Body Glove

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Body Glove is a major surf/watersports brand started in the United States by Dive-N-surf Inc. Body Glove was founded in 1953 by twin brothers Bill and Bob Meistrell. The brothers invented the very first practical wetsuit in the early 1950's and to this day Body Glove wetsuits are a favorite among surfers and other athletes. From those wetsuits Body Glove began to branch out into other product categories, they now make: wetsuits, swimsuits, clothing, shoes, life vests, sunglasses, wakeboards, towables, backpacks and snorkeling equipment. The company wanted to be able to give people product options for every watersport they participated in.

Body Glove products can be found all over the world.

Contents 1 Body Glove Company History: 2 Founders 3 Sponsorship 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Body Glove Company History:

Started by identical twin boys in Missouri, Bob and Bill Meistrell were always interested in the water. Moving to Manhattan Beach in California in 1944, they suddenly got interested in surfing, and were one of the first to put fiberglass on the nose for protection of the foam filled plywood boards. Becoming lifeguards and surfing by the lights of their car they realized how cold the water could be, and finally in 1953, they found some insulation material, which was used in the back of refrigerators. This material was called neoprene and was used to make the first practical wet suits. Bob and Bill borrowed $1800 from their mom and each bought one third of the local sports shop called Dive N' Surf.

Business started slow so the Meistrells were grateful for any extra sales and happily designed and tailored their own brand of wetsuits. In the beginning the wetsuits were named Thermocline.The Meistrells didn't think this was a great name so they hired a marketing consultant, Duke Boyd. Duke asked about the characteristics of the suits and Billy said, "They fit like a glove," so Duke came up with the name Body Glove.

^[1]. They were among the very first crop of South Bay lifeguards and are part of an elite group of watermen who were inducted to both the surfing and diving halls of fame. The company's headquarters are in Redondo Beach, California.

Body Glove sponsors such sporting events as the Body Glove Surfbout and the National Scholastic Surfing Championships.

[edit] Founders

[edit] Sponsorship

The company sponsors a surf and wakeboard team and pro surfers Bruce Irons, Mike Losness, Alex Gray, Cheyne Magnusson and Holly Beck and wake boarders Rusty Malinoski, Shelby Kantar and Jeff McKee.

[edit] External links

• Body Glove's web site
• Body Glove's European web site
• Bob Meistrell website

[edit] References