Winter can be a tough time to be a surfer, for some....
Here at AberAdventures, we love the wintertime! For us it means more powerful, bigger surf, quiet beaches and empty lineups. Yes it's cold, often very wet and dark most of the time. even through the day, but with with these tips we manage to stay comfortable surfing in the coldest and harshest of conditions.
Whether coming for winter time surf lessons or surfing with your own equipment, these tips can really help.
1. Fuel your body well, prior to arriving for a surf. Surfing in cold water, will use more energy than summertime. Have a substantial high energy meal, a couple hours before arriving at the beach. Make sure you have plenty of fluids prior to arriving. Your body will work more eficiently and stay wamer for longer if you corretctly hydated and fueled.
1. Wrap up very, very warm, before you get to the beach, with suitable clothing for the conditions. If it's wet, wear wet weather gear. Wear way more layers than you normally would. If you are cold when you arrive, getting into to even dry wetsuit is way less appealing. You will appreciate those extra layers if you end up standing around in the elements.
2. We use winter wetsuits year round in the surf school, with boots, gloves and hoods for the coldest months. Make sure you have a quality winter wetsuit and good quality accessories if surfing on your own. A cheap summer suit will have you cold in a matter of minutes and dangerously cold not long after that!
3. Once in your wetsuit. Do a long dynamic warm up to get your blood flowing, loosen up your joints and muscles get you really warm before entering the water. Go for a pro-longed steady jog and lots pf movment of the areas that will be used, (for surfing that's pretty much your whole body). Hitting the water with a warm body will, make you perform better, for longer and help avoid injury.
4. If you begin to feel cold whilst surfing, do some excerises to help warm up either in the sea or get out, have another pro-longed jog. One of our favourite ways to warm up while surfing is a drill called 10 in 10. This means catching 10 waves in 10 minutes. It will not only get you warmer again, but increase your fitness.
5. When you get out, get straight into those multiple layers of warm suitable clothing for the conditions. Consider extra socks, gloves and maybe even a hot water bottle too.
6. Bring a flask with a hot drink to the beach and some food. Your body will use a lot of energy surfing in cold conditions.
