How to Take Off a F*!@ckin Wetsuit

No doubt about it – wetsuits are great inventions.  They keep you warm when the water is frigid, and they keep you safe from all the slimy seaweed and creatures that like to swim around you when you are sitting on your surfboard waiting for a nice set.  But despite their functional benefits, wetsuits are undeniably the most difficult item of clothing to remove from the human body.  The only thing that would trump wetsuits would be honey – for those of you who don't know, honey is almost impossible to get off your skin and hair.  But I digress.

So, if wetsuits are a necessary evil for those surfers who are damned to surf in cold waters, then there must be some method that they can employ that could ease the strain of wetsuit removal.  I am not promising the world, but here are some tips for getting your wetsuit off that does not involve a team of 4 people.

1) The banana approach – try peeling the suit off so that it is entirely inside-out when you have finally removed it.

2) Lube up – try applying bodyglide to your forearms, thighs, calves and ankles.  Do not try anything with petroleum jelly.  It may help you take your suit off after a good surf session, but it will destroy your wetsuit pretty quickly.

3) Chill out – Staying relaxed and using controlled movements while you wiggle yourself free from the neoprene will make the experience a lot less frustrating.  This will also help calm the laughter coming from people who are watching you wrestle with your wetsuit.