Surfing in the UK is generally seen as a summer activity, but if you wrap up warm, there is plenty of fun to be had on beaches during winter.
We take a look at how you can keep yourself safe and comfortable throughout the winter months, so that you do not have to put your board away until next spring.
Wearing Warm Clothes
It goes without saying that you should make sure you invest in warm clothing, so that you do not make yourself unwell.
Cornwall generally has temperatures of between 8 and 9 degrees during winter so we would recommend wearing a 4cm or 5cm wetsuit in such weather.
As well as a thick wetsuit, we would also advise you to wear boots and gloves on the worst of the winter days and, as we lose 40% of our body heat through our head, a hat is always a good idea.
Newquay Surfing Schools will advise you on the best clothing to wear during poor weather and most will have an array of surf wear on sale, including thermal rash vests.
Winter Surfing Tips
Aside from making sure that you wrap up warm for winter, there are other factors that will make for a better experience when surfing over winter.
In terms of the best times to surf, you will need to check out tide times and when the sun rises and sets. This information is vital, as you will find that most beaches do not have a lifeguard on duty at all times during the winter months.
If you are new to surfing, it is not advisable to surf when there is no lifeguard on the beach, which is why paying for an experienced teacher would be advisable.
Surfing during the winter often means you have to battle against the wind and the rain, so you will need to eat properly before you head to the beach so that you’ll have enough energy to stay safe in the water.
It is also important to stretch your muscles and let them warm up before going out in cold weather.
Having a hot water bottle and a thick towel for when you get out of the water will help your body temperature return to normal, and keeping mobile once you leave the water will also help, too. As soon as you get home you need to make sure that your kit is fully dried out before you think of hitting the waves again.
Putting on wet clothing and equipment can put your body under a lot of strain, so you always need to plan ahead when surfing over winter.
Newquay Surfing Schools
If you are new to surfing or you are unsure about how to look after yourself when surfing during winter, there are a number of Newquay Surfing Schools that offer training and support.
Newquay Activity is an experienced surf school and our team of experienced surf teachers will help you enjoy winter surfing in the safest way possible.