neoprene tops & cold water riding?

what do you suggest for a neoprene top for cold water riding? it's not quite dry suit weather and i'd like to get the top first before the whole wetsuit. what mil, brand, model and location in the seattle area .

thanks,
-Kim

Get the Guru. I think it has 1.3 sleeves with 2mm body...or something like that. I wear it well into November. Sometimes over the top of my spring suit.

thanks...i don't know what's carried locally as i haven't gone shopping yet but i'll check out the website .
-Kim

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=11&man=Hyperlite&sku=HY_BQDPB

I like mine so far.}

thanks for the tip and omg...what a sweet boat you have .

I love my o'neill Hammer 2:1. It's a half zip and it's a little more heavy duty than a gooru. I don't think they make 'em anymore though.

Kim,
Check out Wileys in Seattle. I just picked up a long sleeve O Neal... 2 or 2.5 mm I think. It has a smooth finish and is wind proof. I like it much better than my old one… cutting the wind makes a BIG difference. They have a good selection for sizes too.

What do you mean wet suit… most of us in WA go straight to dry suits with shorts and t-shirts underneath some time in October.

I have a stock of .5mm neoprenes. Work great for taking the chill off.

thanks...so that's what i was thinking...get a top and go to drysuit. full wetsuits are binding and not cool (he-he)...so i was thinking of just getting a neoprene to cut the wind and take the initial chill of the temps as the water is getting a little colder. i'll have to check around to see who's carrying what and since i've never been but heard so much about hit up wileys. hey jeff...i'm up for fall and winter riding if you need a third. can i add you to my nw wake yahoo group?
-Kim

I have a 3 mil wetsuit I use for diving. would this work for boarding and will it keep me warm?

I use a ripcurl reversible 2:1 top. They are the best for wakeboarding. I ride trunks with that almost all year round.

i'm looking to get a 4/3 for surfing next year and feel that would be sufficient for the lake too if i need something before the drysuit. so...this is why i want the top only for now. i'd say wear what you have and i'll probably get something light but heavier than a rash guard. thanks all for the suggestions . keep them coming aye?
-Kim

J Rod. Do you have the Gooru LS Crew or the LS Glideskin? Which would you recommend or is the protection the same? Thanks.

I have the Gooru Glide and love it. I think the glideskin blocks the wind better.

While I do have 3/2 wetsuit, I hardly ever use it. I go from heater shirt to drysuit, then back again in the spring.

Cary. How late in the season do you board with the glide? What's your water temp late in the season? I'm west of you in Winston-Salem on Belews Lake. Duke Power has a plant on that lake, so the water stays somewhat warmer?

Randy, Nov/Dec usually, it really depends on the weather and water temps. I ride at Belews and Hyco ALOT in the winter though because of the warmer water.

Do you know about WWW.ENDOFROPEGANG.COM ?

Kim, you live in Hunts Point, go down to Adrenaline Watersports in Bellevue and try different tops on to see which one you like the best. See Mike or Michelle they will be glad to help you out

Cary. I've been on the endofropegang site before and can't remember if I've registered. I'd love to ride with peeps better than me for some pointers. Do you pull your boat to Belews or do you have a crew down here you ride with? Never ridden behind an XStar before. I have an '04 Mobius if you need a pull. Let me know dude. Maybe we can hook up.

Yeh Cary represent the EORG! Randy we rode until late November early December here. I am in Raleigh. We started back in February at Hyco. You should look into Halloween @ Hyco. I am ordering a Jet Pilot F-22. It is all 2mm. That is what one of my best friends has and he loves it.

I've got a ripcurl E2 Elasto top for surfing, its quite nice. I recommend it

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=11&man=Rip%20Curl&sku=RI_syY29

Although, to be quite honest, for wakeboarding I go straight from trunks to drysuit.

The new Guru glideskin is sick. J-Rod and I both have the older style long sleeve, raw neoprene tops. They work killer. No zippers, no gimmicks, no hassles. Had mine for 2 years. I love wearing it for early morning and late evening sets. Come fall I usually jump right into a 3/2 full suit, but I wear the guru and trunks for about 2 months in the spring until the air warms up.

Jet Pilot F-22 Flight Jacket all 2mm, cheaper then guru. MSRP 70.00 wakeside is selling them for 55 bones.

Check Wileys. Oniell makes a Hammer for women (2/1 with zipper). Guess the zipper is a personal choice. I think it makes it easier to get in and out of (always helping pull the non-zips off). Wife has one and loves it. I use mine with some neo shorts into October on LKWA. You should go out with Laci, Cliff, Dave & me sometime. The boat's on the lift just south of Seward Park, Always looking for another driver/third/fourth. New boat coming soon hook up with us now and get in early. HA! :-)

thanks for the feedback...i figure since i like to support my local shop that i will need to see what's available. i'm going to check out sturtevants and adrenaline in bellevue, cope & macphetres in renton, wileys in seattle and i'm supposed to get a $50 gift card for gi joes so i could use that if i had to. and yeah notidad i'd love to go out anytime as i'm not stopping just cause it gets cold and there is snow in the mountains. i can't believe how most people around the seattle area have put this sport to bed since labor day. water is life for me so just let me know when and i'll be there .

thanks,
-Kim

All those places have good stuff. Are your going to Pateros this w/e? If not we'll be back on the water next week sometime. We've switched from early mornings to afternoons. I got your NWWAKE forum. Talk soon.

i'm working sat am then judging a bmx comp that afternoon. i didn't know about it but tell me next week when we go ride aye . have fun and thanks.

so i picked up a gooru oneil at gi joes cause i had that $50 gift card and it's a small for $60...is that a decent price? how is it supposed to fit as they didn't have a medium to compare it to.

thanks,
-Kim

Sounds like a good price to me. You were only out of pocket $10 right and you bought locally. Wakeside is on sale for $74.95 so it seems you got a really good deal. Sorry, don't know anything about the gooru fit.

yeah 10 bucks so can't go wrong i guess. it was marked for $79 but i noticed sale stickers that had been ripped off for $55 and since retail policy is lowest price shown...i got the deal . i'm going to another store to try on a meduim just in case before i wear it though.
-Kim

Wow. How many posts does it take to pick out a new top? JK.

Yes that’s a decent price. Not sure I count GI Joes as supporting your local wake shops… but not a big deal.

It should be snug enough to not bunch around your elbows or arm pits, or other parts… … it will stretch when wet so if it’s a bit big now.. it will feel too big once you wear it a few times.

The O’Neill Gooru Glideskin is the one I have… and it’s great.

yeah i know and gi joes wasn't what i was thinking when saying i wanted to support locally but how can you argue when you are broke and have a free gift card for near the purchase price . then a small is it as the sleeves are kind of long already. thanks.
-Kim