FINISTERRE LAUNCH NEW WETSUIT TESTER SCHEME
After three years of research and development, this autumn sees British cold water surf brand Finisterre launch their brand new wetsuit tester programme. The goal? Nothing less than a complete rethink of the wetsuit for surfers living in cold water environments.
‘We’re developing a suit that will perform in the true cold water environments that we experience’ explains Finisterre brand director Ernest Capbert. “Not just in Cali-style 25°C air temps and constant sunshine. In the true cold water surf environment, temperatures are low, it’s often raining and windchill is high. These are the factors we’ve considered when designing these suits.’
To meet this ambitious brief, Finisterre are working with Mat D’Ascoli, formerly of Xcel wetsuits, and the design focus has been on lightness in the water, ease of entry/exit, quick drying time and durability, as well as the use of environmentally friendly fabrics where possible.
The wetsuits are scheduled for release for AW15, but in the meantime Finisterre are inviting surfers to take part in the Wetsuit Tester Scheme, which starts this November. Testers will have the opportunity to buy a suit at a special test price, put it through it’s paces during AW14/15 and take part in feedback sessions at the end of the winter. After a further final stage of refinement and development, the suits will be available to buy from September 2015.
Full size sets of 4mm and 5mm suits will also be available to test at all Finisterre stores (St Agnes, Braunton and Falmouth) from November 2014.