Jack claims that he hit on the idea of using neoprene in wetsuits after seeing the material in the carpeting of an airplane.Īfter this, Jack became known as the legend who invented the wetsuit. It exhibits good chemical stability and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range. Also known as polychloroprene, Neoprene is a family of synthetic rubbers produced by the polymerization of chloroprene. The material he needed in order to achieve this was neoprene. He discovered that when a thin layer of water is trapped between the skin and the suit, which was warmed by body heat, then this will make it possible for swimmers or surfers to stay in the water no matter the time of the year. Jack’s ‘Eureka!’ moment came when he realised that one does not need to stay dry in order to stay warm. But not only did this not work in keeping them warm, it weighed them down too. Jack and his friends initially tried to cope with the chilly waters of Northern California by soaking sweaters in oily sealants. He really wanted to find a way to be able to be in the water longer. In a 2010 interview with Trip TV, he said that the waters would be so cold that they induce ‘ice cream headaches’ (probably pertaining to brain freeze), and that one would need a ‘baby girl’s hat or something’. After the war, he moved to Northern California.Īfter World War II, Jack moved to Northern California where he notes that the waters have dropped down 10 degrees Celsius. When World War II came, Jack joined the U.S Navy to be a fighter pilot. Body surfing is defined as the art and sport of riding a wave without the assistance of any buoyant device such as a surfboard or a bodyboard. Body surfing is known to be the purest form of riding a wave. It was here that he discovered body surfing in the 1930’s. Though he was born in Denver, Colorado, Jack O’Neill grew up in Oregon and Southern California. Beach houses in Santa Cruz can go as high as $3.5 to 4 Million dollars. His house can be seen in this video, caught by a tourist visiting Santa Cruz. Up until he died in 2017, Jack O’Neill lived in a beach house in Santa Cruz. Apart from wetsuits, it now sells beachwear, sandals, dresses, and even snow wear. Jack O’Neil was celebrated as a pioneer and even though his claim to have invented the wetsuit is controversial, respect has to be given to a man who has turned a garage ‘project’ into a multi-million brand, O’Neill.īy the time Jack O’Neill died the world of surfing has turned into a $7 Billion dollar a year industry, and Jack was no doubt instrumental in turning this into a reality. Sales from O’Neill brand, royalties, patent JACK O’NEILL NET WORTH NET WORTH WHEN HE DIED Marjorie Bennett (until her death in 1972)ĥ: Shawnie O’Neill, Pat O’Neill, Cathi O’Neill, Tim O’Neill and Bridget O’Neil Ever since he opened his first surf shop in 1952, Jack’s legacy lives on as people worldwide celebrate and embrace surfing culture, whether it means the actual sport, or the fashion and lifestyle behind it. He founded the company O’Neill, the leading brand for wetsuits. One-eyed Jack O’Neill is a legend who turned the tides of surfing culture when he created the wetsuit for commercial sale.
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