East Coast Winters

This is probably my favorite quote of my whole 2 years on here so far!!! +10000000 for this guy!!!

 

Maybe because they have common sense? just kidding.

I'm sorry, but I don't the whole polar plunge thing, but hey to each their own

 

The reaction you get from people when talking about winter surfing is always the same. They tell you you're crazy. The looks you get from people walking by when you get out of the water is always priceless.

If you ask me, they're the crazy ones. They're out strolling around in middle of winter. Who does that!!?? I'd rather walk around in circles in my living room than go for a walk when it's 10 degrees outside. That is straight-up misery.

We all know the truth, and the truth is it's really not that bad. I haven't been cold once this winter. I've been a tad chilly, but never cold. Modern wetsuits are so unbelievably good. I've said this before...the hardest part about winter surfing is getting out of bed, seeing 2ft of snow outside, and deciding you're going to go surfing. Once that decision is made the rest is easy. That's why I generally decide the night before

 

I call b.s. on that. I've been shivering in a 5mm in early november after 45 minutes. Modern suits are good, but you still freeze your ass of in brutal northeast winter conditions. I've seen people coming out of a polar plunge saying "ehhh it's not that bad". LOL

 

A long time ago, when I was just learning how to surf, I realized that anyone who's serious about surfing in New Jersey surfs all year. That's just the way it is around here. I tell people you're never really "comfortable," but I think that surfing's one of those things were the better you are at it the more fun it becomes. At least that's the way it was for me. So if you want to have more fun, you have to improve, and that means surfing in the cold. And a lot of times that means freezing your stones off either getting into or out of your suit (or both) next to your car before or after work... forcing yourself into an ice cold wet wetsuit for a second session... getting on it at first light at the coldest hour of the coldest days of the year... doing a lot of things that aren't very much fun to get the chance to get a few good waves. And once you've done it long enough, it's just what you do, and you can't ever remember NOT doing it. The year I started surfing I surfed all that winter, and haven't ever missed a winter. I can't remember a winter I wasn't surfing. It would be weird not to.

 

MA, herd all that. Seems when I'm talking about surfing, every day there's 2 or 3 peeps that have the "WAIT...you're surfing...IN WINTER?!" shock and awe. Which isn't even my favorite. People in Mass regularly say to me "I didn't even know you could surf here." Right. Wave quality aside, in their mind, it's as if in SoCal, Hawaii, and Indo the laws of physics cease to exist and man can then ride a shaped platform in a semi-upright stance while dancing on the water. Bro, what you said about looking at people walking around in this polar gnar is exactly what I'm thinking when I'm pumping the Carver up rocky, Sandy hills with frozen bearings that make me feel like I'm on a leg press not a "hover board" as my genius nephew calls it, and I look at these pedestrians hating life wondering why their self-masochism. I'm honestly warmest this winter at the break in my 5/4 Drylock. Really. Because then I'm sweating from paddling through the winter waves that packed and left 10 days ago. So then I skate anaerobically until I pour sweat in 16 dry degrees. It's a clear, starry sky though bros and there's people that can't walk or don't have a meal to eat so I'm stoked for my cold, rocky pave that no one's taking me away from.

LBCrew, right on bro. That was lyrical beauty. Acceptance of the process to the point where you live for that process, not so much the glorious outcome that still stokes you large but you love it all. Nail on head when you say it all becomes part of the being. You gotta start to like or at least strongly accept the laundry list of tasks and prerequisites to the few waves (sometimes none if you're still kookish like me) that you score in a day full of investment. I dig how you brought that into focus. I talk a lot about the implications of crap we do/put up with per wave. Makes me think of that song The Only Way I Know.

Way to make a good thread better brahs.

 

Cold in a 5 mil in Nov??? I know you don't like the cold and that's cool, but you have a circulation problem if you're cold in a 5 mil in nov... I'm usually colder than most and I don't put a 5 mil on until January.

I am colder wearing boardshorts in Aug than a 5 mil in Feb... It sucks getting undressed outside, but in the water I'm fine... Except for those 0 degree days with 25 knot offshores. That $hit is cold as hell.

 

Yup. Pretty sure temp sensitivity is as subjective as the pain scale. I trunk it as much as possible when in SoCal, just because I can and I'm coming from these winters up here. Even in a 2mm topper, I'm still colder after an hour there in 60F than I am here in the 5/4 on January 3rd in single digit air with heavy winds.

That polar plunge crap is a bigger gimmick than cross-fit. In mid-May I went in just trunks for 20+ minutes in 53F water and was mild hypo for an hour. Jumping in cold water, even real cold water, is a cinch if you're getting in and out within seconds then throwing a towel on. You want to show some BA ballz? Stay exposed for prolonged periods til those ballz are in your upper rib cage. Poseurs.

What's up with you nutballs changing outside? I don't even do that when I go to Rhodey in the late fall. I just wear the wetty home on the 3hr drive half taken off with heat cranked. Ain't nowhere I want to get in and out of that rubber aside from the shower. I'll put up with a lot, especially for what I really want. But there's some sensations that really suck and no amount of Buddhist readings would allow me to thought label my way through stepping into a cold, damp wetty freezing outdoors when I don't necessarily have to do THAT to ride the 7s period wave I'm chasing that day.

 

The key reason to own a van, limo, box truck. Nothing sucks worse then trying to pull a drylock down around your ankles in a sedan, jeep, mini cooper when its cold outside.

Emass, I would love to give you a good sniff after your 3hr drive in your Integra. I'm assuming you drive an integra because only Integra drivers are stoked like you.

 

Thank you. This is no bullsh!t...I have not shivered once this winter, and no, I'm not a bad a$$. I'm a completely normal dude who keeps the heat at 68-70 because it's comfortable. At this exact moment I'm wearing a v-neck sweater over my button down shirt. I like being warm. If I started shivering I'd be out of the water immediately.

Changing into and out of your wetty outdoors is absolute lunacy. Not only do I change into and out of my wetty in my house, I also bring all my wetsuit items inside the night before surfing so when I put them on they're totally warm. Simple things to make winter surfing more comfortable.

 

I always dig your posts Lbcrew. Well said ^

 

I get changed outside nearly every single time I surf.

Everyone who says that "it's not cold" in their "5/6 mil Xcel Etc" is not changing outside. When I am paddling, yes, it's all good. When I am struggling to take off a 6-mil with stiff hands and feet ... I have to concentrate and my patience is tried.

Not tryin to sound tough here. Just givin y'all the straight talk express. I will admit that on the colder (teens/twenties) and snowiest days, I have worn my suit to the break and back. It's about an hour each way.

You might call it lunacy, or general badassery, but there's no way I'm getting changed in my ride. Custom Orange interior R46, pushing 115 hp PER AXLE. You tell me if you'd f*ck that up with saltwater stains.

 

limitations

when 'putting on a wet cold wetsuit for a second sesh' was mentioned….i caught a chill.

 

I also change outside post sesh...I pee too much not to plus dry cotton feels so good after the cold changing experience.

 

Just drape a towel over the seat!

 

Bro I do not pimp an Ac. I'm American trucks all the way and German sports muscle. I'm no small dude, but when it comes to maneuvering in tight spots I'm like the Asian in the washing machine in Ocean's Eleven. I've changed out of a 6/5 last year while driving down the highway in my pickup and not crossing one line.

Put me on a unicycle bro and I'm still stoked.

Glad that I'm not the only one quizzical as to the outdoorsy winter wetty wardrobe exchange.

 

Changing outside in 20 degrees soaking wet.... wtf? Is this the "I want hypothermia/phenmonia" group? Why not just go to a mcdonalds and change in the bathroom. It's like a 5 minute drive max.

 

Because the floors are friggin creepy dude, probly end up with ringworm on my feet or something. Besides, it's not like you're standing w/ your a$$ in the wind...top half down, quick dry, hoody on, then pull legs off, quick dry, pants on, good to go. Dry cotton never felt so good.

 

No problem with circulation. Definitely feel/sensitive to the cold though. I don't even feel comfortable in an indoor pool with 75-78 degree water. I shiver unless I'm swimming HARD. I can't just relax in the pool. I usually wear a .5mil tank top. Then I'm completely fine just floating around in the pool. I ski outside when it's near 0 degrees and it takes an hour before I have to go into the lodge. Just wear a lot of layers. I'm much colder in the water in november in a 5mil when it's 48 degrees outside and cloudy then I am skiing when it's 20 degrees. Yes the wetsuit fits. I notice a hood makes a huge difference for sure. I was actually shocked the first time I put one on. I was just using it for my ears/ice cream headace in cold water, but honestly makes a difference for core warmth.

 

Sandals? Then put a towel on the floor if you need to? Avoid that ringworm plauge that is going on at all mcdonalds restrooms LOL