Winter Outlook

from my experience with some notable exceptions like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and one or two breaks in Costa Rica cold water = better waves

 

It's strange man. Like barry said, maybe we are morons/ whack jobs. But i personally love it. Well it's a love hate. It's satisfying. Yet can be brutal. You paddle out on a big day and surf your brains out...you get out feeling accomplished. You do the same with the feet of snow between you and the water....you feel even more accomplished. You overcome somthing both physically and mentally that would have most people saying "oh hell no!". Maybe it's because i grew up here and it's just where i live, but i take pride in it.

I only saw this once. Didn't even think it was possible. But a year or two ago we had legit basketball size icebergs in the water. The sand on the shore line froze into huge boulders and the shore break broke them up and dragged them into the line up. Sketchy as all hell. But waves were good. That's somthing I'll never forget

 

Probs pattling on your knees across the Hawain chain

 

Yes, it is a challenge for the mind as well as the body. And yes, I have had days here when cold that the waves have clearly been much nicer than the some warm locations. But, I would still prefer surfing in trunks only. When I was in PR early this December, it was nice to get back in the warm waters I grew up in. The water at Marias even smells better and reminds me of the days I surfed there with my brothers and a couple of friends, nobody around but us (about 1964-65).
But my life is here now, my family comes first above anything else, and they are here. We can travel to warmth if we need to. I have been saying I never want to return to PR, but, 2 days ago my daughter said to me she would like to return to PR with me and our granddaughter within a couple of years. Okay, for that I will most definitely pony up the cash and time. What could be better?? Nothin, imho. Absolutely nothing!!

 

I hear you barry. Just like how you grew up in those warm waters, i grew up in these cold waters. The way the water smells better at Maria's...i get that same type of feeling in the winter. I feel that cold water rush into my hood and the ice cream headache sets in and it brings me to a place where i can remember all those remarkable sessions iv had here with just a bud or two. One of my fondest memories....just me and my buddy, afternoon sesh. Get to the beach and it's going off. Head high prefect A frames. No one out. 30 min into the sesh a blizzard hit. White out conditions. Couldn't see the beach. Eventually called it and it took like 3 hours to get home (usually took 20-30 min), head hanging out the window the whole way due to my defrosters not working. Waves have never been so good. That's home to me. Hell, i NEVER surf in anything less than a full suit. Not because i need to, but because it's what I'm used to. I feel naked without that full suit on.

 

Thanks, man.

 

Unfortunately, I find really cold water gets to me in ways it did not before. I've noticed a difference in my threshold for cold water due to age. Like maybe a few years ago I could trunk 65 degree water with 70 degree and sunny air temps. Past couple years I've still had a 3/2 and sometimes even boots up to 68-70 degree water temps.

I'll still go out in really cold and brutal conditions, I just find myself needing even more insulation than just 5 years ago or so. That's the aging process for you.

 

Love having the different seasons. Fall is my favorite, but they all offer something. Geographic variety here as well. The mountains are not all that far away. We have family on both sides in central NY, about an 11 hour drive from VB. So not too far.
Couldn't get my wife to move to FL. Too many hurricanes, floods, swamps, sinkholes, gators, sharks, pythons and other snakes, critters and bugs. At least that's how she see's it.

Besides, after Matthew last Fall, I sort of lost much of my interest in moving further south or closer to the water.

 

Yeah I get that part about seasons but ef! snow and ice in the line up'/? Maybe you should trade her in and move to a warmer climate ?

 

Age takes its toll, I went from a 4/3 to a 5/4/3 this winter.

 

The 5 mil suite is slowing me down more than my age. I usually blow the first few waves of every session before I make the adjustment.

 

I got out yesterday. Heavy drift. Lots of paddling. The 5 mil definitely took its toll. Took a little bit to get used to the rubber and I'm definitely sore today. And I'm young (27) so i don't have any excuses. Except the fact that i wear a 4.5/3.5 (just as warm as the 5 mil but way more flexible) last winter and that suit died on me. So i hadn't worn a 5 mil in awhile until yesterday

 

I know a few guys that are younger than me and won't even surf in December-March anymore, due to it being too cold for them. But honestly, they aren't all that good at surfing and were never into it as much as myself anyway.

 

because they don't surf winter!!!

if ur only a warm water surfer on the eastcoast youll probably log 3 maybe 4 "good" days a year.going out in 1-2' slop isn't surfing lol.only time the waves get good is when the season changes.

 

Well here's the thing, they used to surf winter, now they really don't because they say the terribly cold water isn't worth it. Not that I surf winter like I used to either, but that's due to work commitments and a busy schedule during that time of the year. The fact that it gets dark early also leaves me with fewer hours to surf on the days that I get home at 6:00 PM. I don't mind night surfing at all, I much enjoy it but I'm not big on starting the session when it's pitch black. I love a nice March evening after daylight savings time, where I can get home by 6:00-6:30 and shoot to the beach for an an hour or two in the water.

One of the guys is in the group of friends I have that does the annual Rincon trip in February, which I never get to go on. He's 45 like me but he's not in very good shape and he's never been all that great at it haha. The funny thing is that he'll trunk 60 degree water temps because he's got some extra insulation, but the minute it drops below 50, he's shivering and and complaining and by 45 degree water or so, he sits it out.

 

I just drive home in my suit, then hop into a hot shower.

 

I can't remember the last I was able to rock less than a 4/3 here, even in summer.Your fitness level gets used to all that rubber after a while.

Sometimes I drive home with the suit on, sometimes I use the hot showers we have at the beach. A great accommodation to have.

 

I think there are health benefits to the whole cold experience, including doing the change(post sesh) outside.

But then againe, I like turtles.

 

I used to feel like I couldn't warm up unless I got out of my suite right away... while my metabolism was still amping from the surf session.

But that was before I got a hot tub...