Southeast Winter Surfing

Salt water loses it's density in the winter. that's why wet suit's help us float. swimming in cold water with a wet suit on is the same as swimming in summer without one. i think without a wet suit in the winter that your board will sink for sure. compensate now.

 

Spring and fall are usually good. Winter sucks. At least that is how it went this year. We read all the posts about epic days up north thanks to Nor'easters, while it was barely rideable knee high down here.

 

Man how aesthetically pleasing would a quiet winter Wednesday, late afternoon day be at the Tybee Pier? Ultra clean 3-4 foot with a couple of dudes scattered along the peaks..........The sun setting casting shadows of happiness in its wake. A nice offshore wind around 10 blowing mother nature into your face as you drop in on another sand sucking bowl. Gruvi waiting for you on the beach with a $20 of Missouri's finest..............

Yeah, I said late afternoon. Surfing til dark rules. Damn you dawn patrollers and your normal sleep patterns.

Yeah, I could go for that.

 

how cold does the water get down there during the winter? i know up here in jersey it gets around mid-lower 40s so a 5mm+ wetsuit is a must

 

Johnny, most years in Jersey the water drops into the mid-to-upper 30's. And it can drop as low as the upper 20's during freak cold snaps.........and in really strange times when it's 10 F for two weeks and there's no swell that ocean can start to freeze up. Ax an ol' timer, they'll tell ya.

 

It was mid to low 50's in the the water this year. Not bad. I used a 4/3 for most of winter. I survived without booties or gloves, but I wouldn't recommend that. There were a few days where I thought my feet were going to fall off.

 

winter surf rules. Granted the fall is best but winter theres only a handful of people out, I find colder water to be denser therefor floats the board better and more speed. I surfed New Years Day this year all day with no one out and caught more than my share of waves. I use a 4/3 hooded Xcel with 7 ml booties, 5 ml gloves. never got cold.

 

i beg to differ

 

I only saw two days like that all winter. We had 3 weeks straight (in January I believe) with little to no surfable waves. It started to get nice again by beginning of march, and April/May were really nice. I still think late fall is the best here. Usually consistent waves, no tourists, spring suits or light full suits, and the air still feels comfortable.

 

yeah late fall is my favorite as well hands down

 

7mm booties? those are moon boots! i bet you were warm.

 

i was thinking the same thing and the best part to is that was one of the smaller sets!! rights lefts As everything