When Joe public often thinks of surfers they think of blonde messy hair, laid back, most likely dope smokers and drop outs. Well in some cases their perception would be correct, but i bet they never think respectable people surf like doctors, vicars, scientists, teachers and i was going to say bankers and politicians, but they are far from being respectable. Also i bet Joe blogs thinks surfers only surf in the summer time when the weather is respectable and bearable. This is the case with some surfers, but there are a minority who like to take the plunge in winter waters of 7c (before adding wind chill) and we are completely mad! Yes, mad thats right, completely mad for surfing!
Think about it; who in their right mind would wake up at 6am on a cold dark winters morning and slip into an already cold, wet, piss stained wetsuit from the previous session to go and enjoy their sport? I think this procedure must put a lot of fair-weather surfers off surfing in the winter. However, if you can get over dragging yourself out of bed and slipping into a damp cold wetsuit you know you are 110% dedicated and a surfing addict.
When i first started surfing i do admit i tried the sport in the summer months, but after that first wave i knew cold water wasnt ever going to stop me surfing. I had caught the bug and became a surf junky. I think to myself, if there wasnt such a thing as a wetsuit, what would i do? I would most likely rub deep heat all over my body, then pop on a coat of lard. Thankfully continual improvements in wetsuits technology mean we dont have to resort to a tube of deep heat and a tub of lard. Winter surfing is gaining followers who might not have previously braced the winter seas, not only in the UK but in cold waters all over the world.
Why has there been an increase in winter surfers? Is it because more people have had an increase insanity levels and they are more likely not to give a rats ass if the waters freezing? Maybe its because of Increased levels in overall population, therefore more people will get into winter surfing? I think its definitely down to wetsuits now providing unprecedented warmth and comfort. Even the cheapest winter wetsuits we sell offer great warmth and flexibility for under 100. A few years ago the arrival of winter surfing meant that the crowds were a lot thinner in the water. I have to say, the crowds in the winter arent as bad as in the summer, but they arent far of summer levels now.
The conclusion is that wetsuits, wetsuit gloves, wetsuit hoods and wetsuit boots all enable us surf addicts fuel or desire to surf even in the most extreme of conditions. So all you fair weather surfers out there dont you think its now time to get suited and booted and take a dip in the winter time?
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