Patagonia’s Innovative PSI Vest Is Helping Save An Iconic Big Wave Surf Break

Over the past five years Patagonia has been working with some of the top big wave surfers in the world to develop their PSI (personal surf inflation) vest. The PSI is a purpose-built tool that supports multiple inflations in a single surf session, and Patagonia received a U.S. patent for the innovative technology back in 2014. 

They also made a promise that they would license the intellectual property of the technology to the industry at large and use those funds to support an environmental cause. They kept their word on this promise by donating $150,000 grant to Fundación Punta De Lobos, a conservation effort working to protect an iconic Chilean coastline and big wave surf break. 

Here, field testers and experienced big-wave surfers, Aaron Gold, Mark Healey, Kohl Christensen, Ben Wilkinson and Brendan Shea speak about the inherent risks of big-wave surfing and how the vest can help mitigate risk when combined with proper training, experience, and preparation.