Top tips for winter surfing warmth

So yeah, it's freezing, the coldest winter in a billion years, yeah, yeah, yeah. But on the upside, the surf has been pumping and is just about to kick off again. We’ve been spending a fair amount of time checking waves, waiting for tides and swells, and it got us thinking about keeping warm and maximising our time in the winter surf. If it’s pumping on a weekend we want to be in there twice a day, not sat at home being a miserable git!

First up, it’s all about timing — so get on the charts, suss the banks, know your tides. You have to hit it, surf the crap outta it, get out, get warm then get ready to get back in!

Get fit and stay fit. If you're fit you're paddling and generating heat, so you’ll be in longer. If you ain’t fit you’ll be sitting about getting colder. Get in the pool on weekdays, or get yourself a Power Stroke for the evenings. Surfing in winter waves takes more energy, longer paddles and heavier wipeouts. If you’re not on it, start now.

If you’re warm before you go, like really warm, and the wind ain’t getting to you as soon as you step out of the car, you are more likely to get in the surf. If you stick your head out and start freezing, it’s game over. Wear the right clothes. In fact, wear too many clothes — you can always take some off. Layer up with tracky pants or thermals under your jeans to keep the windchill off. Get some technical base layer going on. You want stuff that’s warm as possible, so not those Helly Hanson things, they seem to be made for regulating heat during activity. We want to be warm as we sit waiting for the tide. Think merino wool or fleecy stuff like this from Finisterre, or something from howies.

Warm feet. At the risk of appearing metrosexual, the best footwear for pre- and post-surfing are sheepskin like Celtic Sheepskin or these lush Quiksilver Striders. (We ain’t saying the U-word, but yeah, them.) Warm, waterproof, and (if you get the right ones) you can get your feet straight into ’em after a surf without struggling with socks, and they warm up pretty quick. Thermal socks don’t cut it après-surf for some reason. Again, go for merino wool, it keeps your feet from freezing.

Get a long coat. It is a complete pain in the nuts getting cold and wet when you’re checking the surf. Lots of snowboarding coats aren’t long enough and aren’t fully waterproof, so not only do you get soaked if it’s pissing down, the windchill can cut through your jeans. Get a good waterproof three-quarter length coat and you’ll be heaps warmer.

Smart change. If you live a short car journey from the sea, get changed into your wetty before you get out of the house. Never tried this really as our wetties smell of wee, but some people swear by it.

In the sea As we said, we’re aiming for at least two surfs on a good winter’s day. To achieve that that, you have to keep your core warm. If you get cold to the bone it will take ages to warm up and your body will use your energy to reheat, leaving you tired. If the chart is only showing one decent surf for the day, surf as long as you can. If it’s two, then make sure you get out of the first surf before you get too cold so you can recover in time for the second surf. If you are cold in the surf, you have got the wrong wetsuit. They are that good these days that no-one needs to be cold. If you need to beef up, then go for a hooded polypro vest like this one. We’ve tried a few different types, but polypro definitely works.

Want a bit of extra heat? Try a Quik heated vest! Oh yeah! Or if that’s out of your price range, heated kidney belts like these from Tiki and Hotsuits UK belt out a boost for three hours!

I swear by a decent pair of boots. If your feet are going numb it shortens your surfs. If yours are leaking, bite the bullet and get a new pair. Make sure they’re thick enough for the water you’ll be surfing in.

Tommy two suits. Yeah, everyone knows some lucky git with two suits so they don’t have to pull on a wet one for the second surf. Maybe last year’s winter suit with a polypro vest would do the job for a quick second surf? If you have the cash, get into the habit of buying your next winter suit before you wear the ass out of the old one, then you can overlap though seasons.

If you live or are staying by the beach, get in the shower ASAP. Waterproof car seat covers will mean you don’t have to get out of your suit.

Après-surf

We all know you have to get changed quick, cos ’tis the windchill that will get ya! Some things that will help you are a good changing mat (the base protects your feet from the heat-sapping frozen ground),
and a Robie Robe for quick warm changing.

Toastie Tootsies or body warming pads seem G.A.Y., but I tell ’ee, they feel amazing after a long cold surf. 90 degrees of heat right to your core! Only like a quid a pair, don’t stick them on your toes though, stick them on around your kidney area. Lush! Get them in camping shops.

Get a heated car seat cover. We ain’t tried them yet, but for £20 we’re gunna give them a go. Just plugs into the lighter socket and — instant heat! We’ll let you know how we get on! Flasks are now hip on the beach. I never remember/can’t be arsed to do one, but when you scam a hot chocolate it does seem worth the effort. Big flasks are only like a a tenner, and it’s cheaper than buying at beach cafes. As you probably know, it’s vital to eat hot and healthy. Long burn energy foods — pasties, Burger King and that kind of stuff. Bananas are good too.