Winter and Surfing - for many people these two words don’t sit well together. When we think of surfing we often picture sunny, warm weather, long beach days, surfing in spring suits, bikinis and boardshorts. That’s the summer vibe of surfing.

Nevertheless, surfing in winter can be something magical. Just imagine, the cold clear air, offshore winds and a good decent winter swell with amazing peeling waves. A winter paradise, for sure. We don’t have that all the time, I know. We also have those grey, cold winter days where it just looks stormy and unpleasant to be outside at all, and then going into the cold water? Never!

Well for me, and for many of you I’m sure, I sometimes need a push - a friend’s voice or my inner warrior telling me to just do it. Once I am out there in the surf, with often just a small crowd, and I face the roughness of nature, I truly love it. I love the pure and authentic feeling of the ocean and riding the waves when the cold air is flowing against my face. To be honest, I also hate being in the cold water at times, especially when my feet and fingers are simply just huge ice chunks and paddling becomes so hard that you just want to give up. I have been there a lot of times as I am a very cold person, especially when it’s no longer that beautiful sunny day you had back in the middle of summer. I developed some winter routines for myself that really really help! I share them with you here.

The must-have essentials for a winter surf:

• Good equipment.
  Having a good warm wetsuit, booties, hood, gloves and maybe even a rash vest underneath definitely helps to stay warm and cozy. Try also adding a merino shirt as an additional layer underneath the wetsuit. Just a quick tip: Loose boots are a menace and tight gloves will slow circulation. 
• Warm-Up.
  Especially if it’s cold outside, our muscles tend to tighten up and the whole body can get incredibly stiff. Stretch and warm yourself up at the water's edge before going in. It will help you to stay warm and active.
• Right surfboard choice.
  Using the right board for your level of surfing and for the spot you’re surfing is always very helpful. In winter there is another factor to have in mind - performance is rarely the key focus for most surfers. With your full winter gear on, you are going to be heavier, which means your board won’t float you quite as well. Look to ride a slightly wider and potentially more buoyant board, in case of howling offshore winds.
• Warm-water shower.
  When you go for a surf, prepare a bottle of hot water and chuck it in your car. When you get out of the cold water, pour the warm water into your wetsuit. It makes such a difference when your skin receives a bit of a warm treat after the cold ocean. Then changing into comfy clothes - a scarf, beanie and warm jacket - and you’ll feel like a newborn child.
• Hot drink after surf.
  Have your thermos ready for your tea, warm water or coffee. With each sip of the warm liquid, you really feel spreading the warmth in your body until each cell is ‘alive’ again. Remember also to hydrate before going surfing as proper hydration is key to improving blood flow.
• Strategic choice of surf spots.
  In winter we see more powerful winter swells. The surf tends to be bigger, windier and more tide-dependent. Consider surfing higher tides, finding beaches sheltered from the wind, and spots that have a point or channel for paddling out. Also consider daylight, as we know the sun is just a powerful source of warm energy. It is so much nicer coming out of the surf and being able to warm up in the sun.

I hope those tips and tricks help to make winter surfing more enjoyable, more accessible and easier! Let us know if you have anything else to add :) 

See you in the water and stay warm!
With joy, Luisa

Winter and Surfing - for many people these two words don’t sit well together. When we think of surfing we often picture sunny, warm weather, long beach days, surfing in spring suits, bikinis and boardshorts. That’s the summer vibe of surfing.

Nevertheless, surfing in winter can be something magical. Just imagine, the cold clear air, offshore winds and a good decent winter swell with amazing peeling waves. A winter paradise, for sure. We don’t have that all the time, I know. We also have those grey, cold winter days where it just looks stormy and unpleasant to be outside at all, and then going into the cold water? Never!

Well for me, and for many of you I’m sure, I sometimes need a push - a friend’s voice or my inner warrior telling me to just do it. Once I am out there in the surf, with often just a small crowd, and I face the roughness of nature, I truly love it. I love the pure and authentic feeling of the ocean and riding the waves when the cold air is flowing against my face. To be honest, I also hate being in the cold water at times, especially when my feet and fingers are simply just huge ice chunks and paddling becomes so hard that you just want to give up. I have been there a lot of times as I am a very cold person, especially when it’s no longer that beautiful sunny day you had back in the middle of summer. I developed some winter routines for myself that really really help! I share them with you here.

The must-have essentials for a winter surf:

• Good equipment.
  Having a good warm wetsuit, booties, hood, gloves and maybe even a rash vest underneath definitely helps to stay warm and cozy. Try also adding a merino shirt as an additional layer underneath the wetsuit. Just a quick tip: Loose boots are a menace and tight gloves will slow circulation. 
• Warm-Up.
  Especially if it’s cold outside, our muscles tend to tighten up and the whole body can get incredibly stiff. Stretch and warm yourself up at the water's edge before going in. It will help you to stay warm and active.
• Right surfboard choice.
  Using the right board for your level of surfing and for the spot you’re surfing is always very helpful. In winter there is another factor to have in mind - performance is rarely the key focus for most surfers. With your full winter gear on, you are going to be heavier, which means your board won’t float you quite as well. Look to ride a slightly wider and potentially more buoyant board, in case of howling offshore winds.
• Warm-water shower.
  When you go for a surf, prepare a bottle of hot water and chuck it in your car. When you get out of the cold water, pour the warm water into your wetsuit. It makes such a difference when your skin receives a bit of a warm treat after the cold ocean. Then changing into comfy clothes - a scarf, beanie and warm jacket - and you’ll feel like a newborn child.
• Hot drink after surf.
  Have your thermos ready for your tea, warm water or coffee. With each sip of the warm liquid, you really feel spreading the warmth in your body until each cell is ‘alive’ again. Remember also to hydrate before going surfing as proper hydration is key to improving blood flow.
• Strategic choice of surf spots.
  In winter we see more powerful winter swells. The surf tends to be bigger, windier and more tide-dependent. Consider surfing higher tides, finding beaches sheltered from the wind, and spots that have a point or channel for paddling out. Also consider daylight, as we know the sun is just a powerful source of warm energy. It is so much nicer coming out of the surf and being able to warm up in the sun.

I hope those tips and tricks help to make winter surfing more enjoyable, more accessible and easier! Let us know if you have anything else to add :) 

See you in the water and stay warm!
With joy, Luisa