Skiing, cross-country skiing and ice skating have been classic winter sports for generations and it is hard to imagine spending the winter by the water, especially in our central European latitudes. As a rule, the paddling season lasts a maximum of eight months (March to November) with reasonably good weather conditions, so we paddlers could only spend the rest of the year in warmer climes or watch SUP videos on Youtube while waiting for spring. Theoretically, but in practice the sport is also fun in winter, especially since a number of trends support this idea.
First of all, everyone noticed that many stagnant bodies of water only freeze over with difficulty or not at all. This gives us paddlers an enormous variety of untouched paddling areas without shipping and bathers. In addition, more and more people are finding fun in boosting their immune system through ice bathing. Water sports and cold are no longer a contradiction in terms and it is quite conceivable to end a winterly SUP tour with an ice bath (Wim Hof sends his regards!). In addition, the equipment - especially the clothing - is becoming more and more suitable for winter, so that you don't have to be afraid of water landings even in the cold season.
Faszination Winter-SUP
If you want to get on your board in winter, you have to leave your comfort zone, because the cold is uncomfortable for many of us, but in combination with water, the discomfort increases. However, part of the fascination of Winter-SUPing lies in leaving this comfort zone and overcoming your own limits. The mirror-smooth water, the absolute silence and paddling through dreamy snowy landscapes cannot be compared with anything else and for many paddlers this can represent a desired antithesis to hot, wavy and sometimes hectic summer tours. When the cool air touches your cheeks and the water vapor is pushed into the air by your exhalation, you only realize how well you can switch off and how alive you are. In many ways, winter paddling is not only a little challenge, but also an opportunity to find inner peace.
Technically there is no difference between paddling in summer and paddling in winter. However, the tours in winter should tend to be shorter because the body has to expend more energy to stay at operating temperature. This can sometimes be at the expense of paddling performance, because strength and endurance are exhausted more quickly. In order to keep the fun factor high in winter, you have to adjust the equipment above all.
Since the body tries to maintain all vital functions under the influence of cold, it concentrates all its energy on the core of the body (i.e. the torso), neglecting the head and extremities. These are less supplied with blood in order to keep the core body temperature constant. Even small temperature deviations downwards could have fatal consequences. Therefore, the tips of your fingers and toes get cold quickly on the SUP if you don't take good care of them. However, it is my experience that especially the head and the fingertips warm up at a reasonably brisk pace after 10 to 15 minutes at the latest and cause no further problems as long as you keep moving and thus ensure adequate blood circulation. Protecting your feet is probably the most important thing to look out for in winter, as they cool down the quickest.
The right clothing is a matter of preferance
There is now an enormous selection of clothing options for the cold season and every paddler can pursue different strategies according to their preferences to keep cold, wet and wind chill under control. Basically, your own stability on the board, the weather conditions and the characteristics of the paddling territory decide how to protect yourself optimally. Anyone who falls off their board from time to time should pay particular attention to water-repellent clothing, while stable paddlers are welcome to dress a little more loosely.
Headgear is important because a lot of heat is dissipated through the head. Although wool hoods are not water-repellent, they enable significantly better air circulation and prevent heat build-up. Natural fibers (real cotton) have the best properties. On the other end of the spectrum, you'll find neoprene hats, which protect against water but are restrictive and can cause heat build-up. The one to two millimeter thick neoprene hats can be quite practical, but their comfort and fit also depend on the hair volume and hairstyle. With moderate winter temperatures, the golden mean is the »buff«. This tubular, elastic scarf can also be pulled over the forehead and ears as a head covering, keeping these cold-sensitive parts of the body warm while the head can still dissipate enough heat without cooling down. In extremely cold or windy conditions, the buff can also be pulled over the nose and mouth to protect the respiratory tract.
The hands are usually more critical than the head, as the fingertips cool down very quickly and can make it impossible to continue paddling. In order to maintain blood circulation and thus warm hands, it is important to have enough mobility in the fingers and forearms. This is primarily better ensured by gloves than by mittens. Neoprene gloves should therefore not be too thick and allow sufficient freedom of movement. This is also important in order to be able to handle the paddle correctly in unforeseen situations and not to fall into the water. The disadvantage, however, is that neoprene gloves do not allow any significant air pockets and the fingers can cool down more quickly compared to ordinary gloves, which fit more loosely. It is also possible to combine thin neoprene gloves with thin normal gloves.
Mittens also come in neoprene versions and have the advantage of keeping all four fingers mutually warmed and insulated in a common air-locked chamber. On the other hand, you have to accept compromises when it comes to the mobility of the gripping organs. If you don't go paddling in the most extreme temperatures (below 5° C), you are usually well equipped with ordinary gloves, especially since at rapid paddling speed your arms and hands become pleasantly warm within minutes and they stay that way thanks to the warm air between glove and hand. It makes sense to move your fingers as much as possible at the beginning of the tour (loosen your grip and close it again) until the temperature is right.
The feet are even more sensitive than the head and the hands. This is obvious, especially since these are most likely to have contact with the water and at the same time are moved the least. A simple trick first: in sports shoes with a higher profile (e.g. trekking shoes) you can stand out clearly from the wet standing surface on board and offer the water less surface to attack. Moisture can no longer hit the feet so easily. The other options for keeping cold and water away from your feet are comprehensive and can be combined in almost any way. Whether it's neoprene shoes, socks or booties, they all have a water-repellent effect and are a blessing, especially in choppy water. If you want to wear neoprene shoes, you can put on functional socks made of merino wool underneath. The thicker the sole, or the distance between your feet and the board, the longer you can keep your feet warm. But after two hours at the latest, there usually comes a point at which the tips of your toes cool down significantly. It is best to experiment with the available footwear and decide on the preferred combination. As soon as it gets really cold, it's time to move your toes and finish the tour at the next opportunity.
Natürlich muss auch der restliche Körper im Winter gut geschützt werden, denn ein Sturz ins Wasser kann nicht nur unangenehm sein, sondern auch einen Schock hervorrufen. Es gilt, die eigenen Fähigkeiten mit dem Wetter und den Wasserverhältnissen in Einklang zu bringen. Wer sicher am Board steht, kann bereits mit Ski- bzw. Funktionsunterwäsche und winterfester Kleidung sein Auslangen finden.
Obwohl das Tragen von Neoprenanzügen für viele Paddler ein No-Go ist, kann er gerade bei Winterrookies sehr wertvoll sein. Wer mit einem fünf Millimeter dicken Neo unterwegs ist, braucht sich garantiert nicht vor Wasserlandungen fürchten. Allerdings schränken die Ganzkörperanzüge auch die Beweglichkeit etwas ein und es wird darin sehr schnell warm. Optional kann man darüber noch lockere Kleidung tragen. Der Klassiker ist und bleibt aber der Trockenanzug, sofern er wasserdicht abschließt und eine hochwertige Ausführung aufweist. Hiermit ist man nicht nur deutlich beweglicher als im Neo, sondern erfährt – gepaart mit der richtigen Funktionsunterwäsche – auch einen optimalen Luftaustausch. Anders als bei der Kopfbedeckung sollte unter dem Drysuit keine Baumwolle getragen werden, da sie den Schweiß speichert, statt ihn abzugeben.
Safety First
In addition to winter clothing, you should also take the following things with you during the cold season:
- Waterproof packed mobile phone
- Restube lifebuoy
- towel
- wear a leash
- Change of clothes (at least for after the tour)
- enought water
- sun glasses
- If possible, wear light-colored clothing (for visibility in emergency situations)
It is also important to observe important safety instructions: Check the weather and plan the tour beforehand. In unfamiliar areas in particular, you should familiarize yourself with possible entry and exit points, dangers and the topography.
It is safest to always paddle close to shore and avoid larger crossings. In general, only standing water should be navigated in winter. If you're able to paddle against the current on flowing waters, that's also fine for experienced paddlers.
If possible, please paddle in a group so that someone is always there if something goes wrong. If you still want to set sail alone, you should give someone close a time window by when you should be back and the solo paddler should be reachable by phone.
Ice surfaces or ice floes can be dangerous because you can easily bump into them and fall. If you get stuck with the fin, the forward flight can not only end wet and cold, but also hard.
Especially in cold weather it is all the more important to warm up well before paddling, because this promotes mobility and coordination on the board and prevents the extremities from cooling down prematurely. Ideally, you should warm up for a few minutes and actively move your arms, hands and fingers. Light foot exercises can help bring the toes up to temperature.
While SUPing in the winter calls for more planning and safety precautions, that can't diminish how unique it is to hit the water during ski season. With the right preparation, every paddler can extend the summer season as they wish instead of locking their beloved sports equipment away in the basement for months. And those who enjoy the cold season anyway can end their SUP tour with a refreshing ice bath. Both awaken the spirits and shorten the wait for the next summer.