Jokes about the brisk UK winter aside, beach safety is a pressing issue during the winter months. The lifeguard season is over, making individual intuition and practical sense lifesaving factors during beach activity. Without beach safety considerations, the best XCEL wetsuits in the world won�t safeguard surfers of all ages and skill levels from Britain�s unpredictable swells and breakers.
Surf Gear
Brightly coloured, 5mm winter XCEL Infiniti wetsuits are advisable, and could make all the difference between an uncomfortably cold experience and life-threatening hypothermia. 5mm gloves and a wetsuit hood (2.5mm is adequate) protect against frostbitten, useless fingers and excessive loss of heat via the head. Some surfers say hoods and sunglasses impair their vision. The glare of the low winter sun, spray and sea detritus are all counteracted by specifically esigned surf sunglasses.
Weather
Check weather reports and pay careful attention to warnings or advisory notices. Warnings including extreme wind chill or severely low temperatures should be heeded as reasons to stay away from most of Britain�s waters. Take extra care around dusk and dawn. Winter nights roll in much faster than the long airy evenings of summer.
First Aid
Be aware of the symptoms associated with hypothermia, and only purchase XCEL wetsuits that you know will protect you against the elements. A rather cruel element of hypothermia is that in order to identify the symptoms a person generally has to NOT be afflicted. Symptoms include confusion, the fallacious feeling of being too hot and incredibly bad judgement. Also, be mindful of sunburn and windburn.
Practical Courses
The RNLI run annual surf safety courses across a number of UK beaches over the winter months. Surfer Survival Clinics are free, and offer arguably the best practical lessons in winter surfing, surf gear advice, first aid and beach safety available in the UK.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is beneficial. Get plenty of sleep the night before, and always avoid venturing into the blue after consumption of alcohol or drugs.