Keeping warm, pre and post suit change has become a lot easier in recent times thanks to neoprene jackets and insulated changing robes, which if you haven’t got one should go straight on your Christmas list. A frugal tip for a hot shower is to wrap your towel, wetsuit jacket or changing robe round a large bottle of warm water to insulate it and keep it toasty for a warm water rinse down at the end of your session. You can even put your clothes round the bottle as well for extra après surf snugness.
Keep your feet off cold ground by investing in a changing mat, which can range from the bespoke surf specific models to a simple door mat from the hardware store.
Fuel up
Winter sessions are all about eating and drinking smart. Porridge is a great way to start the body’s boiler with the right sort of slow release fuel and the best thing is you can make it simply by adding boiling water to oats and letting it sit for a few minutes. The cookbooks may say otherwise but trust me this trick works for those in a rush – throw in some dates, fresh or dried fruit and seeds for some extra goodness. Having a flask of boiling water or a portable gas burner means you can make it at the beach as well as a ready supply of hot water for tea and coffee. Top tip for those who find themselves unprepared or want to save some money – most service stations won’t charge you for a cup of hot water from their urn which you can then drop a mix of your favourite brew into when back in your car.
The hard chargers of county Clare in Ireland are big fans of Ginger tea to keep the spirits up in those long winter sessions under the cliffs. Using naturally warming foods like ginger is a great strategy and other quick, healthy and easy options I like are cooking sweet potatoes up the night before to snack on during the day or some wholegrains / brown rices with spice – you can buy these ready made in easy to heat up packs from Uncle Brown etc, heat them up from that trusty portable camping gas burner or most service stations have a microwave you can pirate while raiding their urn.
Finally, almonds with dates and bananas are my snack food of choice in-between sessions or on the road. Winter eating takes a bit more planning, as chances are that trendy beachside cafe with your favourite toastie and tea is only open in summer!
