About Xcel Wetsuits
Ed D'Ascoli founded Xcel in 1982 from the bedroom of his Sunset Beach home. D'Ascoli found no shortage of inspiration from the world-class performances on display on his doorstep, and the opportunity to develop and connect high-performance products to the athletes who needed them was irresistible. Xcel's passionate focus on product development would become the brand's defining characteristic.
Developing wetsuits in Hawaii came naturally to D'Ascoli, having grown up on the cool Atlantic coast of New Jersey. While Hawaii's temperate waters rarely require more than 2mm of neoprene, Sunset Beach and other North Shore breakers are incredibly demanding and require world-class products for maximum performance.
With his enthusiasm and experience in establishing Victory Wetsuits (Japan) as an international brand, D'Ascoli quickly laid the foundation for a wetsuit company that would revolutionize the industry and advance the development of materials and design.
After Xcel entered the surfing market, the brand was able to quickly expand its offerings and find a wider audience across the ocean. Today, surfing, diving, UV protection, paddling and wake form the core of Xcel's brand appeal. In 1990, D'Ascoli moved Xcel from Sunset Beach to its current headquarters in Haleiwa. To better serve Xcel retailers on the mainland, the brand soon opened a warehouse in California. This West Coast location made it easier for Xcel to enter the recreational diving market. With the successful features and extensive product knowledge of its successful surfing and military suits, Xcel quickly set new standards for diving suit design.
Xcel's reputation for exceptional product quality is a clear result of its tireless commitment to research, development and design innovation. With tropical and cold-water products for men, women and youth, the brand prioritizes performance: maximum stretch and durability, taped seams and a fit that feels tailor-made every time.
Xcel has been voted "Wetsuit of the Year" by the Surf Industry Manufacturer's Association (SIMA) four times (2007, 2008, 2010, 2020).