It’s no secret South Africa experiences its best surf season, more or less, in winter. It’s also no secret that despite its reputation as a sunny, hot country, the winter in Mzansi can be brutal. Sure, not quite Greenland, but definitely not Hawaii winter either.
Consider those blustery days with the temperature refusing to budge beyond the low double digits (Celsius). When there’s snow inland and crooked politicians have their hands frozen to the cookie jar. On freezing days such as those, it’s really tempting to simply wrap yourself up in blankets and hibernate for a month. The very idea of surfing becomes as welcome as a chipped tooth on the same day as a tax audit. No matter how committed of a surfer you may be, everyone has their cold threshold.
Sure, there also happens to be plenty of cranking winter surf beneath blue skies and mild sun. But to motivate oneself to get outta bed when the rain is essentially liquid nitrogen? Those days when the sky and sea are both a monotone, depressing grey like portrait shots from the Old West circa 1800’s? Well, allow Trident to provide a few good reasons to leave the warmth of your abode and surf. All while the weather is only marginally more pleasant than having the poop emoji branded into your forehead.
Number 1: Consider there are colder places to surf in this world.
Trident already mentioned Greenland. But people surf in Alaska, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, the Scandinavian countries and the Antarctic. Not feeling quite so hardcore now, huh?!
Number 2: Invariably, it’ll be less crowded.
And that’s because many other surfers are either sissies, or sensible. You decide which. Either way, the cold tends to make surfers less motivated, so work this fact to your advantage.
Number 3. It’s a good reason to upgrade your wetsuit.
“Wow,” Trident has heard many non-surfing acquaintances say. “It’s so cold today – you must be very brave to go surfing!” Their sub text often is – you’re stark raving bonkers or just plain garden variety stupid. As we surfers know however, the reality of a modern, halfway decent wetsuit is the cold needn’t bother you at all. We often find the winter air far more unpleasant than the actual water temp. So unless you’re one of those weirdo’s (see below) that simply refuse to wear any form of neoprene, with a decent wettie you have very minimal excuses to avoid winter paddles.
Number 4: Prove how tough you are. Even if it’s only to yourself.
Sure, you’re surfing – something that’s supposed to be fun. So why do you feel like you’re in a freezing trench during World War One, dodging pistol fire from ze Germans? So just harden the heck up Dude. Two words – Ice and bath. Supposedly the ice bath trend is good for you. Icy water never killed anyone. Okay, so ja – icy water has in fact killed plenty of sailors and Leo (damn you Kate) over the centuries. But just go for it. You have a wetsuit (assuming you’re sort of sane), and unless you’re in the polar regions, it’s unlikely you’ll hit an iceberg while attempting to cutback. So even if you live in Bishopscourt and your family chauffeur drives you everywhere to surf, just remember how truly core lord you are. Or just be super hardcore and paddle out in boardshorts. Or nothing.
Number 5: If you’re privileged enough to surf, you’re privileged enough to have a hot bath, shower and warm beverage waiting for you at home.
Unless you have water and/or power cuts. Yay! That affects us all. But if you cannot afford to drive to surf, own a wetsuit and a board, unless you’re core and living in the dunes by your local – you’ll be driving home to hot water and hot food. No matter how kak cold your surf is, you have the comforts of home waiting for you afterwards. You lucky sausage.
