It’s that time of year (for us northern hemisphere types anyway) when we finally start to get some decent surf – if you don’t mind getting cold! If you go out in your 3mm summer wetsuit not only will you not enjoy your surf, but you can risk getting hypothermia and other horrible cold related problems.
So here is The Surfing Buddha’s guide to winter surfing.
What should I wear in the water?
I’d say a 5mm wetsuit is a minimum. Go for a decent brand such as O’neill, Ripcurl, Billabong , Gul etc and you won’t go far wrong. It needs to fit properly, the last thing you need is pockets of cold water hanging around – this will defeat the object of a decent suit. It needs to be snug, but not so snug it restricts your movements
I would go to a shop and try a few on to be honest, but please don’t waste half an hour of the guy in the Surf Shops time by finding the perfect wetsuit in the right size then going home and buying it on-line because it’s cheaper. That’s just not cool.
You’ll also need to wear a full face hat – commonly known as the “twat hat”, gloves, boots and a rash vest (preferably a thermal rashie). You WILL look daft, but you don’t surf to look good do you? Surf posers need not apply!
Pre-Surf
Limit the amount of time you’re exposed to the cold by getting into your wetsuit at home and drive to the break with your heaters on full. Get some warm drinks inside you, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and eat something like porridge with some bananas.
Post-surf
If you can, and its not a really long drive home, stay in your wettie till you get home. Invest in a waterproof carseat cover, throw on a old hoodie or jumper you don’t mind getting wet, car heaters to warp factor 10 and use your heated seats if you’re lucky enough to have them.
As soon as you get home, leap in a warm shower, hot drink inside you and down something like some soup or chilli (my personal favorite is a butter-nut squash, coconut and chilli soup after a cold winter session )
These simple steps will maximise your surfing time in the winter and also your bragging rights when people are moaning about how cold it is and you can casually tell them you were surfing in it. Don’t say I never give you anything!
