The slide towards autumn/winter – not necessarily a bad thing for SUPers, surfers or windsurfers.

Whilst summer may have only just started for many, the fact remains we’re now passed Solstice (the longest day – in case you missed that) and are now sliding gradually towards autumn, and ultimately winter.

With schools back in September (all being well) the changing of the season signals a different set of conditions incoming for anybody into watersports. Swell size generally increases, winds blow harder and the regularity of these Momma Nature moods ramps up.

For experienced riders, who love doing battle with the elements, the browning of the leaves is something to salivate over. Whilst summer does deliver fun conditions on the water it’s autumn and early winter that really gets the juices flowing. Seas are still warm, air temperatures are (mostly) mild and high time crowds have dispersed.

While this period is celebrated by those of us who live a life to ride it shouldn’t be dismissed by anyone having discovered new activities this summer – particularly SUP. Hanging up your kit doesn’t have to be the case.

We appreciate not everyone wants to step up their levels of extreme but some do. If you’ve been beavering away at stand up paddle boarding, and fancy a stab at SUP surfing for instance, then now’s your time. Obviously we’re not suggesting progressing riders take on conditions that are out of their league – slowly, slowly, steady, steady and all that. But with more chance of scoring a wave or two it’s autumn that’ll see you advance your skillset.

So now’s the time to prepare your kit. NCW will have a delivery of winter neoprene landing shortly. Equipping yourself with the right tools for the job is half the battle. Even things like change robes can make or break a session – nobody wants to freeze before they’ve even entered the water after all.

Stay tuned for an announcement regarding restocking of winter wetsuits. In the meantime, plug away, enjoy the rest of summer and be ready for the best time of year!