Cold Water, Cold Air, Cold Face

[prawerski]

So this is a question for people who surf in the dead of winter. What do you do to keep your face warm/from getting frost bite?... Also, not that it would keep me out of the water, but do boards have a better chance of snapping in the cold water?

[surferdude_scarborough]

thick boots, gloves, hood and a big can of man up.

I'm not sure about boards being more likely to snap in winter. I'm sure somebody will come along with more knowledge of the materials in surfbosrds and tell you.

[jaffa1949]

No more than usual for plastics and is related to their thermal co-efficient. Icebergs well that's another problem.
Medically, the lumps in your throat as your gonads head to warmer climes.
The only other factor is the disappearance of any anatomy from the amusement park which now looks more like a button on a fur coat

[prawerski]

Real funny guys, however I do live in a place where frost bite is a real problem. It's not discomfort when you can't feel your face. Unfortunately the best waves around here come in the middle of winter, in snow storms. It gets ridiculously cold here, won't keep me out of the water but loss of blood flow will.

[jaffa1949]

No disrespect , that sort of cold is inconceivable to anyone whose surf base is Australia.
I'd be reading Himalayan and arctic survival skill manuals, or get info from a navy seal.
You've been trumped though some one is posting and learning to surf in Nova Scotia.
Brrrrrrrrr

[prawerski]

I mean, the best thing for me to do will probably just be to ask people around home who already surf in these conditions. I'm just away for the semester and wont be home for another 4 weeks so I figured I'd see if I could get a heads up from some people here. Plus being in a landlocked country for 4 months has been no fun for a surfer, this and youtube are about the best wave contact I can get at this point.

[surferdude_scarborough]

my advice still stands, All you can really do in the water is get the thickest and best wetsuit you can, and then boots gloves and hood. get a hood which has a drawstring on round the face so you can pull it nice and tight. and i guess get changed as quickly as possible. i had one of my coldest sessions this weekend in temperatures of around -10 degrees. Those kind of temperatures dont happen here very often but when they do we just suck it up and go.

[Real Pol]

Have your back to the wind. If it's offshore then there is no problem here, the only time you'll have wind in your face is when your surfing.
Flap your arms around a lot.
Go for a paddle during flat spells.
Get out the water before you stop shivering.
Some folk have a thermos of hot water waiting for them on shore to pour over their bits.

[surferdude_scarborough]

dont leave your kit outside, or in the car, or in the garage. frozen wetsuits are no fun.

[naniekso]

jesus you guys are warriors.

here i am in socal going to complain about 58 degrees water sitn here thinkn i need to move to warmer waters