Surfline X Pete Devries Talks Shoulder Season Wetsuits

Source: Surfline

Manera x Surfline Shop have teamed up to deliver an epic beanie with every Manera order purchased on the Surfline Shop. If that doesn’t persuade you, read below.

When you’re surfing in bone-chilling waters such as Canada or Alaska, your gear is fundamental to your success. A wetsuit that floods, booties that shift, or hoods that are too tight or loose, can skew a surfer’s day entirely.  

Pete Devries is a professional Canadian cold-water shredder who perceives hoods as essential as his surfboards and considers his 4/3 a summer wetsuit. Before heading out for another adventure in the middle of the Bering Sea (with a fresh 6 mil ready to go), Pete told us what’s in his wetsuits quiver. Spoiler: it’s all Manera. 

To understand Pete’s commitment to Manera, you need some context. In 2020, Pete’s 20-year partnership with Hurley had come to an end. While some brands sat in shock, others seized the opportunity to show this Canadian how good a wetsuit can truly be. 

“Manera was the first company that reached out,” he says. “I started looking at their stuff, they sent me a few samples, and I was blown away by the quality. Surfing with Team Manera is really great. It’s been fun working on different video projects with them, which is something I didn’t really get to do in the past with fairly with such a big international team.” 

Before Manera, Pete would go through more than six wetsuits per year and a pair of booties every three weeks. Some wetsuits would start as flexible and be blown out from the seams after a few sessions, and others the quality just wasn’t up to par. A helpful reminder that finding a wetsuit brand that fits your needs is a challenge for everyone, even the pros.  

So according to Pete, what is so great about Manera wetsuits? “The quality, the durability, and the flexibility.”

With Manera, Pete gets three wetsuits at the start of fall to gear up for his cold-water winter surfing. For Pete, it’s the kneepads that always go first, so he makes sure his quiver is stocked. Though these suits will last him around two or three seasons, he only uses the latest and greatest for his coldest surfs. The previous seasons suits are rotated in during summer or shoulder season.  

Before the dead of winter happens and the 6 mil is broken out, Pete took us through his favorite Manera wetsuits and accessories for shoulder season.

Men’s X10D Meteor 4/3 Chest Zip Fullsuit Wetsuit

My go-to summer and shoulder season wetsuit when the water temp is around 51º or above. The 10XD is an essential wetsuit for the daily hardcore surfer who wants a high-performance suit that’s flexible and has good maneuverability. “I’m a guy who always wears a hood, so having one that is lighter when it’s not too cold is perfect. The 10XD provides top notch flexibility without the compromise of durability and longevity.” 

Men’s Alt 5/4/3 Chest Zip Fullsuit Wetsuit

“This one is currently in my quiver. The Alt has a bit more weight and thicknesses being a 5 mil. On the flexibility scale, this one is a bit stiffer, but it’s an all-around suit that I’ll use in the winter. The Alt is an environmentally friendly wetsuit made with alternative materials, so the neoprene has a different feel to the exterior, but the interior feels the same. For anyone who is more conscious of the environment or gets up for dawn patrol before work on the coldest days of winter, the Alt is for you.” 

Magma 2mm Wetsuit Hood

I personally don’t use this one, I find it too warm. Say if you’re wearing the Alt 5/4/3 Hoodless, or any hoodless suit, you can throw this on for the extra warmth. This hood is full on meant for the coldest conditions, which means it doesn’t have much maneuverability in it.” 

XTENDHOOD

“I wear this one because it’s a lot lighter and brings me a lot more flexibility for my neck. The 10XD Hood is made with the same materials as the 10XD Wetsuit. The detached hood alleviates the compression I feel on my neck with hooded wetsuits. I’ve found that these hoods can help me sustain a longer surf session without being as stiff and sore after. Especially when I want to rip an air where your body is rotating or power through a turn where your head is torquing, this hood brings that extra rotation without the pullback from a hooded suit.”  

Magma 7mm Round Toe Wetsuit Booties

“Boots are an interesting one for me. In recent years, I’ve found that the boots have been too flexible, and the neoprene gets too soft and gummy. I was blowing out a boot within one to three weeks. The Manera Round Toe Booties have a good mixture of feeling good while having solid soles that make them actually last. I’m very impressed with how these booties perform.   

 “I probably go through two pairs of Manera 7mil Booties in the winter as opposed to a pair of boots every month. I prefer very tight-fitting boots. I was worried about the fit because these boots don’t have a specific strap to tighten. So, if you’re looking for that tight fit, size down. I’m a size 10 shoe, but I wear a size 8 in boots.  

“When trying them on, they will definitely feel tight. It takes some technique to finesse your foot in there. On your first surf with them, you’ll feel pressure on the top of your foot. But just know, after a couple of days, they will loosen up just enough. If you’re struggling to get the boots on, I put some warm water in them to soften the neoprene.” 

Get Tubed to win $1500 and a Manera Wetsuit!

Manera and Surf Session invite you to take a part of Epic Wave contest. Around the world over the given period, you have free scope to score your best barrel, which could win you $1,500 and a Manera wetsuit.

How do you take part?

1/ Score and film your best barrel between September 21 and November 21, anywhere around the world.

2/ Send your video (free of rights and not filmed by another media) in high resolution to manera.com; please note that it must not have already been published by other accounts on social networks or other platforms! The video must be sent in .mp4 and .raw format (which will be used to verify the authenticity of the shot).

3/ Subscribe to @surfsessionmag and @manerawatermen on Instagram. You can post your video on your personal account (only), mentioning #EpicWaveManera and tagging @surfsessionmag and @manerawatermen.

The jury

Justine Dupont, Ian Fontaine and Pete Devries will select the overall winner of the Epic Wave contest from the 12 barrels pre-selected by the Surf Session and Manera teams.

On social networks, the surfing community will also have its say, by liking its favorite performance on Instagram every week from November 24!

The prizes

Two prizes will be awarded in this competition.

The jury prize: $1,500 + 1 Manera wetsuit.

The community prize: $500 + 1 wetsuit.

2023 SunDiego Boardshop AM SLAM FINAL!

Sun Diego has been doing business since 1981 and this series has become a staple of their efforts to support the local surf communities of San Diego county. Surfing, skateboarding and all things coastal are what drives SunDiego to deliver the best assortment of products from brands that range from staple to niche, and even those that are new to the scene. 

The annual AM SLAM Series is a line up of surf contests that the local community and surfers of San Diego look forward to every year. With top surfer and skater athletes, a wide range of brands, a large cash purse and industry known event announcers like Chris Cote and Jamey Stone, the energy of this event is continuously elevated throughout the day. 

The series is a four stop series with a larger formated Final event that surfaces the names that have been put in the work to be at the top. Manera had plenty of names in the mix this year that included team riders Tim Fandey, Titus Santucci, Nico Panichella and the overall AM Series season champ Kyan Yang! Big congrats guys and big thank you to Sun Diego for putting on such an amazing event for the community! 

See full AM SLAM series final recap via the link below and we will see you there next year! #SupportLocalShops 

Team Rider Cruz Vellocido Wins at 2023 Salento Surf Comp 

The Manera groms team is out there charging! Team rider Cruz Vollocido took the Grom Comp win at last week’s Solento Surf Festival comp at Seaside. It was a day full of good surfing and great community! Manera value’s these opportunities to work with the upcoming youth like Cruz and good families like the Vellocidos!

The Solento Surf Festival (SSF) represents the vibrant convergence of surfing, film, art, and music. They invited the community to immerse themselves in the festivities that took place from September 16-23, 2023 in Encinitas, California.

#Manerawatermen #ManeraGrom  

ALT stands for « Alternative »

It features a 100% natural YULEX rubber. Unlike finite resources like oil and limestone, natural rubber is a renewable resource. Directly tapped from FSC-certified hevea forests without cutting them down. The performances of the ALT are close to a MAGMA’s. We believe the ALT represents a new generation of high-performance wetsuits that has a more reasonable impact on the planet.

Unlike finite resources like oil and limestone, natural rubber is a renewable resource. It ensures along-term supply stability as well  reduced environmental impact. 

The new MAGMA recycled is knitted with 45% recycled polyester. Its fleece insulates and keeps you warm even during the worst winter days.

    
Assembled with 100% recycled nylon, the inside jersey is a key part of the wetsuit, being in direct contact with the skin.

 SD2 tape 2.0 is an innovative process that brings more durability, waterproofness and flexibility to our wetsuits.

Relic’s Surf Rummage x Manera

On Sunday, September 3rd, Relic Surf Shop in Ucluelet hosted a ‘Surf Rummage’ flea market. The event kicked off at 10 am as community members set up their tables, transforming the shop into a bustling marketplace.

At 5 pm, a raffle drew attention, featuring generous surf prizes donated by Relic Surf Shop and Manera, along side other big name sponsors such as Reef, Vissla, KT, Rip Curl, and Vans. The raffle offered a chance for attendees to score some fantastic surf gear.

In the evening, the crowd gathered for a screening of Quicksilver’s ‘Repeater,’ providing surf enthusiasts and movie buffs with some cinematic entertainment.

The best part? All proceeds from the event went to support Surfrider Pacific Rim, contributing to the protection of our coastal environment.

Relic Surf Shop’s ‘Surf Rummage’ flea market was not just a fun day out but also an opportunity to give back to the ocean we all cherish. It was a memorable event for everyone who attended, and we were stoked to be a part of it!

Meet the Haapiti: Woman Board Shorts

Blending timeless styling and technical features, our new HAAPITI Women boardshorts can be worn both in and out of the water.

Haapiti

This high-waisted boardshort offers a perfect fit to ride with a high freedom of movement and total confidence. Ideally sitting on your hips, it won’t move a bit as you fly above the waves; the high-rise fit will leave you free to show off your best moves and the 4-way-stretch fabric will always keep you snug.

This boardshort features a Velcro side-closure and adjustment system. This minimalistic design means that you can easily put it on and take it off as well as lie comfortably on the board, without the irritation of a bulky lace.

David Sincox X Lift Journal Foil Bag Testimonial

In the realm of surf foil enthusiasts, innovation is key to enhancing the experience and ensuring the safety of their prized equipment. Additionally, we are constantly seeking ways to streamline our routines and protect our equipment: enter the Manera Surf Foil Bag.

David Sinox, our esteemed Manera America Ambassador hailing from Jersey, will walk you through what makes this bag a game-changer in your foil accessory line up.

Gone are the days of struggling with traditional zippers that risk damaging the board. Instead, Manera’s innovative approach employs a clever arrangement of velcros, ensuring unparalleled protection and convenience.

The cornerstone of this innovation lies in the high protective foam that envelops the bag, cocooning your surf foil board in a layer of ultimate defense. Whether you’re assembling your foil on a concrete platform or navigating various terrains, the Manera Surf Foil Bag’s built-in protective mattress offers an indispensable safeguard against any potential harm.

Crafted from premium Polyester 600D, a material renowned for its resilience against shocks, tears, UV rays, and water, these surf foil bags embody Manera’s commitment to durability. Designed to withstand the rigors of the elements and the demands of surf foiling, these bags guarantee longevity and ensure your equipment remains in pristine condition.

One of the most distinctive features of Manera’s foil bags is their ingenious design that allows you to stow your board with the mast intact. This means you can keep your setup ready for action, reducing the time spent assembling and disassembling while maximizing your time on the water. It’s a small but significant shift that can transform your surf foiling experience.