SAN CLEMENTE – Adam Melling, a pro surfer known for speed and power in the surf, is the face of Oakley’s newest patent launch.
The Blade, a high-tech board short, made its North American debut at The Shore in San Clemente Thursday night. The event coincided with the weeklong Nike 6.0 Lower Pro surf contest held at Trestles. On hand for the unveiling were Oakley designers, surf athletes and surf aficionados.
The board short, designed by Lawrance Quigley, took more than a year to create. The short has two components — an inner compression short and an outer short made from O-Ripstop fabric.
The inner compression helps with blood circulation to reduce lactic build-up in the muscles and reduces muscle vibrations that could damage muscle fibers, Quigley, 46, from Dana Point said. The saltwater-durable fabric of the inner short is coated with Teflon to eliminate friction and prevent rashes, and the welded seams are low profile to prevent chafing.
The exterior short can stretch as much as 120 percent and still spring back for a comfortable fit, Quigley said. Nanotech coating repels water at the microscopic level to stay lightweight instead of waterlogged. The coating makes the material dry fast so surfers can return to the water.
Quigley, who grew up surfing Trestles and Salt Creek beaches, used his own experience in the water to design and build the short. He personally tested the short in waves in Nicaragua, Bali and El Salvador. He said board shorts have really evolved since the 1950s, when they were made from cotton canvas. Board shorts since have been made from lightweight nylon, poly-microfiber and stretch fabric.
The new short is for the competitive surfer who wants to have an edge up, he said. The concept was taken from the compression garments used by other athletes in basketball and baseball. The short will debut t in stores next week priced at $120.
Melling, 26, is from Lennox Head, New South Wales, Australia. The pro surfer, part of Oakley’s Surf Team, is also competing at Trestles this week. He talks about the Blade with the Register.
Q. What do you like best about the Blade?
A. I like the idea. Before they came out with it, I was wearing a similar thing I did myself. It was good but not as good. Having an undergarment helps a lot. It’s perfect for where I live because I’m always wearing board shorts.
Q. Has it helped your surfing?
A. Where I live you have to run a round a lot. Lennox Head has a big point break. My shorts are always rubbing on my legs and it makes you get rashed-up and you won’t surf as good or be out there as long as you would want to be.
Q. How do they compare to your favorite board short before?
A. With my other shorts, they used to catch on my knees. With the new ones the water just beads off and you can’t even feel them.
Q. Do you like the look?
A. They’re pretty stealth. I kind of like my black and grays. There are a lot of board shorts out there that are too bright, these are really stealth.
Q. The shorts compression layer helps with blood flow, why is this good?
A. In competitions you’re only in the water for about 30 minutes but you’ve got all this adrenaline and it kind of takes energy out of you. The undergarment for the short helps keep the blood flowing in your legs and you recover quicker.
Q. In Australia there are lots of sharks because of the warm water, have you had a scary encounter?
A. On an Oakley shoot at Stradbroke Island in Queensland, I was just sitting off a sandbar and there was a shark the size of my board right next to me. I moved my leg up and it took off. It was scary enough to bring me in.
Q. You’re competing in the Lowers Pro at Trestles, how are you doing?
A. I made it to round two so far, it’s just started.
Q. Where do you go next? What’s the best thing about being a pro surfer?
A. Rio, Brazil for a World Tour event – traveling to all the best waves in the world. It’s pretty much living a dream. I started surfing at 3. I’m lucky to have made my profession surfing every day.
Q. What’s your favorite place to surf?
A. At home, I like surfing with my mates.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter.com/lagunaini
