[west01]

Originally Posted by keona w

Nice one west01,got to say you ve got balls....or had before you went in,who knows where they are now Got to say as my local break is in North sea winter suit pretty essential but i do prefer no gloves,hood,boots etc.

man, you dont know the half of it!! ran out of the water in my shorty wetsuit only to find my self suffering with severe cases of both hypothermic nadgers and a cronically inverted winky!!
sooo glad i can now afford to buy a full length wetsuit. actually went surfing a few years ago at south shields break! dunno what the beach was called though, but i have one thing to say............. "respect to the north sea surfers!!"" it was bloody freezing! and yes that was in the infamous shorty wetsuit! never again!!! happy days - westy

[starfish]

Originally Posted by west01

but i have one thing to say............. "respect to the north sea surfers!!"

ohhh...yeah

and she battles on proving how tough (and great) northern birds are

[Aston]

Hello. Yes of course I surf in winter.

I found it terribly cold at first, and I ruined two shirts and my favourite velvet flares. But then someone suggested I try wearing a wetsuit and it made no end of difference!!

Surely its the best time of year? Decent waves, empty beaches, cheaper/easier parking. I just love empty car parks. No I dont enjoy cold, but I find a winter suit with gloves and boots does the trick (no hood though, ruins ones hair). And a winter suit need not be expensive. Prices start around £50-60 if you shop around. The only killer is a strong icy wind, the occassional ice cream head and once, a large wave spilling my wine.

Cheers

[paulalwayssearchin]

I surf a few times a year during the winter...generally when the swells are manageable. I find it fine in a thick wetsuit, boots, hood and gloves. Normally I can stay out for 2 hours or so before I lose the feeling in my extremities. One thing to remember though is ALWAYS wear gloves. I went out on Great Western Beach a few winters back and forgot my gloves. I thought I was ok until I came out the water and couldn't move my hands. I had to ask a passing girl to unzip my wetsuit...I think she thought I was a proper wrong'un.

All in all though surfing in winter is a unique experience, as the beaches are empty, the swell is good. After all, can anyone tell me another time of year when they've had Watergate Bay to themselves???? Get a nice thick wetsuit and get out there........

[keona w]

I love winter surfing,mainly for the reasons mentioned above....less crowded etc.Up till recently,although i use a 5:3 suit i didnt use boots,gloves,hood (just dont like them) but i had a similar experience where my hands were too cold to un suit for bout twenty mins....and not a damsel on white steed riding to my rescue to be seen anywhere ive now bought gloves and boots and got to say they dont feel too bad.Still not convinced abut the gimp hoods though so if its bitter i either brave the ice cream headache or hire one then try to avoid anybody i know seeing me in it......why do some of the hoods have that pool ball at the front

[Add the lad]

I head out at least once a week throughout winter-often more and im in North wales! I normally feel the cold lots too but in my real nice 5'3 Ripcurl ultimate fireskin with boots and gloves im toasty and can stay in as long as i like (often 4/5 hours). My advice is just invest in a good winter suit

[keona w]

too true,winter suits are a must. I wear an o neill epic II and its the best buy ive done .Keeps the north sea cold out brilliantly.

[*Carly*]

Ok, so my first surfing experience was in winter waters!!!!
How hardcore am i!?
Nothing can put me off!
xxx

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Originally Posted by *Carly*

How hardcore am i!?

Only if you were naked

[starfish]

is there only me that has one suit for summer and winter???

[keona w]

Originally Posted by starfish

is there only me that has one suit for summer and winter???

No.Because my suit is comfortable i wear the same one all year.Its a 5;3 but summer as you know doesnt really come to the east coast so 5;3 is good.Plus,i prefer winter surfing.

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

I have two, ones a spring/autumn suit with long legs & arms.

The other is a summer shortie which looks like a t-shirt & a pair of boardies sewn together, though this year it was t-shirt & boardies

[pipspeed]

i spend more time surfing in winter than summer

reasons being,no one in the way,more room ie no lifeguards restrictions! and that aint in a knock the lifeguards punt there as they do a good job
Just as i say more room

Less surf skools! less chavs swimming in there jeans in front of you

basicly much better for me to crash & burn and not take everyone else with me

my warm up before going in is walking with my mal from my house to great western,and warm down walking back,as for coldness?
I Only get cold when im just hanging around doing nowt in the water,so basicly i just try and catch or do as much as i can and that keeps ya warm

And yep i do go in every week every month,cant surf to save me life like most on here
But i keep trying and also that 'Atlantic' is just so apealing i just cant resist it

[gripster]

First post as a newbie here but was in at Saunton today, this is my first time surfing in the Uk for more than 20 odd years. The water was ok, but did have a brand new Oneil 5/3 on! Only really surfed in the summer in Spain in shorts n rashie, however it was an ok day and I dont class myself as a winter surfer yet..... wait till Jan.
Also £3.00 for car park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kin hell I nearly fainted, so basically we now have to pay to surf?

[Stormrider]

Originally Posted by gripster

First post as a newbie here but was in at Saunton today, this is my first time surfing in the Uk for more than 20 odd years. The water was ok, but did have a brand new Oneil 5/3 on! Only really surfed in the summer in Spain in shorts n rashie, however it was an ok day and I dont class myself as a winter surfer yet..... wait till Jan.
Also £3.00 for car park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kin hell I nearly fainted, so basically we now have to pay to surf?

Welcome to the forum.And good on you,going in at this time of year.