7 Swell Season Picks For Upcoming September Sessions

Cover shot by Nathan Benham

It may not feel like it now, with summer beating down on the UK, on track to be one of the warmest ever – but the Atlantic is about to shift. 

The swell season is coming. September will start to see storms form out in the ocean and finally deliver waves to Europe and beyond. While you may think next month is quite some time away, we've realistically got about three weeks until those September sessions start to become a reality and the changing season opens up the swell highways. These flat days will hopefully become a distant memory. With that in mind, there's a few essentials to scoop up as we move into September.

Sisstrevolution: 4/3mm 7 Seas Wetsuit

The ocean may be warmer than average at the moment (more on this soon...) but in a few short months' time, you're going to need some extra wetsuit thickness to cope with the inevitable plummeting temperatures. Sisstrevolution's 7 Seas range is flexible and built to be your go-to during the transitional months, and a little bit into winter too, if you're ok with the cold. Have a look, here. 

Surflogic Bike Rack

The school holidays may be over, but it's the season -- visitor numbers spike during days of swell, car parks spill-out while everyone is trying to get a slice of it. And who can blame them! So why not pick up this bike rack to beat the traffic, the car parking charges and the crowds? Grab one, here.

Vissla 4/3 7 Seas Wetsuit

Different side of the same coin, Vissla is the men's brand to Sisstrevolution's women's. And the guiding principles apply; this is your daily driver wetsuit, the one we know you'll leave in a tub in your car until the next swell rolls around. We're not saying you should -- drying salt water is, ironically, the quickest way to chew through your prime new rubber, we just know the proclivities of the surf populace. Us included! Anyway, a flexi-suit to transition you from warm-to-cold before the booties, gloves and hoods are even a twinkle in your eye. Grab this one, here.

Captain Fin Co Shred Cord

"Hey wouldn't it be great to rebrand leashes to Shred Cords?" Captain Fin Co's marketing manager, probably. And we're here for it. These leashes come with an anti-tangle swivel system, internal key pocket, and triple wrap rail saver -- less likely to cheese-wire your board into oblivion. Quick question; when was the last time you upgraded your leash? It's probably worth thinking about so the first powerful session doesn't send your board to an untimely end. The Shred Cords (using this forever now...) come in a variety of colours too. Please your aesthetic, here. 

Zedsleds, The Slug, 9'4"

There's no better time than the start of the season to think about upgrading your quiver. Right here, we have The Slug, shaped by Kourosh (Kou) Zahedi out of Cornwall. This board comes with a chimed bottom for more stability on the nose. Dims are: 9'4" long, 23 1/4" wide and 3" thick. A super longboard for all levels -- and one to lap up the September sessions. Catch every wave, here.

Catch Surf Retro Fish 5'8"

You're probably thinking, why a Catch Surf board? And it's a great question. It's because these boards can take a beating, so if you want to just go out for a session and throw caution to the wind, this is a little doozy for doing exactly that. Also, this retro fish is super low-rockered, meaning you can get it moving in some mushy conditions. Avoid when the swell really starts to filter through though. Have a whole lot of fun, here.

Wavelength: 45th Anniversary Special Edition

Want something to keep the fire alive while waiting on the season kick-off? Wavelength is celebrating its 45th year at sea, a phenomenal feat for any print outing these days. Inside, a whole host of tales from the surf collective, including stories with Lucy Campbell, Jayce Robinson, Natxo Gonzalez, Alys Barton (10 Over Team Rider) and Phoebe Strachan. Don't forget you can sub to the mag too, by going here.

FCS Mason Ho FCS T-3 ECO Code Red - Traction Pad

Did you know you should replace your traction pad every two-to-five years? That may seem a fairly weird time range, but all depends on how time you're spending in the water. Anyway, if your tail pad's looking weathered, there's a whole range on the store to choose from. This Mason Ho number is: "Made from sugarcane-based bio-foam, the popular FCS T-3 traction pad has been reconstructed for sustainability with the same trusted performance you expect from the essential 3-piece grip," according to FCS. Stay in the sweet spot, here.