Surfing in winter yes or no? This question always raises many questions. But don’t worry, after reading this article you’ll have good reasons to gear up and go catch some waves!
5 Reasons to Surf in Winter in Portugal
It’s winter and you don’t know what to do? Do you want to catch some waves, but don’t know if it’s the best time? So stay with us and discover good reasons to surf in winter and we’ll even give you some tips.
Fewer people on the beaches
If you don’t like confusion, crowds or attracting attention and you prefer to be calm and have space to practice maneuvers, then winter surfing is ideal for you.
Portugal is a country that relies heavily on seasonal tourism and, for this reason, in the summer Portuguese cities, especially Algarve cities and beaches, are full of people. The number of people even quadruples.
As a result, it is impossible to practice surfing maneuvers, because wherever you go there is always someone and you run a serious risk of hurting others or yourself.
And not to mention how relaxing and calming it is to surf without the noise of children playing, young people playing football, without the whistle of Mr. Ball from Berlin or any other noise from the hustle and bustle of summer. Just the sound of the waves. Just you and the sea.
Big Waves (High Waves)
This reason is influenced by several factors such as:
- The weather;
- Atmospheric pressure;
- The tides;
- The winds;
- And the Region.
To know exactly if there are good waves on the day you want to surf, it’s best to consult a surfing weather forecast website or a surf agency before heading to the sea.
However, winter is the season that provides surfers with big waves and, without a doubt, more adrenaline.
Surfing Championships
The best surfing championships are held between autumn and spring, few are held in summer and winter.
But to train and prepare for the challenges of a surfing championship, there is no better season than winter. With the diversity of challenges that the season offers you, you will definitely be in shape for a championship. But pay attention! Don’t put yourself in danger, there will be winter days when you won’t be able to venture out or it will be dangerous.
Check out this 3-day itinerary for an extreme vacation in the Algarve
No scalds
The sun is our skin’s enemy when we are exposed to it for a long time. It leaves us with sunburns, irritations, we turn red, our skin peels and we are in pain.
In winter, the sun is no longer as strong. This prevents sunburn, meaning you don’t need to use as much sunscreen. Furthermore, it will help your vision, as you won’t get dazzled by the sun and the fact that it’s less hot will help with your breathing and performance.
5. Enjoy the Waves with friends
Last but not least, winter offers the best time and space to enjoy some waves in a group. As mentioned above, the population in the Algarve quadruples in the summer. For residents, this means a lot of work, that is, an increase in the volume or overtime of work, resulting in less time to enjoy the summer or even to spend time with friends.
However, in winter you have more free time and free space to have fun with your friends and enjoy the sea.
10 Tips for Surfing in Winter
- Choose and invest in a good wetsuit (we recommend our article: how to choose the best wetsuit for winter)
- Choose the board that best suits your level and the level of the waves. Pay attention to the 4 common mistakes when choosing a surfboard
- Eat something that keeps you warm but is easy to digest, such as sweet potatoes and carrots, a few hours before going to the water;
- Be aware of your level. If you are a beginner or average surfer, don’t get involved in adventures like professional surfers, it can be very dangerous;
- Stretch before getting into the water;
- In the water, keep moving constantly to warm up your body;
- Don’t exaggerate. Save energy to get out of the water;
- Don’t push your body to its limits;
- Preferably go with someone so that you can watch each other;
- When you go out, rinse yourself with hot water and immediately put on warm clothes.
Extra Tip
If you feel very tired, very cold to the point of shivering and your lips are blue, get out of the water immediately. You could be starting hypothermia. To prevent this from happening, follow all the points above.
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