Cold vs Warm Water? Which winter surf destination is for you?

When winter is well and truly here in the Northern Hemisphere, and you know where to look, the waves have been pumping! The only problem is, water temps aren't exactly pleasant around winter time.

Although surf spots in Spain, France, Ireland, and Portugal are firing on all cylinders, most people aren't exactly fond of packing the extra layer of rubber and are headed for warmer waters instead. 

And warmer waters with equally great surf you'll find if you know where to go! Check out our choice of excellent winter surf destinations, just a short hop from the European mainland.

Top LUEX winter surf destinations to escape the European cold

One of the greatest winter destinations - Morroco

Does it get better than empty points, fantastic culture, and pumping waves? Hardly! Morroco is a one of a kind destination that features all the perks surfers wanting to escape the chilly water at their home break would wish for. 

The months between October through to February are really prime time surf season for the North African Kingdom. Although lineup traffic can get a little hectic at times, they are so many great, empty waves to be had for the ones who don't mind the occasional drive.

With water temps between 16 - 23 degrees Celcius (60 - 73 degrees Fahrenheit), all year round, you'll never be too cold or too hot to stretch out our surf session. A decent 3/2mm wettie is all you need to get through the "colder" winter months in Morocco.

The Canary Islands - Welcome to Europe's Hawaii

Another gem that is just a short plane ride away from most European cities. The Canary Islands are located just off the South Coast of Morrocco, and yes, you guessed right, are graced with the same wave quality as its African Neighbour during the colder winter months. 

The Canary Islands are just the right mix of buzzing nightlife, incredible food, laid back charm, and of course, great waves. Touted as the European Hawaii, the Canary Islands, and Fuerteventura in particular, are a dream for the heavy hitters wanting to score big, potent surf without the nasty brain freeze you would have to endure at your local spot over in Europe. 

While November through to February is usually big and wild, which is great for advanced surfers, the Canary Islands have plenty of nooks and crannies that are tame and fun enough for intermediate surfers too.

Whatever island you choose, there are fun waves everywhere, and best of all, the water is just right, at 17 - 22 degrees Celcius (63 - 71 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round.

Here are 7 tips to make freezing water surfing more enjoyable.

1. The right gear is your best friend in cold water lineups.

The only friend you need out there - Neoprene. There's no way around it. If you actually want to enjoy those frigid waves, good rubber is absolutely essential. 

Buy the best 5mm suit you can afford. Seriously don't save money on a good wetsuit. Spend the extra coin on liquid-sealed seams and ideally go zipper-less or chest zip to minimize flushing. 

Likewise, repair any rips or tears – while a couple of holes aren't a big deal in summer, you'll notice the cold water running through the cracks in winter. Look for a suit with an excellent warm lining, and consider a quick-dry technology. Nothing puts a damper on a session more than struggling into a soaking wetsuit in a windy car park.

Pay attention to sizing and fit too. Though wetsuits are getting more and more flexible, if your suit is too tight, it will restrict blood flow, making you feel colder quicker. If you're surfing icy water, maybe even consider a heated suit or vest.

Forget the macho banter and get a good pair of boots, gloves and a hood too. You can't surf if you can't feel your feet, and stubbing clumsy toes on sharp rocks somehow hurts even more, when your feet are useless lumps of frozen flesh. 

A good hood will help prevent both ice cream headaches on duck dives and the dreaded exostosis… Trust me; no one wants a drill in the ear canal.

Consider buying a couple of re-usable hand warmers, and putting them into your boots (on top of your feet) and in your gloves when it's really cold. After your session, just take them home and boil them for 10 minutes to re-activate the chemicals.

2. Start your cold water session on the right note

Don't set yourself up for failure before you've even started. Fuel yourself properly before your imminent gladiatorial contest with the ocean with a good dose of complex carbs, protein, and water. Make sure you're warm before getting changed – blast the heaters in the car on the way to the beach. Layer up with a quality down jacket for the pre-session surf check.

Stretch and warm up on the beach before getting in the water. When you immerse yourself in icy water, your body's natural defense mechanism is to reduce blood flow to your skin and extremities; the aim is to reduce heat loss from the skin and keep warm blood in your core to protect vital organs.

 Unfortunately, this can also make your hands and feet near-unusable – which rather defeats the whole object of going surfing. 

Warming up before heading into the water gets your blood pumping right from the start, extending the amount of time you can feel your toes. This is also one of the benefits of heated suits – when your core is warm, your body feels less need to shut off blood flow, so your feet stay warm and functioning for longer.

3. Moisturiser and Vaseline to keep those lips from cracking

Spending a lot of time in cold water and strong winds is pretty disastrous for your skin and lips. No-one likes dry, cracked lips, so do yourself a favor and rub in a liberal amount of moisturizer – the thicker and denser the better – before your session. Put a layer of Vaseline over the top to lock the moisture, and repeat after your post-surf shower. Your boy/girlfriend will be thankful - you're welcome!

4. Pick the right Surfboard!

Winter typically brings bigger and better waves – why else would you brave the hypothermia and ice-cream headaches? There's also a theory that cold water is denser, heavier, and more powerful than warm, which, when combined with your heavier, less flexible wetsuit, means you're going to need a little extra help to get into the waves. Pick something a little bigger and with more volume than your typical summer board, and your sessions will involve more stoke and fewer beatdowns.

5. Keep moving during the session

It's really that simple, keep moving! The more you move and paddle, the warmer you'll stay, and the more warm blood your body will pump around to your hands and feet. Race to make it over the top of cleanup sets and try to avoid duck diving as much as possible.

When you're sitting on your board, try tucking your hands into your armpits to keep them warm. Alternatively, hold your arms down at your sides with your hand turned out like you're trying to emulate a penguin, and shrug your shoulders up and down: you can feel how this forces warm blood down into your hands.

If all else fails, remember all that water you drank earlier to avoid dehydration can double up as your very own mobile heating device… Yep, there's something weirdly satisfying about peeing in a wetsuit (just don't forget to wash it after!).

Don't stay out too long! Surfing in freezing water is very tiring, as your body spends a lot of energy trying to stay warm. Head in while you still have some power left in the tank to navigate the shore break. Always surf with a buddy, and keep an eye on each other. Watch out for signs of hypothermia.

6. The subtle art of getting changed (right)

Getting changed after your session is probably the worst part of the whole experience, as the wind knifes into your exposed skin across some blustery car park… In a perfect world, we'd all have a van to get changed in, but there are a few cheaper methods to make it less miserable.

Try filling a big water bottle with boiling water before you leave the house. By the time you've finished surfing, the water will be a more manageable temperature, and you can use it to rinse the sand and salt off in reasonable comfort while warming your feet up again.

Use a neoprene mat or a bit of foam (camping mattresses work well and are cheap) to stand on – it'll help keep your feet warm-ish, and protect you from rock cuts.

Organize your towel and clothes before getting in the water, so everything is at hand in the right order to pull on quickly. Use the hot water bottle to warm up your underwear and t-shirt, so they're nice and toasty.

Plan your changing process. Some people prefer to rip off their suit quickly and jump straight into warm clothes, while others prefer to do it half by half: pull your suit off down to your hips and jam on a t-shirt, jumper, and coat before attending to the lower half. Whatever works best for you.

7. Make the most of the post-surf high

Getting warm and toasty after prolonged exposure to the cold is one of the most exquisite feelings in the world, so make the most of it! Wrap up warm in thick wool jumpers and a down jacket, build a fire on the beach, drink some whiskey (if you are 18 / 21+ - just to keep it civilized), light up a camping stove and brew a pot of tea/coffee/soup. Once that is done, make sure you'll head to the pub for a pie and pint… Everything feels better after a good surf, and you've earned some creature comforts!

LUEX Top Picks for Cold Water Surf Trips

Want to escape the crowds and try somewhere new, or just feeling a bit masochistic? There are some truly world-class cold water waves and surf destinations in the world if you're willing to brave the temperatures. Be rewarded with achingly perfect waves without any competition. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Bali!

Punta de Lobos, Chile

Chile picks up swell all year round, and so offers super consistent conditions. Trying to figure out what to do on the flat days is unlikely to be a problem. The sudden drop off of the land into deep water produces big, powerful surf suited particularly to experienced and pro surfers (although there are beach break options for less experienced surfers). Although Punta de Lobos annually plays host to one leg of the Big Wave World Tour, the breaks are refreshingly empty – so if you like your surf big and challenging but don't want to fight it out with the crowds, then this could be the place for you.

Where there are world-class waves, fantastic accommodations are never far away. Sat on the top of a hill with incredible panoramic views, the stunning architecture of the Surf Lodge has been designed to emphasize the constant connection with nature. Surf Lodge Punta de Lobos is less surf camp and more design jewel, fitting perfectly into its setting.

Winter water temperature: 12-14°C

Check out the Surf Lodge Punta de Lobos 

Lapoint Surf Camp, Norway

When most people think of Norway, they think of snow, fish, and beautiful women; surfing rarely makes a list. Yet for those in the know, Norway offers one of the unique surf trips on the planet. The Scandinavian Kingdom is a special type of "exotic," surf destination, and the cold waters keep the crowds away! 

The consistent and playful beach breaks at Hoddevik are ideal for beginners, while more experienced surfers can find heavier, hollower waves at nearby Ervik. The rugged coastline hides a veritable treasure trove of waves, and you can pretty much always score a break to yourselves somewhere nearby.

Located in Lofoten, Lapoint Surf Camp is certainly not short on scenery: think rugged mountains plunging down to crystal clear fjords, waves breaking onto eerily deserted beaches, and fir trees silhouetted against the bright lights of the aurora at night. The camp is in Stadt, an isolated outpost with no phone reception and no nearby shops, but despite that, it has no shortage of amenities: post-surf you can relax and socialize in the TV room or wood-fired hot tub, and there's even a skate ramp if the waves haven't tired you out.

Winter water temperature: 4-8°C

Find out what the Lapoint Surf Camp is all about 

Turf n' Surf, Ireland

Located on the west coast of Ireland, Sligo faces the full brunt of the North Atlantic ocean's wrath, taking advantage of the massive wave-fetch and powerful swells. Great surf abounds, with waves ranging from the chilled, beginner-friendly Strandhill and Easkey Left to the towering winter behemoths of Mullaghmore, scene of several Billabong XXL rides. 

There are plenty of breaks within a 30-minute drive, including the long lefts and powerful rights of at Lislary Reef.

Ireland is (still) and underrated surf destination, receiving nowhere near the sort of recognition that France, Spain, and Portugal get, even though its coast receives exactly the same swells. But, the cold water seems to keep the crowds away… Get amongst it while the secret lasts.