Building the Revolution, an “International Community of Surf Shop Supporters”, came together with MANERA’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Austin Benke, to talk all things wetsuits and supporting local shops. Watch the podcast below to learn more!
“To protect and maintain this friendly ecosystem, Manera has stayed true to the local shop model for our sales approach. Selling direct or going through corporate outlets would eliminate part of what the brand cherishes. The knowledge of true practitioners is invaluable, and that is why each MANERA product is only sold through a specialty shop or website. That way, everybody can get the best expertise and advice from someone who is in the water every day.” – Building the Revolution
Ever wondered about the inner workings of the Surf Industry? Curious about the perspectives of surf shop owners, buyers, and brand executives? Interested in the creative visions of shapers as they envision the future of surfing? Then check out Building the Revolution! “Each episode, we egage with different personalities from the surf industry to provide you with the freshest insights. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of surfing from various angles.”
Local shops are the keystone of our sports. Tight-knit communities frequently blossom and prosper around them: local events, comps, test days, local rippers first sponsor, happy and well-advised customers…
Picture the tropical smell of wax, endless rows of gleaming boards, hangers overflowing with new wetsuits, these are welcome sensations upon entering a shop and chatting with the hipster salesman about the newest gear available. It is all an experience, not solely a transaction. Don’t you want kids in 20 years’ time to walk in and experience these shops the way we all did?
Our sports are fragile ecosystems, and skipping over local shops in the name of profit and margin is a short-term game. This is why we don’t sell direct, and 100% of our products are sold through retailers.
More than a sales strategy, it is a commitment to our culture. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOP.
Experience the fit of innovative 3D pattern-making with the newest suits in the 2024 Summer Collection. Explore the SEAFARER+, HYBRID SEAFARER suits, and the BIKISUIT- There is sure to be a summer suit for everyone!
The SEAFARER+
The SEAFARER brings us back to the essentials of what makes a good wetsuit, nothing more, nothing less: warmth, comfort, durability. It’s a no-bullshit wetsuit with MANERA’s renowned fit and construction. If you are looking for a high-performance wetsuit at an affordable price, this is the right choice.
The go-to wetsuit: Reliable from mid-season to early winter, the SEAFARER + 4.3mm is probably the wetsuit you’ll use most often all year round.
In contrast to the classic SEAFARER, the SEAFARER+ features SD2 TAPE in the most critical areas. This tape is applied inside the wetsuit over the seams to make sure these are waterproof and durable.
If you are looking for a high-quality winter wetsuit with the best value for money, the SEAFARER + is made for you.
We create products for everyone to enjoy the ocean. Our love story with salt water often begins in childhood. For this reason, we are launching our “GROMS” line, dedicated to the younger generation.
We have made no compromises so our GROMS wetsuits use the same materials and technologies as the adults.
It is important to us that our youngsters are comfortable to tackle the elements so they can grow their passion for our favorite sports.
The SEAFARER HYBRID 2.2mm protects your body and legs with high quality neoprene while letting your arms completely free. Great for any discipline that requires upper body freedom of movement.
The SEAFARER brings us back to the essentials of what makes a good wetsuit, nothing more, nothing less: warmth, stretch, durability. It’s a no-bullshit wetsuit with Manera’s renowned fit and construction.
If you are looking for a high-performance wetsuit at an affordable price, this is the right choice.
we designed our HYBRID shorty to be warm. It is packed with the same technologies as the 3.2mm steamer: we basically just cut the legs.
The SEAFARER brings us back to the essentials of what makes a good wetsuit, nothing more, nothing less: warmth, stretch, durability. It’s a no-bullshit wetsuit with Manera’s renowned fit and construction.
The SEAFARER brings us back to the essentials of what makes a good wetsuit, nothing more, nothing less: warmth, comfort, durability. It’s a no-bullshit wetsuit with Manera’s renowned fit and construction.
If you are looking for a high-performance wetsuit at an affordable price, this is the right choice.
It’s frustrating to get cold in the summer, therefore the Bikisuit only uses high-quality 2mm neoprene and blind stitched seams. Paired with the renown MANERA fit, the Bikisuit keeps you warm during chilly summer days.
Maui local, Braiden Maither, raises $5,000 for Lahaina residents, gets thoroughly tubed, and speaks on his unique health condition.
“after filming the above edit Scobey Hotel, he broke his leg doing an air reverse at his ‘local shitty beachbreak’.”
“ “It was rough,” he tells me. “I’ve had a bunch of other injuries before, just ligament tears and stuff like that, butgetting healthcare here is crazy. I rolled into the hospital at first, and they told me I was fine. I was like, “There’s no way, I’m in so much pain.” Then the ortho calls me and they’re like, “Yeah, you need surgery right now.” It was a rough two months in bed, I couldn’t move at all.”
Braiden has actually spent a significant portion of his surfing life battling physical ailments, as he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis at 19 years old.
Despite having a name which sounds like a Dr. Seuss villain, ankylosing spondylitis is actually a sort of arthritis located in the spine, which can sometimes cause the vertebrae to fuse, leading to immense pain.
“I had all these kind of weird symptoms right off the bat. My knee blew up and I couldn’t walk forfive months and my shoulder stopped working and all this stuff startedhappening. I was going in and out of doctors for literally six months trying to figure out what itwas, and then they finally diagnosed me. I was out of the water for a year and a half dealing with that. Then, I’ve had recurring injuries, I think partially because itwas always hard to get back to a hundred percent. I still deal with it.” “
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“ “I’ve actually used psilocybin, just little microdoses, to keep my mind clear — because I definitely get gnarly anxiety here and there and depression with injuries. I’ve really noticed that stuffhelps. It’s just a restart on the system a little bit, like a refresher.”
The undertones of this psychedelic dabbling are present in the above claymation scenes, which Braiden says he crafted during his most recent stint out of the water. As we’ve heard from many others, it was more difficult than expected.
“I’ve always been drawn to all the Volcom stuff, and then Dane put out that Andrew Doheny part a little bit ago, and theywere playing with the claymation. I’ve always wanted to play with it and see. It’s a lot tougher than I thought,” he laughs.
“In total, I put in maybe 15 plus hours over time. At the start, it was like four hours of just complete learning and not doing anything, then another four hours to properly get it kind of framed up of how I wanted it, and then probably another four hours of doing it correctly.” “
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“ Last Friday, he premiered the film in the ballroom of the Royal Lahaina Resort — one of the only hotels in Maui who is housing strictly residents who have been displaced by the Lahaina fires.
“150 plus people came out, and we raised almost five grand,” he says, proudly. “I grew up here, so I know a lot of people that got displaced and lost stuff. I know a lot of people aren’t seeing the money from alot of these things, so I’ve just been divvying it up and sending it to families that I know.” “
You can continue to donate on GoFundMe, the fundraising page recommended by Braiden.
This past week, Surfline reviewers, John and Lauren took the Seafarer out for a spin in Santa Cruz, CA. They paid special attention to the 3-D fitting of the suit, the warmth and durability over a long surf session, and overall aspects of the 4/3. Check it out below!
“Wetsuits are an essential and expensive element of surfing. The wrong choice can hurt your wallet and your experience. This week, two Northern California reviewers geared up at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz to try Manera’s latest Seafarer+ Steamer 4/3 wetsuit.”
“Manera designs their wetsuits in 3D to better contour the body. To simplify, the difference between 2D and 3D is depth. Outside of Manera, wetsuits are made with 2D patterns, which are flat, non-dimensional patterns that only account for height and length. 3D patterns add depth to create space for the body’s curves, allowing it to move with you as a second skin.”
How Does the Seafarer Fit?
“John: I found the sizing pretty consistent. This is a really buttery, supple suit. I think other suits can feel kind of stiff. In comparison to other 4/3’s I’ve had, this one actually felt thinner. Sometimes it feels like there’s a lot of rubber and you feel like the Michelin Man. With this suit I noticed it less, it almost felt like I was wearing a 3/2.
Lauren: It’s a tight snug fit, yet flexible, which comes with its pros and cons. It’s not an easy suit to get in and out of, but once you’re in, it’s airtight and waterproof. The closure on the chest zip got stuck in my hair a few times, so tie your hair up before pulling it over.”
Post Surf Session Review
“John: This was my first time putting on the Seafarer+. I had surfed the two days prior in my previous 4/3 and the Seafarer+ felt easier to paddle and move in. On top of that, I was super warm in it and I didn’t have any problems with flushing. It felt really fitted to my body and I was able to move very naturally. This suit is sealed really nicely, which to me, matters more than anything else.
Lauren: I’ve been surfing in it for a couple of months now. I didn’t get cold the entire session, and I’m always the first one on all my friends to get out of the water. I totally agree with John, this suit feels more like a 3/2 in terms of mobility but kept me warm like a 4/3.”
Who Needs the Seafarer?
“John: This is a good daily suit to have. I’ll wear it with a detachable hood on colder days. Over the weekend, I put this wetsuit in my suitcase and noticed how lightweight and compact it was. It’s actually making me question if that thick fleece lining in other 4/3’s is necessary or if it’s just extra bulk.
Lauren: If you’re a cold water shortboarder, I’d recommend a hood with this suit. If it had a hood, this would have been the perfect suit for me because it would give me that head to toe warmth, and I think flushing would happen less. This is a great wetsuit anyone who doesn’t need to worry about the cold water as much, surfs smaller waves, or uses a board with more volume.”
New disciplines often imply new risks. Nowadays, wing foilers and downwinders are going further and further offshore to tackle the best bumps. These limits will only continue to be pushed.
The VAGABOND Impact Vest has been developed as a minimalistic, highly comfortable vest featuring the necessary tools to go offshore and explore the sport further.
Be prepared and “Ready to Escape.”
The Vagabond, in color “Ginger”
Key Features:
Compact & lightweight- Made to provide the best balance between protection and freedom of movement, its thin 15mm foam layer will go unnoticed while riding.
Ready to escape- It features individual PLASTIMO flashlight, whistle, reflective prints, and leash attachments for your accessories (like caps, VHF, phone case…).
Cut resistant jersey- We have chosen a specific cut-resistant jersey to avoid any bad injuries due to a kite line, a foil, or anything sharp that you could encounter.
Big pockets to travel light- Bring your stuff with you, whether it’s a tool, some snacks, or your phone; the two front pockets will be useful for these long days out there.
Available in sizes XS – XL, with black and ginger color options.
We always refused to make bulky, hard helmets because they are very uncomfortable to wear in the wind and horrible to surf with. They could even be dangerous as they make the impact in the water even harder for your neck.
The S-FOAM helmet uses an innovative material that allowed us to create a soft, fitted helmet that is very comfortable to ride with. The S-Foam helmet is applicable for any water sports discipline- your newest safety companion doing the things you love.
Key Features:
“Smart” Foam
Perfect fit
CE certified
“Smart” Foam
S-FOAM (Smart Foam) is made of a non-Newtonian fluid that is soft and flexible at normal state, but instantly becomes stiff when subject to an impact. This means you have a perfectly fitted, comfortable helmet when riding, but it will protect you when needed.
The Perfect Fit
Our innovation here relies on the 3D construction. The helmet is molded into one piece, instead of just trying to assemble a flat pattern into 3D (think standard rugby soft helmets full of bumps and stitchings). The S-FOAM HELMET leaves no area unprotected and perfectly fits your head, creating a helmet-free feeling while riding.
MANERA is a proud sponsor of the Central Coast BoardRiders Club. We are always here to support the local surf communities, and are grateful to get the opportunity to be apart of this growing boardriders movement!
We headed up to Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo to watch the annual US BoardRiders Morro Bay at The Rock comp go down. It was a great day full of high level surf from clubs all over CA, as well as good energy from the local surf community. We were stoked to see the Central Coast BoardRiders Club take the win at their home break, Morro Rock.
We got with one of the main coaches Steve Denham after the club took the win:
“A solid 8+ double whammy by @braden.joness in the final 20’s division iced the win. Stoked on the whole team and club. Special thanks to our sponsors @maneraamerica, @woolyspb, @dornsbreakers, @cayucoscollective, @besteverpads, @805beer. The future is local, see you in Santa Cruz.”
At MANERA, we are a family. It is not some overused marketing cliché, but rather a fact of life.
Whether it’s out on the water or in this business, we don’t forget our family and friends. In the early days of MANERA, a small network of shops and salespeople in the community helped us grow to where we are today. They have our loyalty, and vice versa.
To protect and maintain this friendly ecosystem, we have stayed true to the local shop model for our sales approach. This includes both shopping, and supporting LOCAL.
Another huge congratulations to Central Coast Boardriders. Keep making MANERA proud!
Shop the suits to keep you warm all year long.
The MAGMA is made for cold and windy winter days. Its MAGMA+ fleece acts both as an insulator and heat generator, and dries 30% faster than a classic fleece.
