Surfing Essentials For Surfing In The Winter

As a surfer living in the UK, you're faced with the reality that as a whole we get the best swells and waves during the Winter months, however this coincides with the water and air temperatures dropping, shorter daylights hours, plus the chances of the wind, rain and even snow being much more common.

In this guide we take a look at the surfing essentials you need to make the most of Winter surfing.

Despite the generally unfavourable weather conditions, advances in clothing technology and materials means that this isn't always as unpleasant as it was. In fact many surfers these days are embracing (and relishing) cold water surfing.

Yes it can be freezing cold getting changed on the beach or in the car park. And yes, the water when it hits you can knock the air from your lungs. However there's the chance that some of the breaks that were packed in the warmer months will be quieter. Plus, if you hit that magic day when the wind switches offshore and the Winter sunshine arrives, it can help you forget about the cold, even for just a few minutes.

In the water

Wetsuit technology has made huge improvements and advances over the year, especially when you think back to the pioneers of surfing in the UK before wetsuits, who would even wear a thick woollen jumper covered in the Winter waves, just to try and keep warm!

Depending where you live in the UK (and how hardy you are) will determine how much rubber you wear in the Winter. The average sea temperature for the British Isles in the Winter is 6-10°C. If you're a North Sea surfer then in February it might average 6.8°C, whereas it's 8.4°C in Swansea and 9.7°C in Newquay.

For winter wetsuits, most of us will switch to a 5/4 wetsuit from December - this means the wetsuit body is 5mm thick and 4mm in the other areas. If you're in a colder area or the water temperature drops to 6°C and below, then you might want a 6mm wetsuit.

Some surfers, normally those in the West Country, have been known to surf throughout the Winter in a 4/3 wetsuit, although their time in the water might not extend much beyond an hour.

To help keep your other body parts warmer, there are other wetsuit accessories that you're going to need:

• Wetsuit hood or cap - a wetsuit hood or cap will keep your head warmer and avoid those 'ice cream headaches' that come with duck diving in the winter. Some prefer a cap, which is less restrictive, whereas many people are wearing hooded wetsuits, which means there's even less chance of any water getting through the gaps.
• Wetsuit gloves - colder sea temperatures mean cold hands, which for some can make paddling harder or more uncomfortable. Wetsuit gloves, like wetsuits, come in different thicknesses of neoprene, such as 3mm or 5mm.
• Wetsuit boots - with your feet being submerged most of the time in the water, a pair of boots will keep them warmer when the temperature drops. They also come in different thicknesses - 3mm or 5mm - and also different shapes, including the 'split toe' design, which keeps your big toe separate from the rest and therefore gives you a bit more control of your board.

Again, depending on where you surf and your own personal preference, you might not always need to wear all of these. Some surfers will adamantly never wear boots, but always a hood. Whereas others will forgo gloves, as they don't like the feeling of them when they are paddling. 

Winter surfboard accessories

With the water temperature dropping you are going to need to make sure you have the right type of wax for your board. It's less important than in the Summer, when the wrong wax can melt off your board, but still worth getting it right. 

For all parts of the UK from around November or December you are likely to need a bar of 'cold' wax, such as the Greenfix Cold Wax. You can read more about the different types of surf wax in our guide.

You also should make sure that any leash you are using for your board is in good condition and not damaged. When the waves get bigger and heavier, you don't want to risk it snapping and then having a long swim into the beach, or for you board to wash-up on the rocks.

Warm Clothing

Whether you're checking the surf or post-surf and trying to get warm, you're going to need a lot more layers of clothing in the Winter. 

This includes hoodies or crew sweatshirts, jackets, socks and of course a beanie, to keep your head nice and toasty.

On land accessories

Post-surf there's some other things that are going to help keep you warm, including a beach robe, which means you're going to keep the chill out whilst getting changed again. They can also double as your towel.

You're also going to want a nice hot drink to warm you up again, so get a good thermal mug or flask. Or even make sure you have a small gas stove in your car or van, with some good coffee and a Moka pot or Aeropress.

Whatever this Winter weather has in store for us, make sure you're kitted out right and you can enjoy the waves and the great outdoors even more.