Technology
Built for peak performance
With the launch of a brand new range of junior wetsuits and skiff suits Zhik has once again raised its game
Why is it that wetsuits for children tend to be less comfortable, less efficient and less well made, from lower quality materials, than the same garments in adult sizes? With Zhik wetsuits and Zhik sailing gear in general, that isn’t the case at all. The high standards of design and
workmanship, premium materials and performance-enhancing features that go into Zhik’s adult wetsuits – which are worn by many of the world’s top sailing athletes and developed in collaboration with some of them – are also built into Zhik’s youth wetsuits. To perform at their peak all sailors need the gear they wear to deliver the same levels of insulation, comfort, freedom of movement and durability, regardless of their age or size. That’s why Zhik has long been in
high demand in the youth market and it’s one of the main reasons why you see large numbers of Zhik- wearing competitors at national and international youth regattas. Another reason is the pace of innovation. With its next generation of junior skiff suits and two-piece wetsuits, announced this autumn and soon to be available from retailers around the world, Zhik has once again significantly raised its game. ‘This range recognises the
diversity of our customer base,’ explains Drue Kerr head of design and production at Zhik. ‘With growing youth participation, we are bringing the quality, comfort and
70 SEAHORSE
flexibility that Zhik wetsuits are known for to our youngest sailors.’ A major advantage for young
sailors and their parents alike is that the new junior range seamlessly integrates with Zhik’s adult sizing. This ensures that young sailors can transition smoothly from the junior range, which starts at size 10, into the adult ranges as they grow. Boys move up from junior size 14 into men’s XS and girls go from junior size 12 to women’s XS sizes. The new junior wetsuit range
offers parallel models for girls and boys in two styles optimised for different types of sailing, with two levels of insulation available in each size to suit a range of weather conditions, covering all four seasons in temperate waters. The one-piece Skiff Suit style is ideal for shorter sessions of fast-paced sailing, such as typical dinghy racing. The high- stretch Wetsuit is a two-piece style designed to be worn for a longer duration so it’s perfect for the sort of sailing where you’re in and out of the water all day. Across the whole wetsuit range,
comfort has been upgraded with a new fast-drying, warm and soft fleece lining. Flexibility is optimised with targeted super-stretch panelling that gives full freedom of movement. Drainage holes at the ankles help to expel trapped water and the leg length is adjustable, with ready-to-cut bar tacks, for a customised fit. A super stretch opening at the
Above: Zhik is a popular brand among young sailors who appreciate the quality, fit, features and style of its gear. The new junior wetsuit range is a big upgrade of comfort, performance and durability
neck and shouldersmakes these suits extremely easy for young sailors to pull on and off without needing help froma parent. Integrated knee and shin pads provide extra protection against bumps and bruises. Quick-drying liningmakes themmuchmore pleasant to put on again after lunch than a suit that’s still wet and clammy from themorning’s sailing session. There are plenty of things that can dampen a young person’s enthusiasmfor sailing but with Zhik it’s never going to be the gear they wear. The suits’ durability and lifespan
have also been extended with hard- wearing, abrasion-resistant ZhikTex II patches on the seat and shins, and extra-strong flatlock seam construction. Blind rolled hems and seams also enhance the suits’ durability and the seam junctions are given extra reinforcement. When a young sailor grows out of their Zhik wetsuit it can be handed down in good condition to a younger sibling or passed on to another family instead of just being thrown away. Years of knowledge and
development, innovation and incremental improvement have gone into the design and specification of the streamlined Microfleece Performance Skiff Suits and Wetsuits. Engineered to excel in moderate conditions and made from 1.2mm neoprene, these are ideal for a wide variety of watersports, from dinghy sailing to windsurfing,
ZHIK
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