Surfing Waves

Hi,

I live very close to Santa Cruz and has recently began to REALLY like the idea of surfing, although i have never surfed once in my life.
However, i'm kind of small built (5'2) and the water in Santa Cruz is just icy cold even in the summer.
I have a 4/3 wet suit but just wondering if anyone here has surfed in Santa Cruz before.
How thick was your wet suit and was it warm enough for you?
My cold water tolerance is super low by the way : (

Please share your thoughts and thanks so much for sharing : )

If you know that your tolerance is "super low" then get yourself a thicker winter suit and maybe even a thermal rash vest.
Better to be a touch too warm than to be too cold.

I moved to Los Gatos (right outside SC) about a year a half ago from Hawaii and surf SC all the time. Yes, the water is freezing as I am a lightweight as well. A 4/3 works for me all year and yes, your hands will be cold, your face will be cold and when you go under water it is F-in miserable, especially water going down your back. Even with that said, the coldest part for me is the getting dressed and undressed at the car. The 4/3 keeps you warm and your hands warm up (kinda) after a while however your face/head will only feel warm on those 80+ sunny days. I tried the hood thing but did not like the muffled hearing. The 4/3 makes it bearable.......put it this way, I would enjoy being in the water any day in Hawaii but in Santa Cruz only when the surf is good. I am the minority though, most guys/gals seem to enjoy the water most of the time. I keep my water temp. bitching down to a minimal as I try to not to let everyone know how much of a puss I am. lol.

@CARBr6: Thanks. I kinda have this wet suit for awhile now. If adding more rash guard layers helps, i think I will do that just to test my tolerance before investing in another suit. : )

Surf Hound wrote: .

lol no, not pussy at all, from Hawaii to Santa Cruz, I fully understand. I've lived in the Bay Area for 10 years and every time I go to Santa Cruz I cringe away from the ocean water. I don't like the idea of the hood either it gives me less neck movement and etc...but we'll see. Thanks for the info though. Hopefully it will work out well for me as I really really want to do this long term. My first lesson is next Sat with Richard Schmidt i'm very excited. Thanks again : )

Good luck with the lesson.
Keep your stoke alive, the desire to surf will far out weigh the fear of cold water!