Surfing is big business. In the UK and world wide. Every summer season large numbers of riders descend on surfing beaches to do battle with Mother Nature. Beginners, progressing riders and pros all mix to get their slice of surfing goodness. But how do you stay warm whilst surfing in UK waters? After all, this ain’t the Tropics!
Do I need a wetsuit for UK surfing?
The short answer to the above question is most definitely yes! Our neck of the woods gets very few days where boardshorts and rash vests are the only attire needed. A few sessions may pop up from time to time. But with the UK’s weather so changeable, windchill and evaporative cooling are ever present. Combined with chillier sea temperatures it’s always wise to wear some kind of rubbery wetsuit protection.
Summer surfers can do away with the thickest of neoprene. You may only need something like a 2mm-3mm wetsuit. Although this depends on how much you feel the cold. Autumn will be at its warmest in the sea, but air temps start to drop. At this point, a 4mm wetsuit may be best. Come deepest darkest winter your thickest wetsuit will be called for.
Is there anything else I need for cold water surfing?
What we describe previously are common surfing scenarios and a general view of what thickness wetsuit you need. There are other factors though.
Some surfers may get colder quicker than others. A beginner for instance, learning those surfing ropes, will get worn out pretty fast. Being tumbled and tossed by waves zaps strength and fatigue sets in sharpish. Body temperature will also drop in tandem. So even at the height of summer, a fledgling surfer may still need a thicker wetsuit. Perhaps a 4mm until these skills have been dialed in.
Advanced riders, meanwhile, who choose the better days in winter may find their session coincides with particularly cold surfing weather. A 5/3mm wetsuit combined with a 2mm thermal rash vest could be a wise choice of clothing in situations like this. Winter surf riders will also need wetsuit accessories like good quality boots, gloves and hood.
What about keeping my kids warm when riding waves?
Children – even youths – are much more susceptible to getting cold than adults. You may have hardy sprogs but they’ll still cool down quickly.
Therefore even in summer if your offspring are in the water it’s wise to stick them in a thicker wetsuit. Kids won’t tell you if they’re cold until they’ve turned blue. So best to be safe than sorry and get your kids a quality wetsuit. During off season riding you’ll definitely be needing to layer them up and probably keep your kids out of the sea altogether on the coldest of days. There’ll be plenty of opportunity when the weather warms up for surf sessions.
Ultimately, staying warm when surfing in the UK is about common sense. Wearing initially more layered wetsuit protection, which can be removed if you overheat, is better than too little.
For more advice on how to stay warm when surfing get in touch with us here at NCW.
If you want to learn more about wetsuits then check out the NCW guide to wetsuits here.
And for the NCW beginner’s guide to surfing follow this link.