Men's boardshorts - comfortable surf and swim wear

Boardshorts

The first Polynesians who arrived in Hawaii around 1500 years ago supposedly brought surfing with them. Over the centuries the ‘sport of Hawaiian kings’ has become everything from an extreme sport to a cultural phenomenon to a full-blown way of life.

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As the sport gained in popularity in the early half of the twentieth century, surfers realised they needed gear made specifically for board riding.

The outfits worn by those ancient Polynesian surfers – nothing – wouldn’t quite cut it in the 1900s, but the swimsuits of the time weren’t really right either. Full length woollen suits were heavy and inflexible, and eventually those resourceful boys who rode the waves needed something that would suit them just a little bit better.

As surfing progressed, board length and weight also went through a series of changes. Lighter, shorter boards went higher and faster, and surfers required gear that was durable and flexible.

Enter boardshorts...

In the late 1960s Australian surfers Alan Green and John Law dissected a pair of archaic, stiff swimming trunks. Keeping the good bits and discarding the bad, Green and Law designed the modern boardie – a light, durable fabric that dried quickly, and moved when the surfer did. No decorative accessories, no elaborate styling – just clean, functional, wave riding shorts. This idea seemed to take off among the surfing community, and Green and Law went on to form a little company called Quiksilver.

Today, the men's modern boardshort knows no bounds. They’re worn by guys from 6 to 60 and available in almost every print, pattern, style and shape you can think of, but their function remains the same. Quick drying and adaptable, they’ve proved to be just as comfortable for daywear and swimming as surfing.

Made from assorted mixes of nylon, microfibres, and stretch satin fabric, some boardshorts also contain neoprene – the synthetic rubber wetsuits are made of. It resists wear from the sun, the weather and the ozone and displays outstanding physical toughness.

Any accessories you’ll find on a pair of boardies will be there for a reason. Reinforced holes drain water out of pockets, reinforced stitching adds durability and smooth seams help avoid rashes. Zip or Velcro closing pockets hold keys, wax combs, fin tighteners – and the occasional bottle opener.

Researched, tested and designed by surfers for surfers, boardshorts remain the ultimate in boardriding apparel – and for those who want something cool, comfy and practical to swim in.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Boardshorts

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