An Ode To Jack O’Neill

In 1952, a bearded, eyepatch-wearing man made a wetsuit. Fast forward 60 years, Jack’s namesake is still stitching together rubber that keeps any tormenting thoughts about cold water at bay. The wetsuit opened new frontiers for surfing and prolonged sessions worldwide. And for that, we’re thankful for Jack. But Jack was more than just the man famous for commercialising neoprene. He was a child of the Great Depression, a lifeguard, salesman, sailor, flyer and fisherman, among other things. And if you ever stopped by his house perched along East Cliff Drive for a chat, you’d be guaranteed to leave 10 or more IQ points smarter. So, to celebrate the icon and his legacy, O’Neill put this short number together honouring the man who has allowed all of our one mores in the winter months.