Rip Curl’s H-Bomb Instore Now!

It was late in September ‘08, a grey morning at Beacon (13th Beach) with the tide not quite low enough, the wind just a little too westerly and the swell an inconsistent 3 foot. Not a soul out.

After a run of good waves for the past fortnight, there was no genuine reason for 8 grown men to be hanging out in the car park at 7am… or was there?

From the east along “mad-max hwy” (13th Beach Road) the group first heard the diesel engine, then saw what appeared to be a Mr Whippy Van emerging from the mist. But Mr Whippy van it was not… it was the Rip Curl H-Bomb Van and Cameron Lamperd (National Wetsuit Product Manager) was our Mr Whippy!

Aboard were half a dozen of the first production H-Bomb wetsuits – the world’s first power-heated wetsuits!

Instantly it felt like Christmas, each of the gathering were handed a H-Bomb chest-zip 3X2mm steamer with fully charged batteries for a sample of the future.

A brief lecture on the features and use instructions was followed by a frenzy of activity with the gang jumping into the fresh neoprene to hit the line-up.

Most of the details did not really sink-in due to the excitement, so luckily Cam and Tony Ray (Ex-Pro and current Rip Curl Tech Representative) were on hand to assist.

Once in the line-up, the buzz, the giggling and the conversation about the “space-age” devices seemed to warm the water alone.

Waves that would usually be left were taken, ridiculous close-out reo’s and white-water climbs were attempted in the name of science!

Feedback was awesome with the flexibility of the E3 rubber, the comfort of the battery packs, the easy use of the 3-setting external switch and of course …the HEAT.

Compared to taking your hot-water bottle or electric blanket for a surf, the suits back panel heating element provides instant warmth to the torso and vital organs, which then heat the blood circulating to ones extremities, sounds rich?

This is the real-deal! After one use, many of our sample-group were sold (or at least willing to talk to the missus into the $1499.95 RRP spend for the upcoming winter).

Personally, I am amazed by the suit. After having Rip Curl and other brand “top of the line” wetsuits for all of my teenage and adult life, this is without a doubt the most impressive wetsuit I have ever worn.

Light, comfortable, soft, easy to use and hot (literally). What else could you want from a wetsuit?

Come into Tonik’s Barwon Heads store this winter as we’ve snavelled a full size range of these babies from S – XL for Winter ‘09.

We’ll be stoked to show you the finer details and have you try one on. If you are a size medium, look out … you may have to fight me for it!

Words by Llew Callahan
Operations Manager
TONIK SURF CENTRE