As the water temperature begins to drop and the air gets fresh, It’s time to pack away the Tees and get out the woolly hats!! As the nights draw in and the winter swell starts to hit, you need to make sure you stay warm and stay stoked! To get you winter ready, we have some great advice to keep those epic winter sessions going for even longer!
1. Firstly, make sure you have a good quality winter wetsuit – For Northern England, Scotland and Scandinavia, We’d recommend a 6mm hooded wetsuit, with 5mm for wetsuits for southern England and Northern Europe. Alternatively, you could choose a 5mm wetsuit and a separate hood for a year round setup!
If you’re struggling to choose your your winter wetsuit, the fear not you are always welcome to give us a shout on +44(0)1723 867919 to have a chat about what would work best for you!
2. Layer up and keep wrapped up before you hit the beach. We shouldn’t need to state the obvious, but It’s no good rocking up in a t-shirt before and expecting to last 2 minutes in the water!! You might fancy flashing your guns pre surf but please just don’t! A toasty jacket or a sweater will do you just fine!
3. Always have a solid healthy meal an hour or two before you hit the waves. Your body will thank you for a few extra calories and high protein nutrients to keep your paddling arms going and your energy levels high! But don’t eat too much right before you surf!!
4. Keep warm whilst changing in and out of your wetsuit! Nobody likes the dreaded roadside wetsuit change on a frigid winter day! Peeling the first shoulder of your wetsuit down. Its like sacrificing your bare skin to the biting wind of the night king himself! But fear not, we have a solid range of change towels designed to not only dry you but keep you warm whilst you dry. We recommend the awesome Dryrobe – a fully zipped changing towel with a hood and a nylon outer for water and wind resistance. This is a great piece of equipment for all year round use, especially winter !!
5. Thanks to Change Mats and Surf Buckets there’s no need for bare feet to step foot on the freezing cold ground for more than a few seconds if at all. Our range of mats and buckets is a premium luxury upgrade from the cold tarmac!
6. In the depths of winter don’t discount the benefits of a flask of hot water and even a hot water bottle!! Enjoy a coffee or tea pre surf to keep your toasty in the water! Then Post surf warm your hands and toes up with the now cooler water from your hot water bottle and another cuppa for the drive home – You’re welcome!
7. Always get a decent pair of gloves and boots for those frigid winter sessions. Make sure you get a well fitting glove from a good brand – It’s no good having your hands and feet swimming around in over size gear, or your gloves / boots being so tight you cant move properly! We have really useful size guides on all out products and you can always give us a shout on 01723 867919 for a chat and some great advice about what would work for you! – some of us need the extra warmth from 5 / 7mm boots and gloves – others may prefer a thinner and lighter layer of neoprene, giving better feel and grip.
8. Keep fit and flexible whilst out of the water! With less daylight there are less opportunities to hit the surf, so make sure your paddle fit and ready to make the most of those pumping winter sessions. Head to the pool to build endurance and paddle power, Surf Yoga is awesome for core strength and flexibility – or hit the gym to build overall strength and fitness. It really will make a massive difference to your wave count!
With these basic essentials you can beat the winter blues and get the very best out of your time in the water! See you out there!
