We asked Dr Wolfgang Klauß, anaesthetist, emergency doctor and passionate surfer himself, how surfing in winter should really be assessed from a medical point of view.
Doctor, what is your personal pain threshold for surfing in winter?
Klauß: I have reached my personal limit at 3-4 degrees air temperature, above that I have no problems at all.
How should the health risks be assessed at such temperatures?
In general, the equipment is the decisive factor. If you wear a suit suitable for winter, good shoes, gloves and above all a bonnet, you can in principle surf almost all year round. The greatest dangers at temperatures around freezing point are frostbite, especially on the face, fingers and toes. A rescue diver friend of mine recommended that I apply a greasy cream to these areas. This makes direct skin contact with water more difficult. There is also a risk of chronic illnesses such as sinusitis and ear damage. Of course, wind strength, sunlight and the area also influence heat loss. It is therefore not possible to draw a definitive limit.
The hands are always a particular problem. When cold fingers become warm again after surfing, this sometimes causes sharp pain. What is it all about?
When it is cold, the blood vessels in the affected part of the body contract in order to reduce the release of heat. When the body warms up, the blood vessels dilate, which causes the pain. In itself, this is not a problem; there is no demonstrable connection with the increased incidence of joint pain or gout. However, this pain is an important warning sign for our body.
In what way?
The main problem with surfing in winter is that the ability to coordinate and react decreases significantly when the muscles are cold. This means that the commands coming from the brain can no longer be implemented quickly and accurately enough. This can become a problem if, for example, you have to thread a torn rope back through the clamp. Not a problem in summer, but in winter it can sometimes be a coordination feat. As the body cools down further, the strength of the muscles also decreases. The body's most important warning signs are numbness and numbness. If you ignore this, you risk frostbite. It is therefore essential to observe certain safety rules.
The main problem with surfing in winter is that cold muscles significantly reduce coordination and responsiveness.
What else should you consider in winter?
You need to be even fitter than usual. A slight cold or cough can lead to a week in bed with a fever or life-threatening pneumonia after a winter session. So it's better not to go on the water if you have signs of a cold. Nor would I get dressed and undressed outside in the cold. I would also favour a safe, unchallenging area. Studies have shown that the blood supply to the blood vessels in the fingertips and toes is significantly reduced after smoking cigarettes. In winter, of course, this has an additional detrimental effect. That's why I wouldn't smoke before surfing in winter, so that your fingers and toes don't cool down so quickly. As soon as you feel that your coordination and strength are diminishing on the water, you should leave the water in good time and not stay out until you are completely exhausted. To summarise: the better your body retains heat, the longer and safer your surfing experience will be.
Thank you Wolfgang for the interview!
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Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
Manuel Vogel, born in 1981, lives in Kiel and learned to windsurf at the age of six at his father's surf school. In 1997, he completed his training as a windsurfing instructor and worked for over 15 years as a windsurfing instructor in various centers, at Kiel University sports and in the coaching team of the “Young Guns” freestyle camps. He has been part of the surf test team since 2003. After completing his teaching degree in 2013, he followed his heart and started as editor of surf magazine for the test and riding technique sections. Since 2021, he has also been active in wingfoiling - mainly at his home spots on the Baltic Sea or in the waves of Denmark.
