Is 66F (19celsius)to cold for surfing w/o a wetsuit?

by **DogDays2** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:21 am

What's the coldest you've surfed for a long period of time?

by **zebroo** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:28 am

It probably depends on what you're used to. If you're used to surfing warmer water you might feel chilly and decide you need a wetsuit. If you usually surf the North East of the UK, like me, 66f seems tropical!

by **billie_morini** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:59 am

dogdays,
until a few years ago, all my surfing was in water that ranged from 13C to 15C. A hot time was 16C. I wore a 4/3 suit. In Winter, which is when the surf was best and the air was colder than the water, I'd wear a rash guard shirt & shirts underneath. All in all, I loved it. The cold water always reminded me that I was alive.

One Christmas my wife, big black dog, and I went camping and surfing in Northern California. The water temperature was probably about 12C. Whatever it was, it was cold enough that after 3 hours your feet were so cold you could not feel them. This has always been an amusing thing to me.

Now for 3 years, I've not been able to surf or go in the ocean much and have moved to Southern California where the water is warmer. So, I'm not sure I can take the colder temps that I used to love.

At 19C, I think you'd be sort of OK for about an hour. At minimum, you might like a 3/2 suit. If not quite warm enough, wear rash guard shirt and shorts like I have done.
billie

by **surf patrol** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:12 am

19C - that's like bathwater :-D

by **IMinCA** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:28 am

I wear a 3/2 for a summer morning surf in so cal. I haven't gone in the winter bc it's just too cold for me.

but then again I dot have thick skin, and get colder quicker than most people.