rubber top with the toggle thingy at the back, just tell the surf shop dude you want to try on the Superfreak Jacket and the more recent version, the Thinskin. And tell them ASL sent you.

Get rubbered up here: www.oneill.com