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The colder months are, in most areas, the windiest time of the year. This means that conditions for all kinds of watersports are quite unique during this period. The only downside? The cold. While we can’t change the weather, we can at least prepare ourselves in the best way possible.
In this blog, you can read the best tips from our team rider and PWA Pro, Femke van der Veen:


In winter, I often find myself almost alone on the water, as many people opt for a winter break. If this sounds familiar to you, it might be time to rethink your approach. Winter is also the season of epic storms and good waves, and with the right gear, the cold doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. After all, nobody complains about the cold when they're enjoying the snowy mountains, right? So stick around for some tips on how to stay warm and make the most of your winter sessions!

Wetsuits

With the right wetsuit, staying warm in the water is no longer an issue for me. Honestly, my body doesn’t get cold at all anymore. While keeping my hands warm remains a challenge, I sometimes even come out of the water sweating! The key is choosing a thick wetsuit. In recent years, wetsuit technology has improved significantly, especially in terms of flexibility. This means that even with a thicker wetsuit, you’ll still have plenty of freedom to move around and enjoy your session.

What wetsuit should you choose?

12-15 degrees: A 5/4 wetsuit will do the job.
7-12 degrees: A 6/4 wetsuit will keep you warm, especially if you opt for a hooded edition.
For the really cold days (below 7°C): When it gets colder, the Prolimit Vapor, Mercury, and Oxygen wetsuits stand out. These wetsuits feature an advanced ‘thermal rebound’ layer. This special layer works by reflecting your body heat back to you and blocking the cold from the outside, using the same principle as survival blankets. It’ll keep you extra warm and comfortable, even on the cold days: Prolimit Wetsuits.
For the right effect, make sure your wetsuit fits you well.  

 

Keeping the head warm: choosing your hood

When you are not planning to go for super cold sessions (~12-15°), a neoprene beanie might be your choice. It will better protect you against the cold than a regular hoodie. Prolimit Beanie
When you are frequently windsurfing in the cold, a hood is a must have. You will be surprised on how much this saves warmth! Some wetsuits have an integrated cap, but it is also possible to use a separate hood like this one: Neoprene Hood with Visor.

Benefits of a seperate hood: 
You can choose whether to wear the hood depending on the conditions. On warmer days, you can leave it off entirely
Benefits/disadvantages of an integrated hood:

  • No gaps between the hood and wetsuit to prevent water entry. 
  • Getting into the wetsuit can take a little bit more effort
  • Easy to take of the hood on the water when you are getting warm

 

Gloves
Although I definitely prefer to windsurf bare handed, gloves can be a massive help in the winter. Mainly because they block the wind from outside. When you are using the gloves with an open palm, you will still have good grip and contact with your boom to prevents any cramps in your fore arms, but the wind around your hands will be blocked: Prolimit Mittens Open Palm.

Boots 
As your feet are almost constantly in the water, the boots are important to keep your feet warm, depending on the water temperature. In the winter and spring  I like to use thick boots (6/4), while in the autumn when the water is still warm, I prefer thinner boots as they offer enough insulation and allow for more mobility and contact with the board.

Tips for staying warm 

  • When it is really cold outside I like to put on my wetsuit at home. Your wetsuit will be warm by the time you arrive at the water! Otherwise I would recommend to dress before you start rigging, so you have a bit of a warm up during your rigging session. To keep myself extra warm, I like to put a neoprene jacket (the prolimit hoodie) for the wind chill over the wetsuit and wear a beanie. This makes the step to go in the cold water definitely smaller!
  • Go for a short session and don't take too long breaks to prevent getting cold. Wear a neoprene hoodie or jacket as soon as you come back at the beach for a break.
  • Bring some warm drinks
  • Check the forecast: choose a save spot for the conditions, just in case.
  • When you are looking for a bit of extra warmth, you can add a layer to increase the thickness of your wetsuit at the critical region, your upper body, with an inner layer. You can customize your warmth by adding or removing the inner layer depending on the conditions: Prolimit Innersystem Chillvest Hooded.