The UK is infamous for its chilly winters, and although many surfers choose to lock away their surfboards during the coldest months, there are a few hardy surfers who wish to make the most of the sea all year round, regardless of how cold the water may be.
If you are considering hitting the waves when it’s at its coldest, one of the first things you need to do is ensure that you own a suitable wetsuit – well known brands have different ranges of wetsuits which are designed for colder temperatures, such as the Billabong Launch wetsuits range.
Once you’ve got your wetsuit sorted out, and you’ve organised your trip to the beach, you should ensure that you eat foods which are high in energy, such as peanut butter or bananas, before getting into the sea. By boosting your energy levels, you are more likely to be able to keep up and maintain your body temperature.
It may also be a good idea to take a thermos flask filled with a hot drink which you can drink after the surfing session. The hot fluid helps to ward off conditions such as hypothermia.
Next, make sure that you take warm clothes with you – you will find it much more difficult to venture into the water if you are already freezing cold! Engaging in warm up exercises, such as jogging or stretching will also boost your body temperature before you brave the waves.
Once you have made yourself as warm as possible, you should put your wetsuit on, as well as any other accessories which help to ward off the cold. Wet suit hoods, boots and gloves are frequently worn by winter surfers who find that these items help them to stay in the water for longer.
In the water, it is incredibly important that you remain active. If you spend long periods of time remaining still, you will feel the cold very quickly, so try to keep paddling – and most importantly, remember to have fun!
When the cold really starts to hit you, and you begin shivering involuntarily, or your teeth start chattering, it is a sign that your body is already too cold. This is when it is time for you to make your way back to shore before you become too weak to swim properly or you develop an illness.
Once you make it back to the beach, try your best to warm yourself up. Get changed and have some of your hot drink. Once back at home or if there are facilities nearby, have a hot shower and then keep your body temperature up by putting on warm clothes.
Buy winter wetsuits from ocean24seven
If you are searching for a good quality winter wetsuit, you may be able to find exactly what you need at ocean24seven.
Whether you are searching for Billabong Launch wetsuits or another type of wetsuit, we are here to help you. Browse our range of wetsuits on our website now, or get in touch with us by clicking on the Contact and About Us tab at the top of this page.
