All surfers can feel the chill in the air, and the water as winter draws near. But this is also when the waves are the best and biggest! Cold water surfing calls for a completely different level of commitment. Surfers who only surf in warm waters are oblivious to the commitment needed to brave the elements when the water temperature is at its freezing point.
How do surfers stay warm? Wearing a neoprene wetsuit helps surfers stay warm during cold days. Making surfing sessions shorter, surfing during the warmest time of the day, proper warm-up, and getting a hot shower after surfing also help surfers stay warm.
Those who reside on coasts where the best swells arrive when the water is coldest should consider themselves members of a select club. They are not your typical surfer but someone elite who don’t mind the discomfort of the freezing water and brain freeze every time you penetrate deep underwater. Even though surfing is the best, other things are more important in life. Here are some suggestions how surfers stay warm:
Tips For Surfers Stay Warm While Riding The Waves
Here’s the secret on how do surfers stay warm while riding the waves:
- Surfers stay warm by making your sessions shorter while attempting to catch more waves. Also, push yourself to move constantly to increase your intensity in the water.
- Surf during the warmest part of the day, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Also, save dawn and sunset sessions for other times of the year.
- Wear the proper gear, which includes a neoprene wetsuit with a torso thickness of at least 4 mm, gloves, a hood, and booties for frigid days.
- To avoid exostosis, also known as a surfer’s ear, use a neoprene hood and ear plugs. Exostosis is caused by abnormal bone growth in the ear canal due to exposure to cold water and wind.
- Before plunging into the cold water, warm up properly first.
- Try to stay away from using a wetsuit that hasn’t properly dried since your last surf.
- Surfers stay warm by bringing warm clothing to the beach (coat, beanie, gloves) to prevent chilling before entering the water.
- Quick get dressed (when removing your wetsuit or putting it on).
- Get something hot to drink or wear as quickly as you emerge from the water (such as a warm coat, tea or soup, a car heater, or a sprint will suffice!)
- Once you’re home, take a long, hot shower.
Why Is the Surf Better in Winter?
More severe winter weather produces more storms. It means stronger winds and, as a result, more giant waves – at least in the Pacific and North Atlantic oceans at that time of year. There will be more waves for you and your surfing companions as the weather turns colder and the nights grow longer.
Wrap Up
Overall, the best ways for surfers to stay warm and be comfortable enjoying riding waves even in colder months include wearing a neoprene wetsuit. Aside from that, it’s also best to shorten their sessions, surf during the warmest time of the day, and do a proper warm-up to stay warm. After the session, getting a hot shower also helps eliminate the cold.