inflatable wetsuit! thought about making this 10yrs ago, but didn't have the resources. bet thousands have had this concept too... but im happy some one got it done http://www.surfline.com/video/events-and-promotions/introducing-the-inflatable-wetsuit_56388
yeah but then you would have all the kooks buying them thinking their be able to surf in hurricanes and nor'easters and survive. where as billabong is just gonna supply them to the big wave crew.
this is a great idea BUT what happens when u need to duck dive the set coming through and couldnt do it b/c of that stupid bubble. that could potentially be as bad of a scenario. thats the only problem i can see with it. otherwise it is winning!
What he said. You don't activate the thing just for the helluva it. You activate it to get you out of a rough situation. And you don't start paddling back out looking like the hunchback of Notre Dame. You change out the CO2 cartridge. Then you go back out. After a bad couple hold downs in open ocean in the tropics a few years back, I looked at purchasing one of the flotation items on the Net. Nothing really looked like it would work too well with the mobility that you need when surfing. This Billabong innovation is good to see. Although, it doesn't take much to see where this is going. Pump-up rashies / vests are next, for big-warm-water waves / weather. Inflate & deflate on command. Technology will get this there. Like Viagra for a wetsuit. So to speak. Combine this pump-up wetsuit with that moto surf ski thing that Walden has coming out, along with more & more SUP's.... the ocean will start to resemble a parkway.
Better idea- remote trigger. The guy riding the jet ski activates the bladder in case you're unconscious and unable to pull the rip cord.
