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We have some tips and hacks for cold-water surfing that will significantly enhance your winter SUPing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, or skimboarding. These suggestions work for any water sport you're into.
Just because it’s the cold season doesn’t mean you have to pack away your surfing gear and forget about your water sports obsession. All you need is good preparation, some reliable gear, and a buddy just as enthusiastic as you.
1. If you want to stay warm - gear up
Make sure to choose the right thickness (4mm and up) and size for your wetsuit. For example, the O’Neill Psycho Tech has a solid thickness of 6mm and an inbuilt hood. Also, remember the accessories like neoprene gloves, boots, and extra neoprene wear, because when the cold hits your body, it automatically goes into ‘survival mode’, keeping the blood circulating primarily in your core area. This makes your hands and legs cool off even to the point of numbing, which you definitely won’t like when actually using them.
Want this set? Here it is for both women and men.
- Hack: Besides investing in good gear, you can also prepare an emergency hot-water bottle to bring to the shore. If you start freezing, just get out and pour some warm water into your wetsuit.
2. Keep yourself safe
Safety should be a priority in cold water! Choose a board with more volume, or a slightly larger/broader one to make staying afloat easier. A leash (and a life vest) is a good add-on if you don’t have one already and your sport allows it. You probably know that cold water is heavier. Combine that with slower reactions on your part due to ice-cream headaches or a thicker wetsuit, and you have a quick recipe for an accident.
- Hack: Research the place you are heading out to beforehand. Look at weather forecasts and reviews to know what you can expect. Don’t let yourself be surprised by the conditions when you’re already in deep waters.
3. Warm your body up on the shore
You really need to get your heart pumping and blood flowing before you enter the water. A few active stretches and Jumping Jacks on the shore can work wonders. Remember to keep moving constantly in the water as well.
- Hack: Keep your socks on while putting on your wetsuit and while warming up - they make it easier to get your legs in and keep your feet warm until the very moment you enter the water. While you are stretching, you can put your neoprene boots on top of them as well to retain heat as long as possible. Remove them right before you enter the water.
4. Get a surf buddy to share your enthusiasm
Finding a partner to share your passion makes the cold session more fun and safer. Since many beaches are not lifeguarded during the offseason, it is really important that you are not alone out in the wild. Whether you are SUPing on a lake or kitesurfing in the ocean, it is always better to have two heads thinking (especially when you have a brain freeze).
- Hack: Make your own traditions and rituals, especially when it comes to getting used to the cold water. Take occasional small trips to the beach for cold dips in the water and cozy up with hot chocolate afterward. You will both build up to 50% better tolerance for the cold if you get your body accustomed to it.
