46 isn't bad, it's 38 here

All great tips but #4 is off a bit. Stretching sounds like a good idea, but it's far from good before you paddle out. Two points to consider: "stretching" does not warm up--it only pulls on cold muscles. But "dynamic movement," i.e. jogging, jumping jacks, squats, pushups...etc. These activities actually "warm up" the body and are strongly encouraged before a cold water go out. Move until you are about to break a sweat. At that point you will be warmed up and your body will stay warmer longer.

38 isnt bad. Its 12 here, water temp 34, with 1 foot wind chop

Try -20 during a blizzard in fresh water. www.mikekillion.com www.greatlakessurfer.com http://vimeo.com./2730559

move somewhere warmer, Bob.

36 here today, but it regularly gets down to 32, with air temps down to zero (and windy too!). Make sure it's a 6-mil on the east coast :)

Keep a cooler in the car. Fill up jugs of HOT water at home, cooler keeps them warm. Dump 'em down the neck of your wetsuit. More is better. It is like life itself pouring down from your neck to your feet. Then towels the size of a bearskin rug to wrap inside.

Number 6 is misleading and potentially very dangerous. If you're slurring your speech when you get out you're suffering from the early signs of hypothermia. http://www.natureskills.com/hypothermia_symptoms.html That article highlights symptoms. Stay warm and live to surf another day. Peace.

Don't forget to pee in your suit! Fleeting but oh how nice a feeling...

34 isn't bad, it's -140 here and the water temp is 2. And those stupid penguins keep snaking me.

@ Phil, Awesome idea, I used the hot water in a gallon plastic bottle-- it is unreal-- but never thought to use a cooler to keep it warm--sounds like the best advice ever... to those of you who have not done it, this method is truly unreal. I rinse my whole head first ahhhhh. Scott sounds like a physical therapist or something.

Wow. Great Video of RyeRoxx and TheWall. Best 11 miles of coastline on the East Coast! I miss it!

You guys don't know how easy you have it! It's only 26deg C in the water here and 34 deg C outside. I need some tips on how to stay cool!

always get some food for when you get out and some heat from your car. YEAH.

you guys are all freaks! i wish i was freak.

Filling up big cups of hot water at gas stations is nice for rinsing a cold wet suit if you go for more than one session. And bear boxes can help if you make it a camping trip. And watch out for wolves and cougars :)

Any one tried a H bomb?

Fill a gallon bottle with scalding hot water before you leave and wrap your towel around it. You can tip the warm water down your suit when you get out and have a warm towel as a bonus. If you have a plastic bucket to stand in as you get changed tip some of the water in there and take your boots off - your feet will love you. Oh, and not very enviro-friendly, but get the engine running and put your underwear & socks on the dash to heat up before you start getting changed.

Question: After watching that footage, did the anonymous, squatting bunny-hopper on that left wince in shame and say, "Oh no, THAT'S what I've been doing? I thought those looked cooler." and promptly return to standard turns/carves? Just curious.

I would take cold (or warm) any day.... being land locked here at Ft. Knox KY. sucks!!! Enjoy some for me!!!

An article about the cold, when it's not that cold. If the water is 8 celcius then you barely need a hood. 4 degrees C and it's getting cold.

Put vasoline on the face to block windchill, sometimes wear a springsuit inside a full suit, use and old mouse pad or leftover wetsuit material to stick in your crotch. Do not give in to the shiver, stay relaxed as shivering causes loss of heat more rapidly, don't pee in the suit it makes you lose heat faster and breaks down a good wetsuit faster. Don't drink antifreeze, try hot chocolate. dry off as fast as you can when changing. if your toes go numb rub snow on them if available. Leave the gloves on until you open the car door. place your wrists over the vents to heat your blood up first. have hot soup ready in a thermostat as food material will increase internal heating. Try and say "Plastic Bag" or "Pop the Trunk" when your lips go numb. park perpendicular to the wind or blocked but in the sun if possible. Eat lots of carbs. Potato salad sandwich is great too. close all vent s except yours. find a hotel and use their hot tub before anyone knows. Use ear plugs for winter session

Ha ha, here's another tip. Don't try and use goggles when the air temps are below zero, because they'll just freeze to your face. Trust me on that. www.outofplacemovie.com

just buy a decent wetsuit... o neil pysco and freak rip curl h bomb all have hoods atatched! works in ireland water temp is 6 degrees c at the moment :) and for after surfing stop been such girls and grow a pair... hahahahha happy winter surfing :D

Drink 3 to 4 mugs of hot tea(decaffeinated) right before going out. It provides plenty of fuel for your wetsuit heater. It has to be decaffeinated or it will have the opposite effect and make you colder.

Chop hop!

It was 40 degree water with the air close to that. The sun was beaming and I actually took my hood off. There were a few icecream headaches that went with it. Nobody around, all waves to myself. What a great day. We dont have whites to think about we have makos.

drink some vodka...that´s it

The best thing I ever did was get waterproof seat covers for the car and just get changed in the bathroom at home. Also get really good gloves and boots, crap ones make you cold really quick.

Ya what Mike Killion said, come surf the cold waters of The Great Lakes and you will surf by yourself with some epic conditions in the middle of winter. You have to like the cold a lot though. Thank god for the wetsuits they have these day's. Burton www.nosaltsurf.com

The video of those guys surfing looks fun and warm. And ya do not go out by yourself when its -20 out here on the Great Lakes. Burton www.nosaltsurf.com

Will do fawnzy,If your military God bless and thank you!

Hey brian, you benefit from hating on our local talent? Come surf that left and he'll be deeper than you on every wave...put another few of us "bunnyhoppers" out there and you wont get a wave all session....might as well go surf one of the beachies and freeze

Im up here in northern Hudson Bay, you guys are all pansies. It's about 31.99 degrees in the water, and -30 in the air and sleet and hailing, and the waves are barrelling and so good i dont even feel cold. i am surfing in a spring suit.