The Effect of Wetsuit Thickness on Surfboard Paddling Performance:

Differences in Heart Rate and Submaximal VO2 Response

Samantha Adair, Jose Aguirre, Aubrey Biewener, Lionel Busgith, Brett Colbert, Brian Crilly, Adrianna Hope Donovan, Araceli Franco, Bianca Jaramillo, Mackenzie Kessler, Keith Knudson,
Caroline Lois, Raymond Mercado, Cindy Nakamaru, Nicole Nunnally, Nicole Parkinson, Scott Runyan, Blake Ryan, Raymond Sahagun, Danielle Tildahl
California State University, San Marcos, CA 92096
Characteristic
Results
Abstract
Background: Published data suggests that wetsuits aid surfers in thermoregulation, reduce drag, and enhance
flotation with little effect on paddling energy expenditure. Despite these benefits, increased neoprene thickness
of the wetsuit may restrict arm movement and therefore also increase energy expenditure. Purpose: The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the effect of wetsuit thickness on surfboard paddling performance by examining
changes in energy expenditure (measured VO2 and heart rate). We hypothesize that surfers will demonstrate a
linear increase in energy expenditure with an increase in wetsuit thickness. Methods: 16 male surfers (ages 1845 ), participated in the study. Each trial lasted 6 minutes: 3 minute rest period followed by 3 minutes of surf
paddling in the Flume Endless Pool Elite Stroke Training system set at a flow of 1.1 m/s. Heart rate (HR) and
submaximal VO2 were measured for subjects during 5 randomized wetsuit interventions (no wetsuit, rash-guard,
0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm wetsuit). Data was collected using Parvo Medics True One 2400 MET Cart and Polar
RCX. Minute 5-6 of paddling was used for analysis (RMANOVA). Results: No significant differences were
observed in mean VO2 (p = .442) and mean HR (p = .962) between interventions. Discussion: This data
suggests that wetsuit top thickness does not significantly affect a surfers VO2 and HR while paddling, therefore
not significantly increasing energy expenditure. Wetsuit manufacturers can use this information when designing
wetsuits, however future biomechanical paddling motion investigations should be done.

Table 1: Subject characteristics. Values recorded as mean +/- SE.

Methods
Subjects
16 healthy adult male surfers participated in the study
Subjects had a history of surfing for at least 5 years and were 18-45 years old.
Protocol
Subjects completed informed consent and surfing questionnaire forms.
Subjects performed 3 minute paddling evaluation to determine paddling proficiency.
Wetsuit order (no wetsuit, top rash-guard, 0.5 mm wetsuit jacket, 1 mm wetsuit jacket, and 2 mm wetsuit jacket)
were randomized for each trial.
Subjects were instrumented for measurements of HR & V02.
Subjects were seated (rested) for minutes 0:00 3:00 in Flume Endless Pool Site Stroke Training System
Subjects paddled on a standard surfboard for minutes 3:00-6:00 at 1.1 m/s in Flume Endless Pool Site Stroke
Training System
Procedures were repeated for all wetsuits
Measurements
Subjects height and weight were measured in kg and cm with a beam scale (Health O Meter)
Subjects V02 was Measured at 5 sec. interval using a Parvo Medics True One 2400 MET Cart
Subjects Heart Rate was recorded at 5 sec interval with a Polar RCX 5
Water Flow was measured using Flow Watch Meter
Statistical Analysis
Minute 5-6 of paddling were used for HR and VO2 analysis
Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The collected data is presented as mean SE.
RMANOVA (Vassarstats.net) was used to statistically analyze V0 and HR difference between the 5 different
wetsuit conditions oxygen uptake

16

Male

23.4 1.63

Board
Typically
Surfed
(cm)

Do you
consider this
a shortboard
or
longboard?

181.7
6.4

Short (n=16)

Height
(cm)

Weight
(kg)

Hrs/ Week
Exercised

Years
Surfed

Surfing
Ability (1-10)

177.96
1.73
Months/ Months/
year
year
spent in spent in
WS
booties

73.28
9.87 1.59 11.7
6.5 0.24
2.45
2.18
Is surfing Air Temperature Water
exercise? (C)
Temperature (C)

8.25
0.41

Yes (n=16)

0.875
0.45

20.62 1.06

26.7 0.7

Table 2: Subject perceived difficulty scale. All subjects gave each wetsuit a 1-5 ordering rating, where 1
was the easiest wetsuit to paddle in and 5 was the most difficult. All values are recorded as meanSE.
WS Type

No WS

Rash guard

0.5mm WS

1mm WS

2mm WS

Average
Rating

1.3 0.27

2.5 0.28

3.0 0.19

3.6 0.31

4.6 0.28

Conclusions
We observed no significant difference in VO2 (p = .442) or HR (p = .962) between wearing no WS, a rash guard, a 0.5mm
WS, a 1mm WS, or a 2mm wetsuit (Figs. 1&3).
These findings suggest that wetsuit top thickness does not significantly increase energy expenditure while paddling.
Wearing a wetsuit top potentially enhances proprioceptive awareness in surfers along with their thermoregulatory properties.
Published date suggests that wearing a wetsuit top significantly increased stroke height complexity, variability in vertical
direction, and mean stroke height, therefore may have beneficial effects on paddling performance in surfers due to the fact
they alter control of the upper extremities.
These results could be considered in the design of wetsuit tops and rash guards for surfers who are in a warmer
environment, however further biomechanical paddling motion investigations should be done in the flume.
Limitations: range of wetsuit thickness variability, lack of controlled environment, surfboard volume matching body
composition, and narrow subject age range

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of wetsuit thickness on surfboard paddling performance by
examining changes in energy expenditure (measured VO2 and heart rate).

Age (yrs)

Subject Preferences
Results

While swimming, wetsuits provide an advantageous effect on propulsion efficiency as drag is reduced by the
enhanced floatation and the smooth surface provided by a wetsuit. Consequently, lower oxygen uptake (VO2)
(energy expenditure) is observed at the same absolute velocity. (Tomikawa, Shimoyama, & Nomura, 2008).
While surfing, the surfboard provides drag reduction and enhanced flotation and wearing a wetsuit can restrict
arm movement and potentially result in more energy expenditure (measured VO2 and heart rate).
Since surfers use increasingly thicker wetsuits to aid thermoregulation in colder water conditions
(Wakabayashi, Hanai, Yokoyama, & Nomura, 2006), increasing the neoprene thickness potentially restricts
arm movement even more and therefore also increases energy expenditure.
A preliminary study suggested wetsuits have little effect on paddling energy expenditure, however, results
were from paddling an ergometer in the laboratory and wearing a dry wetsuit.(Nessler, Silvas, Carpenter, &
Newcomer, 2015).
Paddling a surfboard in water while wearing a wetsuit may have a different impact on the surfer and result in
increased energy expenditure due to altered paddling motion caused by the waters resistance or changes in
the fit and elasticity of the wetsuit.

Sex

Representation of rashguard used in study

Representation of wetsuit top used in study

Background

Figure 1: Average VO2 of the last 1 minute of paddling between

wetsuits. All values are reported as meanSE. *, #, $, % represent
statistical significance (p<.05) from no WS, Rashguard, 0.5mm WS,
and 1 mm WS, respectively.

Figure 2: Average heart rate of the last 1 minute of paddling

between wetsuits. All values are reported as meanSE. *, #, $, %
represent statistical significance (p<.05) from no WS, rashguard,
0.5mm WS, and 1 mm WS, respectively.

References
1. Wakabayashi, H., Hanai, A., Yokoyama, S., Nomura T. (2006). Thermal insulation and body temperature wearing a thermal
swimsuit during water immersion. Journal of Physiological Anthropology 25: 331 338. PMID: 17016009
2. Tomikawa M., Shimoyama, Y., Nomura, T. (2008). Factors related to the advantageous effects of wearing a wetsuit during
swimming at different submaximal velocity in triathletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 11, Pages 417423, ISSN 1440-2440, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2007.02.005.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244007000412)
3. Nessler, J. A., Silvas, M., Carpenter, S., & Newcomer, S. C. (2015). Wearing a Wetsuit Alters Upper Extremity Motion during
Simulated Surfboard Paddling. Plos ONE, 10(10), 1-17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142325
4. Cordain, L., & Kopriva, R. (1991). Wetsuits, body density and swimming performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine,
25(1), 3133.
5. Chatard, JC. & Millet, G. Effects of Wetsuit Use in Swimming Events. Sports Med (1996) 22: 70. doi:10.2165/00007256199622020-00002

Acknowledgements
Figure 3: Mean VO2 between wetsuits while paddling. All
values are reported as meanSE.

Figure 4: Mean heart rate between wetsuits while

paddling. All values are reported as meanSE.

We would like to acknowledge Professor Sean C. Newcomer,

Ph.D., California State University San Marcos Kinesiology
DEPARTMENT, Taylor Copeland, and Heather Furr for their
help in data collection.