The last couple of months I’ve been testing this Nineplus stylist wetsuit and so far I’m very impressed. The latest generation of suits seem a real step up in quality from the last Nineplus suit I had a couple of years ago. It’s mostly single lined 3mm Yamamoto neoprene, it’s soft, fits like a glove and is supple and flexible too. Seams are glued blindstitched and spot taped on stress points. The “shorts” area in particular feels very flexible, you aren’t aware of the seams in this area at all. It’s definately a suit you almost forget you’re wearing.

Closure is with a back zip and a generously sized “batwing” collar underneath to keep it watertight. Entry and exit are therefore very easy and there’s minimal water flushthrough

It’s a warm suit and i’m looking forward to getting my full leg version soon which i’m sure will be even warmer!

The big problem with the Nineplus suits I’ve owned in the past has been durability but so far it doesn’t look like an issue thats going to affect this suit. All in all, stylish, warm, flexible and good value for money.

Testing on dawnpatrol, La Torche, Finisterre:

menswaves.over-blog.com

More of my ramblings: adventuresintrim.blogspot.com

Gul are trying to find the oldest suit still in one piece. Proof of age of the suit is required, photographs will be accepted of course, or even better, provide the real thing. If you can help, find your old suit, or a photograph of the suit in question and then simply send it to Gul, or email the marketing department here.

And in the mean time, don’t forget that there is a brand spanking new Gul wetsuit up for grabs in the Drift / Gul giveaway. Go on treat yourself to a new wettie this summer, especially if the old one is as brittle as a bag of spanners.

How did you end up taking this path through life?
Growing up, we were lucky to have a mum that wanted us to try different things and pushed us to be active and try lots of sports. I remember always doing something, climbing, swimming… I think I could swim before I could walk!
At 17, I decided the education system wasn’t for me and bought a ticket to Australia. I get bored quite easily, so surfing seemed like the thing to keep my active and restless side at bay. After buying a crappy 6’0, I was getting a little frustrated with the lack of progression, as you can imagine! I figured I was rubbish at surfing, so didn’t try very hard to master it while I was in Oz.
When I came back to England, I worked as a beachguard in Cornwall. I started surfing heaps more at that point – being at the beach all day, every day, it’s hard (and stupid) not to. I spent the next five years working the summers lifeguarding and teaching surfing here in Cornwall, and surfing the winters away in nice places. Working on the beach is great and I had heaps of fun but eventually I needed a change, to do new things, so the next few years I worked on building skills in other areas of interest.

It’s a bit of leap from surfing to sewing… or is it?
Sewing’s a funny one… I’ve always done it because mum is a really talented dressmaker and she used to make our clothes (SO not cool when you’re 10!). When I wanted a change from working on the beach I took a job as a soft-furnisher for a few years, which was really good for my design and manufacturing skills.
Then I ran a restaurant (I told you I had a restless side). I’d been a waitress on and off in the evenings since I was 13 so knew the trade and got offered the job so figured I may as well give it a go. It was good to do the business thing, but not really my cup of tea for too long.

How did Neon come about?
Well it wasn’t planned it just kinda happened – I wanted a long arm. very short leg wetsuit, but couldn’t find one anywhere so I drew a design and got Paul at Bodyline to make it up for me. I loved it, it was just what I wanted and heaps of people commented on it in the sea. I had a couple more made for friends that wanted them and they were stoked too. I can’t really remember where the name came from; I’d been surfing with my friend Nina and we were in the carpark talking shit and it came out of that somehow!
I spent a while working with Paul – he showed me how to make wetsuits and I helped him with his repair work. It was a nice little trade off and we still help each other out like that now – Paul’s ace!
I was offered an awesome studio space, so I took the opportunity and decided I may as well try it and see what happens. At the moment Neon is slowly developing its style, which is super fun. I’m messing about with colour and patterns – there’s so many possibilities!
I also do a small women’s clothing range – I started making the things I wanted to wear and got heaps of positive feedback, so Neon branched out.
I’m happy at the moment taking it slow and really enjoying what I’m doing. There’s so much to think about when you start a business like this, it would be great to do more research into using new environmentally conscious materials, for instance, but hopefully it won’t take long to find my feet.

It takes some balls to start your own business…
It feels good at the moment to be here, there’s a lot of very creative and talented people around me doing the things they love and making it work. There’s nothing more inspiring to me than a person who takes risks – not stupid risks like putting their house on a horse! – but, you know, people who aren’t scared to believe in what they want to do and go get it. I’ve wanted to do something by myself since I was about 16; I was too scared for ages but I guess I just wasn’t there until now. Trying things is what’s important; if they don’t work, it’s not the end of the world.
It does make a difference having people around you who inspire you to push on, and I’m super lucky for that. I have great friends to surf with and also to run ideas past. Loads of people are really passionate about surfing and the creative culture that runs alongside it; it’s a great scene to be inspired by. Mostly because it’s passion and belief that is the driving force, not money. Hopefully that’s where you find happiness.

What are you scared of?
I’ve never been a fan of wolves! There’s a mental guest house in Newquay called the De Wolf – the owners are obsessed with them. Weird! I’m not super-scared, but I used to dream about them a lot… They were trying to eat me.

What’s rocking your world right now?
I’m super-loving my surfing at the moment, trying lots of different boards, loving my Jacobs log, and excited to be getting a pig from Squire Surfboards.
It just takes a weekend away from Cornwall to remember how special it is. I love it here, and I know how lucky I am to live and work and surf here (a few more points would be good though). There have been some fun summer waves here recently, and the odd proper ground swell which is nice in the summer. I’m looking forward to doing some travels this winter though – it’s important to have a change of scene and get some winter sun and fun.

If you could be anywhere, where would you be?
I’d be eating a picnic on top of a hill in some warm but not too hot sunshine, looking at the sea but surfed out so not botherd to rush back in, with some lovely company… and ginger beer!

You’re a Howies teamrider too…
I’m super lucky to have such an inspirational company as a sponsor. I’m not too sure how I came to be part of the Howies surf team, but I’m stoked and I’m proud to be able to represent them. I don’t think there are many brands I could say that about. Good companies are few and far between, and the surf industry is lucky to have a few of the best ones in the world among them.

A movie is to be made about your life; who would play you and which other actors would play your friends?
Whoopi Goldberg would play me. My friends would play themselves – no-one else could do them justice.

Are there any songs that would have to be on the soundtrack?
Anything by Elvis or Bon Jovi. James Taylor ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ (a bit gushy but important); Marvin Gaye ‘Sexual Healing’; MC Hammer ‘Can’t Touch This’; Ryan Adams ‘La Cienega Just Smiled’; Prince ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, Bill Withers…

Which fictional character would you most like to be?
Mama Flump – remember them? They just wobbled around picking up rubbish wearing really cool hats!

What is your most guilty pleasure?
Bon Jovi!

What’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about you?
“You’re alright for a chick”.

If you had to have a motto, what would it be?
Eat well, sleep if needed, be nice.

Rui: When did your relationship with surfing begin?
Carl: My love for the water has always been there. I started to surf when I was 18 years old, and I was immediately addicted. My favourite thing about surfing is that you never know when the next best slide is coming. It can be knee-high with a ride to the beach, or a head-high barrel. Both give you that craving for more.

Rui: What boards were you riding back then?
Carl: My first board was a used hand-shaped 9’0” Robert August singlefin, with a blue resin tint. I couldn’t have asked for a better board, until I bought my second board, a 9’6” Takayama model T singlefin.

Rui: What do you ride now? What changed?
Carl: I have a couple of boards. I would say I predominately ride singlefin longboards. I have a Mayo 9’6” pintail single fin for bigger days and a 9’7” Bing glassed-on singlefin ‘pig’ for the smaller days.

Rui: Why the wetsuit industry?
Carl: I have tested the water in various surf-related industries. I started shaping boards in my garage and slowly moved on to design my own wetsuit line. Wetsuits are more complex than some might think. At Es-cent-ial, we are trying to fill the void. The void can be different, depending on the customer. Luckily, my uncle owns a manufacturing facility for wetsuits and lycra shirts. The company is called Ocean Tec and mainly focuses on private labelling products.

Rui: What’s the Es-cent-ial ethos?
Carl: My uncle and I got together and decided to offer a minimalistic wetsuit with all the strength. We wanted to offer very few logos and simple designs, but use all top of the line material. All of our suits are constructed with Yamamoto rubber and hollow yarn fleece for the chest panels. Es-cent-ial should show customers and surfers that quality doesn’t always come with added cost.

Rui: So you think there’s a market for a company that concentrates on the customer, not the profit?
Carl: Profits aren’t everything: product quality and consumer loyalty will drive the Es-cent-ial ‘train’. Companies these days pay a lot of lip service to different causes. Es-cent-ial uses eco-friendly materials and we give back to the surfers. We want our customers to know that their loyalty and feedback will shape Es-cent-ial as a company.

Rui: Es-cent-ial started online and it’s growing fast – you’ve now reached Europe. The web and the blogging world are very important nowadays, aren’t they…
Carl: The internet is a powerful marketing tool, especially within the blog world. Es-cent-ial is very selective with their advertising. Our message has to be clear and it has to correspond with our overall ethos. The blog world has enabled us to give that vision to our followers. We are currently developing a new website which will keep our loyal customers in tune with new products, art, and surf adventures.

Rui: Es-cent-ial started with just a few models and now you’ve branched out into accessories and even t-shirts. What’s next?
Carl: At the moment, we are trying to nail down the men and ladies wetsuit lines. That includes 5/4s, 4/3s, hoods, gloves, and booties. Once the wetsuit line is in full gear, we would like to get into offering surfing essentials, board shorts. Just like our wetsuits, the board shorts will be wrapped around function and minimalism. I have offered a couple preliminary designs on the blog; feel free to send me some comments.

Rui: Es-cent-ial has a good connection with Keith Novosel and Almond Surfboards. How does that work for you?
Carl: When I created Es-cent-ial, Keith was the first and only photographer I contacted. He has been the driving force behind the creation of the Es-cent-ial ‘look’. His pictures make you want to surf and explore for the next best session. There is a certain connection with Keith’s pictures that surfer’s can relate to. Keith is one of the few that puts his heart and soul into bettering Es-cent-ial as a whole.
Dave at Almond is a current customer of Es-cent-ial wetsuits. Es-cent-ial and Almond have a common bond; we both love surfing for the simplicity and the feeling of the slide. We have created a limited addition ‘Almond’ line of wetsuits for the sole fact that we believe in Almond and the message they portray. When you see photos of their shop, the boards he shapes, or the clothes they design, you know they get it.

Rui: We see alternative surfboards grow very fast these days. What’s your view on that? Just a trend?
Carl: I dig anything that let you feel the glide or the power of a wave. If it is a 5’6” fish or a handplane, both can give you the stoke. Me personally, I love the ride of a singlefin log. There is nothing like trimming on a singlefin – I love it.

Rui: What’s the future for Es-cent-ial?
Carl: Es-cent-ial’s future is open, and determined by the people who believe in its simplicity. We want to support surfers and their dreams in all aspects of the art. It started with a dependable wetsuit and who knows where we go from here.
If you don’t surf, you should. But, if you do decide to open your mind to the great ride, it is essential to be open to all surfers, styles, boards and waves. And only then can you feel the fulfilment of surfing, and we hope you do.

Rui: Quando começou a tua relação com o surf?
Carl: A minha paixão pela água vem sendo induzida. Comecei a surfar quando tinha 18 anos e fiquei imediatamente viciado. A minha coisa favorita sobre o surf é que nunca sabes quando a próxima grande onda vem. Ela pode ser pequena a deslizar até á praia, ou um tubo numa onda maior. Ambas nos deixam ansiosos por mais.

Rui: Que pranchas usavas nessa altura?
Carl: A minha primeira prancha foi uma 9’0 Robert August Single fin, usada, feita á mão, com um pigmento azul. Eu não podia pedir uma prancha melhor, até que comprei a minha segunda prancha, uma 9’6 Takayama model T Singlefin!

Rui: E agora, com o que surfas? O que mudou?
Carl: Eu tenho algumas pranchas. Predominantemente surfo com longboards singlefin. Tenho uma Mayo 9’6 pintail single fin para os dias maiores e uma 9’7 Bing glassed on singlefin ‘pig’ para os dias menores.

Rui: Porquê a industria dos fatos de surf?
Carl: Eu já trabalhei em muitas áreas diferentes relacionadas com o surf. Eu comecei por fazer pranchas na minha garagem e lentamente mudei para desenhar a minha própria linha de fatos. Os fatos são muito mais complexos que a maioria pensa. Na Es-cent-ial nós tentamos preencher um espaço. Esse espaço pode ser diferente de cliente para cliente. Felizmente o meu tio tem uma fábrica de fatos e licras. A companhia chama-se Ocean Tec e está focada em produzir para marcas privadas.

Rui: O que está por detrás da criação da Es-cent-ial?
Carl: O meu tio e eu juntámo-nos e decidimos oferecer um fato minimalista com toda a resistência. Nós queríamos muito poucos logótipos e designs simples mas usando apenas material de topo. Todos os nossos fatos são construídos com borracha Yamamoto e Velo (tecido capaz de reter o calor) no peito. A Es-cent-ial deve mostrar aos clientes e surfistas que a qualidade não precisa ter um custo extra.

Rui: Pensas que o Mercado precisa de companhias como a Es-cent-ial focadas na qualidade e no cliente e não nos lucros?
Carl: A Es-cent-ial foca-se unicamente nas necessidades dos clientes e na qualidade dos seus produtos. Os lucros não são tudo. São a qualidade e a lealdade dos nossos clientes que vão conduzir a Es-cent-ial. As empresas hoje em dia dão muita atenção a diferentes causas. A Es-cent-ial usa materiais amigos do ambiente e queremos dar algo de volta aos surfistas. Nós queremos que os nossos clientes saibam que a sua lealdade e feedback vão moldar a Es-cent-ial como empresa.

Rui: A Es-cent-ial começou online e tem crescido rapidamente, chegando agora á Europa. A internet e os blogues são muito importantes hoje em dia não?
Carl: A Internet é uma poderosa ferramenta de marketing, especialmente no seio dos blogues. A Es-cent-ial é muito selectiva com a sua publicidade. A nossa mensagem tem de ser clara e tem de corresponder com a imagem que queremos passar. Os blogues têm-nos permitido passar essa visão aos nossos seguidores. Actualmente estamos a desenvolver o novo website que vai permitir aos nossos clientes manterem-se a par com os novos produtos, com arte e as aventuras.

Rui: A Es-cent-ial começou com apenas alguns modelos de fatos e agora já vai em acessórios e até mesmo T-shirts. O que vem a seguir?
Carl: Neste momento estamos a definir a linha de fatos masculinos e femininos. Isso inclui 5’4′s, 4/3, gorros, luvas e botas. Assim que a linha de fatos esteja em velocidade de cruzeiro queremos começar a oferecer alguns produtos essenciais para o surf como calções. Tal como os nossos fatos, os calções serão desenvolvidos com a função e minimalismo como base. Eu já coloquei alguns designs preliminares no blog. Estejam á vontade para comentar.

Rui: Es-cent-ial tem uma boa ligação com o Keith Novosel e a Almond surfboards. Isso também pode fazer a diferença?
Carl: Quando eu criei a Es-cent-ial, o Keith foi o único fotografo que contactei. Ele tem sido o motor por trás da criação da imagem da Es-cent-ial. As suas fotos fazem-nos querer surfar e explorar a próxima grande surfada. Há uma certa conexão entre as fotos do Keith e os surfistas. O Keith é um dos poucos que coloca alma e coração em melhorar a Es-cent-ial.
O Dave da Almond é um cliente da Es-cent-ial. A Es-cent-ial e a Almond têm algo em comum; ambos amamos o surf pela simplicidade e sensação de deslizar. Criámos uma edição limitada de fatos ‘Almond’ apenas pelo facto de acreditarmos na Almond e na mensagem que eles passam. Quando vemos fotos da loja dele, das pranchas que ele faz ou as roupas que desenha, nós sabemos que eles estão lá!

Rui: Vemos o mercado das pranchas alternativas a crescer muito actualmente. Qual é a tua opinião sobre isso? Apenas uma moda?
Carl: Eu gosto de tudo que te permita deslizar e sentir o poder da onda. Seja numa Fish 5’6 ou uma handplane! Eu pessoalmente adoro um longboard singlefin. Não há nada como percorrer a onda numa singlefin, Adoro!

Rui: Qual o futuro da Es-cent-ial?
Carl: O futuro da Es-cent-ial está em aberto e será determinado pelas pessoas que acreditam na sua simplicidade. Nós queremos apoiar surfistas e os seus sonhos em todos os aspectos da arte. Começou com fatos e quem sabe para onde iremos a seguir! Se não surfas, devias. Mas se decidires abrir a tua mente á experiência de surfar é essencial manteres-te aberto a todos os surfistas, estilos, pranchas e ondas. E só assim podes atingir o objectivo do surf, e nos esperamos que sim!