Cold Water Surfing - the exit

http://www.amazon.com/FCS-Changing-Towel-Poncho-Black/dp/B003JCHAQI

nuff said

 

normal I just tough it out....

 

Surfer had a article about this last year here are a cpl tip that can be help full to you

1. wear your suit to the beach . When strip down to change on the street you body temp drops and it takes a bit for you to warm up in the suit. So put it on at home and drive to the beach and after your session you can either keep it on and pull it down to you waist and put on a sweat jakcet. or totally change in your car or if your fast enough change on the street.

2. eat something with alot of carbs in it. Carbohydrates with cause you body to creat engery and produce heat in you body as a result keeping you warm .

3. Prior to getting in the water do some streching and exercise like jumping jacks . this will get your heart rate up and incress blood circulation also helping in keeping you wamer longer

 

get an empty liquid laundry detergent bottle (LARGE) and fill with HOT water. It will stay warm enough through your session to act as a hot shower once you get out. Get to car, start car, blast heat. Dump some in a bowl or bucket for for your feet/hands to use later, dump half of it on yourself with suit still on. Take suit off half way, dump other half on your chest and head. Wrap towel, remove suit, put feet and hands in bowl, dry off, put on extra thick hoody and drive home.

 

I got a couple ideas for you A-frame about being a puss and not being able to suck it up...

1. Break into a place I like to call Tmac's house and do all the changing their...

2. Get a dirty wrap and coffee from Mcdonalds...

3. Run laps around your car while your car heats up...

4. Get some Ice Hockey skates.......its Ice Hockey season

 

I surf all year, and most of the time go straight from work to the beach. I change into my wetsuit in the car. After my session, I change out of my suit outside, alongside of my car, between the front door and back door, which are both open to help block the wind on three sides. Take off gloves, pull off hood, pull out arms, pull suit down to the waist, quickly towel off, wrap the towel around my waist, and pull on a hoodie. Take a second towel, and put it down on the ground. Take off one boot, and step on the towel. Take of the other boot, and put that foot down on the towel. Now I'm standing with clean feet on one towel, the other towel around my waist, and a hoodie on. Pull down the wetsuit under the towel around my waist, take off the suit completely, and dry off my legs and feet with the towel that's around my waist (sounds harder than it is). Put on dry socks, put on pants, take off towel, put on shoes.

Winter surfing is not for whimps. But after a session, with your metabolism up and body pumping out heat, you can get changed outside without getting cold to the core. Hands and feet will feel it, but you won't get hypothermic in the time it takes to strip down, dry off, and get back into dry clothes. I actually feel I warm up faster if I change right away than if I wait 'till I get home. Sitting in the car in a wetsuit for the drive home I feel like I get colder.

 

1) Change outside your car with a large towel to cover your junk.
2) +1, bring an old 1 gallon milk jug filled with hot water so you can "shower" after surfing.
3) Splurge on a good 5/4 with equally good booties, gloves and hood. A cheap suit dampens the winter experience.

ALTERNATIVES:
1) Purchase an old VW Van, and change inside. Effective, and has a "soul" factor.
2) Don't surf during wintertime.

These are the sacrifices one must make to surf uncrowded perfection.

 

Second what the boy from San Diego says. Feel free to substitute a van or mini-van for the VW van... not as much "soul power" but just as practical. Remove the middle seat for plenty of maneuver space and pack it up with plenty of towels and old blankets and maybe an old area rug that dries easily. You can also use the rug to stand on outside for changing.

Another option is taking an old blanket and making a poncho out of it. Breaks the cold winds that often accompany the nor'easter swell you were just riding.

Fill a few of those one gallon containers (heavy duty OJ with screw tops work better than flimsy plastic milk plastic ones) with hot water and put them in a cooler.

 

You guys are crazy....Just tough it out!

 

no reason to tough it out. just pull your wetsuit top down put on a hoodie and drive home. do it that way and you don't need tips on changing in the winter because you don't have too. best way to do it by far. only downside is you look like an idiot when you stop into wawa for that post-surf hoogie.... or is that just me?

 

llooollll!!!!!

Dood! U totally never did taht!!!

-sladism

 

i go in wawa all the time suited up

 

i love going in stores wetsuit halfway down soaking wet cold dripping water, i just feel it pisses the store workers off since then they gotta wipe up my mess.

 

Yea i always get dirty looks, but i am not taking my suit off when i am driving 5 mins home

 

then don't stop at wawa!


but in all seriousness, i either just drive home in my suit or, if it's any kind of distance, suck it up & endure the chill & change on the street.

 

I use the one of the porta potties in the parking lot at my break, and im lucky if someone just took a dump because i could feel some of the steam rising from below. Blocking wind, and adding heat.

 

yeah dude its five minutes of freezing and ALWAYS worth it.

 

when i was at school and drove 1+ hour to surf, i did this exact thing. it works well to stay warm when stripping in the cold. but for when im home, like now, i usually just take off the top half and hoodie it home. 5 minutes home then i shower with the whole thing. feels epic and cleans the suit. 2 birds baby