Surfing Blog #9 Surfing in Winter: Cold Water Challenges
Surfing in Winter: Cold Water Challenges
When the Ocean Turns Cold
Surfing in New England during the winter is a completely different experience than surfing in the summer. The water temperature in New Hampshire drops into the low 40s, sometimes even flirting with the high 30s depending on the year. That kind of cold changes everything—your gear, your mindset, your safety considerations, and even the way the waves behave.
Winter surfing isn’t for everyone, but for those of us who paddle out year‑round, it becomes its own kind of adventure.
Gear Becomes Survival
In the summer, you can get away with a 3:2 wetsuit, maybe even a spring suit on the warmest days. But in the winter? You need armor.
• Gloves
• Booties
• A hood
• A thicker wetsuit
I’ve heard a couple of guys say they’re fine in a 4:3 year‑round, but I can’t personally imagine that. I use a 5:4 with a built‑in hood, and with that setup, I do okay. My face gets cold—sometimes painfully so—but otherwise, it’s manageable.
Pushing through the first wave of the day is always a shock. The cold water hits your cheeks like needles, and for a moment your breath catches. But after a few minutes, your body adjusts. The wetsuit does its job, and you settle into the rhythm of winter surfing.
Bigger Waves, Bigger Nerves
Winter waves in New England tend to be larger and more powerful. Storm systems push stronger swells toward the coast, and the ocean feels more alive—sometimes intimidatingly so.
There have been days when I paddled out and questioned whether I belonged out there. The waves were bigger than I was used to, the sets more forceful, the paddle‑outs longer and more punishing.
Winter surfing demands respect. It’s not just the cold—it’s the power of the ocean itself.
The Solitude of Winter Surfing
One of the biggest differences in winter is the lack of people. In the summer, the lineup can be crowded. In the winter, you might be the only one out.
There’s a certain beauty in that solitude—the quiet, the stillness, the feeling of having the entire ocean to yourself. But it can also be unnerving.
At age 59, I’m very aware that if something goes wrong physically, it’s better to have someone else out there with you. Even just one other surfer provides a sense of safety, a silent reassurance that you’re not alone if trouble hits.
But in the winter, that’s often not the case. You paddle out alone, ride alone, and hope that everything goes smoothly.
The Shark Phobia Nobody Talks About
I’ll admit it: I still have a bit of a shark phobia. Nobody seems to talk about it, but I wonder how many surfers think about sharks when they’re out on the water—especially when they’re alone.
I don’t surf on Cape Cod, which has a very large great white population, but great whites migrate up and down the coast. Encounters are unlikely, but not impossible.
When I’m out there with other people, I feel a strange sense of security—irrational, but real. It’s like being a kid in bed, pulling the sheet over your head to protect yourself from the monsters. You know it doesn’t actually do anything, but it feels better.
That’s how it is with other surfers in the water. Their presence doesn’t change the odds, but it changes the feeling.
Cold Air vs. Cold Wind
People often assume the air temperature is the hardest part of winter surfing, but for me, it’s not. Surfing in the 30s—or even a little below—is doable. Once you’re in the water and moving, your body warms up.
What really matters is wind.
If it’s really windy, the cold seems to cut through the wetsuit, slicing right through the neoprene and into your bones. The combination of cold water and wind chill can make the experience miserable.
So I’ll go out when it’s cold, but I won’t go out when it’s cold and really windy. That’s just painful.
The Beauty of Winter Surfing
Despite the challenges, winter surfing has its own magic.
• The beaches are empty.
• The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows across the water.
• The waves are often more powerful and better shaped.
• The cold air feels clean, sharp, invigorating.
There’s something deeply satisfying about braving the elements, paddling out when most people are home under blankets, and catching a wave that feels like it belongs only to you.
The Mental Game
Winter surfing is as much mental as physical. You have to push past the cold, the solitude, the nerves, the shark thoughts, the wind, and the uncertainty.
But every time I do, I’m glad I went.
There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from winter sessions—a feeling that you didn’t just surf, you endured. You adapted. You showed up.
And that’s part of what makes surfing such a powerful teacher.
Safety First
Winter surfing requires more caution. The cold reduces stamina. The waves are stronger. The crowds are thinner.
I always check conditions carefully. I always make sure my gear is in good shape. And I always listen to my instincts. If something feels off—too windy, too big, too empty—I don’t go.
Surfing is supposed to be challenging, but it’s also supposed to be safe.
Final Thoughts
Surfing in winter is not for the faint of heart. The water drops into the low 40s, the waves get bigger, the crowds disappear, and the cold becomes a constant companion. You need gloves, booties, a hood, and a thick wetsuit. You need awareness, caution, and a willingness to paddle out alone.
But winter surfing also offers something special—quiet, power, solitude, and a deeper connection to the ocean.
I still get nervous sometimes. I still think about sharks. I still prefer having other people out there with me. But I also love the challenge, the beauty, and the sense of accomplishment that winter brings.
As long as the wind isn’t brutal and I consider the conditions safe, I’ll keep paddling out. Because even in the coldest months, the ocean still calls—and the waves are still worth it.