On a similar note ...

I've seen some crew at Sandgate in Brisbane (that's apparently notorious for irritating stingers) wearing long-legged rashie material (lycra?) pants.

What are these, are they worth getting for the Sandgate area (I've just started kiting there and haven't experienced the jellies yet), and where do I get 'em?

Cheers,
Diz

You know, you would think that it's a no-brainer when it comes to choosing a wetsuit. Actually it's not.

Some info from my experience over the years.

1. Full steamers result in your calves looking like you developed elephantitis. So beware of getting a full steamer as MOST result in water shooting up the calf and filling it like a balloon. A pair of scissors fixes it though with a couple of hand stitched points at the seams. I do have a thin steamer though, one of those radiator things custom made by Sirocco wetsuits out of Freo. It's ok, but needs to be layered to work well, and the legs needed to be attacked with a pair of scissors...it's a really thin one.
2. Water temperature - this is a biggie, as I found that my preferred wetsuit choice resulted in me freezing my arse off when kiting at Cottesloe, which totally turned me off Perth. Too bloody cold. Of course I could have had another system to keep me warm, but I'm not that well prepared. So it depends on where you do most of your kiting.

So here's what I reckon'

Get a tight fitting springy...wear a tight fitting rashie underneath and that will pretty much do you for three hours in most WA conditions. I find that layering underneath is the key. I have tried the "radiator" type fabric and to be honest, it's a waste of money. Just go a rashie underneath it makes a big difference. Just MY opinion.

Now comes the controversial bit/ Boardies over a wetsuit. Now to start with, I don't give a flying shot what people think of what I wear. If you are paying attention to what I'm wearing and it bothers you then that's YOUR problem, not mine. After all I'm the one making the choice to wear it and I'm not interested in rooting you so please understand I dress for me, not for you.

A wind layer over a wettie, no matter how thin; does make a difference. Don't believe me, try it out. If it doesn't make a difference for you, then just wear your wettie. Either way, you will know what works for YOU. If it doesn't work for you, then please, save your fingers on the keyboard and don't bother to try and enlighten me. As I said before I don't care what you think of what I choose to do. I choose to do what I do, because it works for me.

Hope it helps.

Sorry mate, a springy is short sleeves, like a t-shirt. Short legs, like a pair of shorts.

If its any consolation, I remember reading about someone getting a whole lot of jellyfish stingers or bluebottles up his pants, and in the case of this unfortunate guy, his ring started getting itchy so his natural reaction was to scratch it solidly, and in the process mush the stings directly into his anus. He was constipated and in pain for a week after that.

i wear a stinger suit in Darwin because of the Box Jellies we get up here. They're just a full length body suit made out of a rashie type material. Never been hot in it up here, even in 30 degree, 95% humidity. Boardies over the outside of course... they're very revealing

i wear in summer a long sleeve short leg wetsuit with rashie underneath.wear the rashie because i seem to get a bit of rubing from the wetty and this stops it..never seem to get hot..if wearing long leg and get water up leg..simple way to fix this...can buy for $8 to 11 a pair of velcro strap from bodyboard shop.they use them to hold their fins to feet....or comb the beach after a big swell and you'll find broken leg ropes..use straps..works perfectly..

the future with our water bourne nasties and more sun damage than you can poke a stick at:
http://www.stingray.com.au/merchandise/details.asp?productID=252&CatID=5
and the best till last - the see through models :)
www.stingersuits.com/index.php

Im not a boardies wearer over a wetsuit - but if I had to wear one of these I think it would be the ticket... plus a pair of explorer socks