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Coping with cold weather SUP conditions – battling winter with the right attire. (staying SUP safe).

Winter stand up paddle boarding can be a tricky aspect. There’re obviously the usual elements that put people off such as rain and wind, but with winter you have also have the cold – sometimes bitter Baltic conditions. More so than slightly damp conditions the lowering of air and water temperatures can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.

By prepared we’re talking about the kind of clothing you’re likely to be wearing. Wetsuits are one thing, and they do keep paddlers warm – to a degree. If you take a dunking than evaporative cooling will probably occur whilst your out of the drink. Wetsuits are, by and large, designed to work when wet – i.e immersed. If you should fall off your SUP then once back on board that evaporative cooling starts to take hold and, even though you’re paddling and generating a degree of heat, your wetsuit serves to cool you down. At some point – most probably it creeping on without you knowing – hypothermia could set in.

McConkss Andy wearing the McConks drysuit

We readily appreciate that if you’re paddling in surf, where dunkings are likely, then it’s a non-issue but for anyone paddling distance – touring, adventure or recreation – a different set of attire will be more preferable. You may still require a waterproof barrier to some degree (possibly a 3mm wetsuit) but paired with a fleece top layer, hat, maybe gloves and some form of paddling footwear.

For some, who paddle inland water with flow (rivers to you and I) a full on drysuit will most likley be the go with a thermal fleece baselayer. For additional safety, and perhaps keeping further warmth locked in, a helmet also.

There are, of course, plenty of other ways to keep warm during winter paddling. Some of you may be looking for more clothing style layers – especially if on flat water where there’s no flow. You’ll just need to be confident in not falling as that could spell disaster.

Wearing the correct attire for paddling the type SUP you do is as much a safety concern as it comfort. If you feel safe you’ll probably feel confident. If you feel confident you’ll have more fun and enjoy winter SUPing all the more.

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