How often do you go surfing in the winter?

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How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby surfergirl16 » Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:57 pm

I used to only surf in summer but now Im going to start in winter. I want to get better now that ive stepped down to a fish from a mini-mal. Are the waves better? I have booties and Im going to get a new 4/3 wetsuit. Would that be ok for san diego's waters in winter?
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby RJD » Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:24 pm

Waves are typicaly better, waves come from wind, you get more wind in winter typicaly.

Cant say what kit you need dont know what Sandiego is like in winter, here it gets down to about 6 or 7 degree water temp I use a 4/3 boots and gloves.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby esonscar » Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:44 pm

All year - winter 5mm titanium steamer - boots - gloves - hood - no undies (gets twisted - ouch !) - sometimes good surf depending on the wind direction.

Be careful:
Bigger rip currents and if you get too cold you will make stooopid decisions and get dumped over the falls and / or miss everything sooooo

Monitor your wave catching and if you know its getting worse - leave - you are getting early hypothermia.

Enjoy !
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby isaluteyou » Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:11 am

4/3 for san diego winter is perfect. I wear one here and im fine. On extra cold breezy days i may wear a thermo rash guard underneath but iam a complete wimp. I hardly wear booties if i do its cause its really cold out so maybe 5/6 days a year i wear em.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby surfergirl16 » Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:15 pm

Great, thanks! Now Im trying to find one at a decent price...
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby broseph619 » Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:51 am

hey surfergirl, let me know how a 4/3 feels for you down here.

im in north county san diego as well, and right now im just sticking with the 3/2 and its suited me alright.
btw, its supposed to be pretty nice out tomorrow!
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby phillwilson » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:05 pm

Im out as often as possilbe,

last weekend i made the decision to stay home due to the wind rather then waves, waves where good but winds where so howling i knew i would struggle getting back up the steep cliff with a longboard.

as far as the cold goes i find a few more minutes prep saves a lot of heart ache......forinstance puting gloves on first and then into wetuit arms creates a bulk of material that seals me in better, making sure my boots and tucked in well etc all helps sustain me longer in the water, finally earplugs to combat the howling wind which really hurts after a full weekend of it.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby wyldewood surfboards » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:16 am

How we do it on Lake Erie

Image
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby donhoe » Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:23 am

wyldewood surfboards wrote:How we do it on Lake Erie

Image


That aint right :shock: I think I am going to take a Hot shower now :lol:
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby theqman » Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:11 am

you can surf all winter in central florida, with just a short spring suit. i used a 3/2 my last winter out but it was a bit more than needed even with all day sessions. random side note its going to be flat for the next 6-8 days :(
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby IB_Surfer » Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:24 am

I go back and forth between my 3/2 and 4/3 in the winter, but mainly on how I "feel". If I wake up with a chill I'll take the 4/3 out, or if I think it will be windy, but if I wake up chipper and all warm or expect to be in the sun I take out the 3/2. I wear booties all winter just so I can get used to them, if not when you wear them you will feel weird wearing them. Of course, the opposite in the spring and summer, I all together abandon booties unless surfing reefs in baja and use reef walkers instead.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby SfrMatt » Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:20 pm

I'm surfing Cornwall, UK. I just go for some gloves, 4/3 and maybe some boots if I'm feeling extra chilly.
I don't get much surf in the old winter, But I try my best.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby Manhattan Beach Grom » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:09 am

I live in manhattan Beach and I go surfing in the winter all the time, because I have surf P.E. every day for school. Right now the water temp is around 60 degrees and I just wear a wetsuit. But usually I say if it below 60 it's time to bust out the booties and gloves. I don't wear a hood unless it is particularly windy because when you head gets wet and the wind blows on you it sux!!!!
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby donhoe » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:17 am

Manhattan Beach Grom wrote:I live in manhattan Beach and I go surfing in the winter all the time, because I have surf P.E. every day for school.


That is so cool. In 79,80 I had surf class at Venice high. Fun times! I remember everyone standing on their boards in the morning during roll call because the sand was so cold haha! That was at Bay st. SM.
I go every weekend now up here in Nor Cal. Water is 48 to 52 now. I need to go down south and hit El Porto and get warm haha! I would like to use my 3/2 again :) The 3/2 will feel like skin after using this 4.5/3.5 :lol:
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby SfrMatt » Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:03 pm

Surf Lessons in PE. Now thats pretty sweet,I've never tried a hood, what they like?
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby donhoe » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:20 pm

SfrMatt wrote:I've never tried a hood, what they like?


Well, the one I am using is only 1 mm. So it doesn't feel like much at all but still helps to keep warm. I have at times just peeled it back because I felt to warm. To warm to me is better then to cold.

It's only good if you like it.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby Lomax » Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:52 am

Manhattan Beach Grom wrote:I live in manhattan Beach and I go surfing in the winter all the time, because I have surf P.E. every day for school. Right now the water temp is around 60 degrees and I just wear a wetsuit. But usually I say if it below 60 it's time to bust out the booties and gloves. I don't wear a hood unless it is particularly windy because when you head gets wet and the wind blows on you it sux!!!!

You're right in my neck of the woods. I'm not a huge fan of winters to be honest. Short days, cold temps, and rain really put a damper on my surfing frequency. Also while summer can be flat at times, winter can be just as ugly in the other direction. Closed out, washed out and relentlessly high frequency with very strong currents and rips. Rippers love winters probably just as much because the factors above keep the kooks out of the lineup. But I typically find myself catching way more waves in the other three seasons.
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby esonscar » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:57 pm

I just video’d myself today riding my home built carbon on the snow with no fins - awesome !

(heh – its so tough it can take the battering akin to a skate board on soft ground, yet it surfs really sweet in the good old ocean too ! Hoping for some good branding news on the 15th January 2009 – fingers crossed!)
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby Sids Surf Shack » Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:29 pm

You'll be fine with the 4/3...in fact too hot!
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Re: How often do you go surfing in the winter?

Postby jack612 » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:47 pm

I've been fine with a 3/2 in San Diego so far this winter. I think that if you're just going to get one full suit then a 3/2 is the way to go. You'll be too hot in a 4/3 most of the time in SD.
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