Surfing shares the inherent risks of open water swimming.
With injury and possible death a possibility, especially at the extreme niche of big-wave surfing, the surfing industry and entrepreneurs to continue to develop safety standards and equipment.
In the video below, famed big-wave surfer Shane Dorian describes how the idea for the Billabong V1 wetsuit was developed. Billabong‘s Hub Hubbard tells how an idea came to fruition rather quickly while working together with Mustang Survival Corporation.
Mustang Survival designs maritime survival equipment and created a life-saving wetsuit with an air bladder activated by a shoulder-mounted ripcord. The new wetsuit, available only to big-wave surfers, and called a game-changer.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.