Why surfing in winter when it is cold?
Tricks and Tips of an always-feeling-cold, female surfer :)
Winter and Surfing - for many people that does not fit together. When we think of surfing, we often picture sunny, warm weather, long beach days, ideally surfing in spring suits or bikinis and boardshorts. That’s the summer vibe of surfing.
Nevertheless, surfing in winter has something magical. Just imagine, the cold clear air, offshore winds, and a good decent winter swell with amazing peeling waves. That is the winter paradise, for sure. We don’t have that all the time, I know. We also have those grey, cold winter days where it just looks stormy and unpleasant to be outside at all. And then going into the cold water? Never!
Well for me, and probably for many of you as well, I do sometimes need a push - a friend’s voice or my inner warrior telling me to just do it. And once I am out there in the surf, with often just a small crowd, and I face the roughness of nature, I truly love it. I love the feeling of the pureness and authenticity of the ocean and riding the waves when the cold air is flowing into my face. To be honest, I also hate being in the cold water at times, especially when my feet and fingers are simply just huge ice chunks and paddling becomes so hard that you just want to give up. I have been there a lot of times as I am a very cold person, and kind of always feeling cold, if it is not in the hottest summer days. I developed some winter routines for myself that really really help! I share them with you here.
The must-have essentials for a winter surf:
Good equipment.
Having a good warm wetsuit, booties, hoody, gloves and maybe even a rush vest underneath does definitely help to stay warm and cozy. Try also adding a merino shirt as an additional layer underneath the wetsuit. Just a quick tip: Loose boots are a menace and tight gloves will slow circulation.
Warm-Up.
Especially if it is cold outside, our muscles and our whole body tends to tighten up and is stiffer. Stretch and warm yourself up at the water's edge before going into the water. It will help you to stay longer active and warm.
Right surfboard choice.
Using the right board for your level of surfing, for the type of spot is always very helpful. In winter there is another factor to have in mind. Performance is most of the time not that important. With your full winter gear on, you are most likely to be heavier, which means your surfboard should keep you still afloat. Choose maybe a slightly wider and maybe even a bit heavier board, in case of hailing offshore winds.
Warm-water shower.
When you go for a surf, prepare a bottle of hot water, and chuck it in your car. Coming out of the cold water, pour the warm water into your wetsuit. It makes such a difference when your skin receives a little bit of a warm treat after the coldness of the ocean. Then changing in comfy clothes, scarf, beanie, and warm jacket - and you feel like a newborn.
Hot drink after surf.
Have your thermos ready for your tea, warm water, or coffee. With each sip of the warm liquid, you really feel spreading the warmth in your body until each cell is ‘alive’ again. Hydrate also before going surfing as proper hydration is key to improving blood flow.
Strategic choice of surf spot.
In winter we see many times powerful winter storms and swells. The surf tends to be bigger, windier and more tide dependent. Consider surfing higher tides, finding beaches sheltered from the wind, and spots that have a point or channel for paddling out. Also consider daylight, as we know the sun is just a powerful source of warm energy. It is so much nicer coming out of the surf and being able to warm up in the sun.
I hope those tips and tricks are helping to make winter surfing more fun and enjoyable, more accessible, and easier! Let us know if you have anything else to add :)
See you in the water and stay warm!
With joy, Luisa
