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How cold does it have to get before you whimp?

> 10 years ago
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General Gps & Speed Waves Foiling Gear Reviews Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS
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firiebob
firiebob
WA
3182 posts
firiebob firiebob
WA, 3182 posts
29 Jun 2010 10:59pm
Midnight and it's 23c
Goodnight
firiebob
firiebob
WA
3182 posts
firiebob firiebob
WA, 3182 posts
29 Jun 2010 11:01pm
KenHo said...

North Queenslanders..............

I'll be up next week, to Mareeba anyway, then either Atherton or Cairns for a couple of weeks in August. MIght even drive up and bring some gear.

firiebob said...

If I need a wettie then it's too cold, and no I'm not being a smart arse, I really hate the cold
Atm it's 26 here





Deff bring gear in August

nosinkanow
nosinkanow
NSW
441 posts
nosinkanow nosinkanow
NSW, 441 posts
30 Jun 2010 1:19am
sboardcrazy said...

It sounds like noone wears booties or gloves..? I wear diving gloves ( must admit I had to take them off when I had to retie the outhaul out on the water last sail as they are useless to do anything like that with).So far they have been great + booties mean my feet stay warm..I just need another vest I think..I also wear a helmet + buoyancy vest which cuts the wind..cripes I'm a whoose..


I've become woosey too, temps like now feels just fine in me short ugg boots and tracky pants. I've only got a 3/2 GBS steamer but meaning to get a vest, cheap booties from BigW are surprisingly OK but really untested in winter so far. I use them to wade out in the mud where you can easily stump your toes on oyster covered rocks in the lake. But this is my first winter back to windsurfing after so many years and the local lake is freezing. I'm in no rush to get out there at the moment but the warmer ocean waters are a little more enticing, if I have to wear gloves and a hood forget it!
KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
30 Jun 2010 7:31am
Arrrrrgh, laddie, Blackcomb be the pussies mountain.
I ken that people say otherwise, but the upper Alpine at Whistler be much scarier than Blackcomb.
It's trendy to prefer Blackcomb but you can't show me a drop like teh Coffin or a bowl to rival Whistler Bowl on Blackcomb.
And don't start blathering on aboot 7th Heaven. Even me wifey thinks blue runs are just a way to get from black to black or home to the pub.
Except for The Saddle, which would be graded black on most mountains. That is a hoot, that run.




shear tip said...

KenHo said...

Next booked trip is Whistler again in FEb.


Hey Ken, you spelled Blackcomb wrong...



KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
30 Jun 2010 7:34am
I have a couple of options on the table. Atherton is one, or working at Yarrabah, but staying in Cairns. Not sure which I prefer at this stage. What
s teh sailing like in Cairns itself, rather than GI ?




firiebob said...

KenHo said...

North Queenslanders..............

I'll be up next week, to Mareeba anyway, then either Atherton or Cairns for a couple of weeks in August. MIght even drive up and bring some gear.

firiebob said...

If I need a wettie then it's too cold, and no I'm not being a smart arse, I really hate the cold
Atm it's 26 here





Deff bring gear in August




Ian K
Ian K
WA
4169 posts
Ian K Ian K
WA, 4169 posts
30 Jun 2010 9:41am
If you're going to sail in cold weather keep your ears warm. Years of sailing in Canberra possibly contributed to surfer's ear, and you may not know you've got it until you shift to a humid environment.

I'd never heard of it until recently- it does affect your hearing - but it's common amongst surfer's on the Illawarra. Not quite cold enough to stop surfing in winter. In England it is also common, put down to the improving wetsuits.

Keep your wetsuit hood on, I'm trying out surf muffs, you buy them online. They are like a wetsuit bandana if you don't want to go full hoody.

Bad cases of surfer's ear can be rectified, I've heard the horror stories, booked in to get the verdict next month.
Windxtasy
Windxtasy
WA
4019 posts
Windxtasy Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
30 Jun 2010 10:09am
Ian K said...

If you're going to sail in cold weather keep your ears warm. Years of sailing in Canberra possibly contributed to surfer's ear, and you may not know you've got it until you shift to a humid environment.

I'd never heard of it until recently- it does affect your hearing - but it's common amongst surfer's on the Illawarra. Not quite cold enough to stop surfing in winter. In England it is also common, put down to the improving wetsuits.

Keep your wetsuit hood on, I'm trying out surf muffs, you buy them online. They are like a wetsuit bandana if you don't want to go full hoody.

Bad cases of surfer's ear can be rectified, I've heard the horror stories, booked in to get the verdict next month.


surfer's ear?
What is that?
KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
30 Jun 2010 12:27pm
Growth of bony nodules in the ear canal, correctly known as bony exostoses.
It happens when cold fluid, (water or air) gets in the ear canal over a period of time.
Ski instructors, Nordic skinny-dippers and uNZud/Vicco surfers are famous for it.

Windxtasy said...

Ian K said...

If you're going to sail in cold weather keep your ears warm. Years of sailing in Canberra possibly contributed to surfer's ear, and you may not know you've got it until you shift to a humid environment.

I'd never heard of it until recently- it does affect your hearing - but it's common amongst surfer's on the Illawarra. Not quite cold enough to stop surfing in winter. In England it is also common, put down to the improving wetsuits.

Keep your wetsuit hood on, I'm trying out surf muffs, you buy them online. They are like a wetsuit bandana if you don't want to go full hoody.

Bad cases of surfer's ear can be rectified, I've heard the horror stories, booked in to get the verdict next month.


surfer's ear?
What is that?



Windxtasy
Windxtasy
WA
4019 posts
Windxtasy Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
30 Jun 2010 10:28am
sboardcrazy said...

It sounds like noone wears booties or gloves..? I wear diving gloves ( must admit I had to take them off when I had to retie the outhaul out on the water last sail as they are useless to do anything like that with).So far they have been great + booties mean my feet stay warm..I just need another vest I think..I also wear a helmet + buoyancy vest which cuts the wind..cripes I'm a whoose..


Don't feel bad. Women feel the cold a lot more than men.
Having said that I do know one man who wears two wetsuits simultaneously - a shortie under a steamer!
I don't wear booties but I do wear reef shoes and a buoyancy vest, and I think I will invest in a pair of gloves.
My main problem is I get a flush of cold water down the neck of my wetsut everytime I fall in. I guess I need a better fitting wetsuit. Or maybe a hood would stop that?
KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
30 Jun 2010 12:58pm
A lot of teh newer wetties have a usset that pulls over your head to stop that.
My new steamer Ibought recently foes, though I don't use it.
The popularity of surfing for girls now means a lot more wetsuit options for you.
The new materials are so much more flexible too.


Windxtasy said...

sboardcrazy said...

It sounds like noone wears booties or gloves..? I wear diving gloves ( must admit I had to take them off when I had to retie the outhaul out on the water last sail as they are useless to do anything like that with).So far they have been great + booties mean my feet stay warm..I just need another vest I think..I also wear a helmet + buoyancy vest which cuts the wind..cripes I'm a whoose..


Don't feel bad. Women feel the cold a lot more than men.
Having said that I do know one man who wears two wetsuits simultaneously - a shortie under a steamer!
I don't wear booties but I do wear reef shoes and a buoyancy vest, and I think I will invest in a pair of gloves.
My main problem is I get a flush of cold water down the neck of my wetsut everytime I fall in. I guess I need a better fitting wetsuit. Or maybe a hood would stop that?


WindmanV
WindmanV
VIC
819 posts
WindmanV WindmanV
VIC, 819 posts
30 Jun 2010 5:59pm
"It sounds like no one wears booties or gloves..? "

For me, boots are Mirage Classic round toes (tried the Mares equivalent and found that the raised edge on the toe interfered with the footstrap as I was removing my foot during a gybe).

Broke out the open palm mitts today and had toasty fingers all the time. Advantage of the open palm type is that you can wriggle 4 of your fingers out of/into the rest of the mitt, should you feel the need.

Also use a 1.5mm thick rubber helmet, which has a long neck piece extending over the top of the wetsuit. This allows water to run off outside the wetsuit, rather than down inside it.
sboardcrazy
sboardcrazy
NSW
8333 posts
sboardcrazy sboardcrazy
NSW, 8333 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:07pm
jh2703 said...

Bristol said...

Tomorrow will be a sailing day for me. Here's a precis of the BOM forecast just issued:-

Warning Summary at issue time: Small Boat Alert for Wednesday afternoon.



Bristol, I'll be home for that one...Have you GPS ready.

Back on the topic, I've sailed all year round in Canberra and as long as I have the right gear(wetsuit 3/2 and a hood) It's ok. I thought Canberra would be as cold as things got...But I was wrong. I've just moved up to Jindabyne at the base of the snowy mountains and have just found a new degree of cold, Overnight temps have been below minus 10 and we've had snow falls in the town itself. The wind whips through Jindabyne quite strong and was to good to pass up the other day, I rigged my 4.7 and 95l and went for my first and last blast of the winter in Jindabyne. It was bloody freezing to say the least, I lasted for 20 mins before I could no longer feel anything, A fisherman was telling me his fish finder showed the water temp to be 6 degrees, He also said I was mad and that this lake has claimed many lives.....I changed out of my wetsuit and by the time I went to throw it into the van it had frozen solid, The wind chill can take the smile of your face real quick....They tell me it will be late october before the lake is warm enough to swim in. I look forward to sailing Lake Jindabyne in the summer It may be a hidden gem, My first sail there saw me launching of wind chop that was up to 1/2 mast high, It could be our own Hood River....I'll let you guys know.


I used to check out Lake Jindabyne when i went skiing..I always thought it would be too gusty with bullets coming down the mtn..? Maybe you can get over the other side and get better wind..but blow that too frickin cold! Got to love the wetsuit freezing..How do you know when its too cold to sail..? wetsuit freezes..
sboardcrazy
sboardcrazy
NSW
8333 posts
sboardcrazy sboardcrazy
NSW, 8333 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:19pm
KenHo said...

Growth of bony nodules in the ear canal, correctly known as bony exostoses.
It happens when cold fluid, (water or air) gets in the ear canal over a period of time.
Ski instructors, Nordic skinny-dippers and uNZud/Vicco surfers are famous for it.

Windxtasy said...

Ian K said...

If you're going to sail in cold weather keep your ears warm. Years of sailing in Canberra possibly contributed to surfer's ear, and you may not know you've got it until you shift to a humid environment.

I'd never heard of it until recently- it does affect your hearing - but it's common amongst surfer's on the Illawarra. Not quite cold enough to stop surfing in winter. In England it is also common, put down to the improving wetsuits.

Keep your wetsuit hood on, I'm trying out surf muffs, you buy them online. They are like a wetsuit bandana if you don't want to go full hoody.

Bad cases of surfer's ear can be rectified, I've heard the horror stories, booked in to get the verdict next month.


surfer's ear?
What is that?






Great Ive already got otto schlerosis..the helmet should help..I hadnt thought of a hood..
That guy with the ice was amazing..now thats wind deprivation to the extreme! Wasnt even much wind..I wonder of he could H20 start..brr
sboardcrazy
sboardcrazy
NSW
8333 posts
sboardcrazy sboardcrazy
NSW, 8333 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:21pm
Windxtasy said...

sboardcrazy said...

It sounds like noone wears booties or gloves..? I wear diving gloves ( must admit I had to take them off when I had to retie the outhaul out on the water last sail as they are useless to do anything like that with).So far they have been great + booties mean my feet stay warm..I just need another vest I think..I also wear a helmet + buoyancy vest which cuts the wind..cripes I'm a whoose..


Don't feel bad. Women feel the cold a lot more than men.
Having said that I do know one man who wears two wetsuits simultaneously - a shortie under a steamer!
I don't wear booties but I do wear reef shoes and a buoyancy vest, and I think I will invest in a pair of gloves.
My main problem is I get a flush of cold water down the neck of my wetsut everytime I fall in. I guess I need a better fitting wetsuit. Or maybe a hood would stop that?


My cheap wetsuit did that..I used it about 3 times & then got my old one enlarged .. & havent used it since..The older ones I have choke me round the neck but no icey suprises..
sboardcrazy
sboardcrazy
NSW
8333 posts
sboardcrazy sboardcrazy
NSW, 8333 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:23pm
WindmanV said...

"It sounds like no one wears booties or gloves..? "

For me, boots are Mirage Classic round toes (tried the Mares equivalent and found that the raised edge on the toe interfered with the footstrap as I was removing my foot during a gybe).

Broke out the open palm mitts today and had toasty fingers all the time. Advantage of the open palm type is that you can wriggle 4 of your fingers out of/into the rest of the mitt, should you feel the need.

Also use a 1.5mm thick rubber helmet, which has a long neck piece extending over the top of the wetsuit. This allows water to run off outside the wetsuit, rather than down inside it.

I think my gybing injury (when my foot didnt come out of the straps when i fell into the sail)..might be due to the grippy sailing booties i wear.. The older ones were great but the new ones have a much thicker grippy sole..
nosinkanow
nosinkanow
NSW
441 posts
nosinkanow nosinkanow
NSW, 441 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:37pm
sboardcrazy said...
Got to love the wetsuit freezing..How do you know when its too cold to sail..? wetsuit freezes..


Find a wettie with the most amount of smooth skin (uncovered neoprene outer), water runs off it. All double lined wetsuits (surf) hold water between the knit of the outer covering, once air passes over it it evaporates, same effect as refrigeration! Unfortunately Australia has a small windsurfing population and the windsurfing specialty suits are harder to find from the major brands who supply us with surfing suits with more double lined material for durability. But they might have them in their OS catalogues and can get them by special order?

In regards to boots, apparently split toes are the best as they don't tend roll when your foot is squirming about on the deck but dunno how the material between your big toe and second toe feel jammed into a footstrap. Poms sell neoprene beanies (eBay), good idea...hmmm must put them on my wish list too.

Bondalucci
Bondalucci
VIC
1580 posts
Bondalucci Bondalucci
VIC, 1580 posts
30 Jun 2010 6:54pm
#!
KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
30 Jun 2010 10:09pm
Forgot to mention, helmets really help you keep warm, due to the amount of heat you lose through your head. A helmet stops evaporative loss which is much more than simple conductive loss. They reduce convective loss too.
Talking ski-ing again, helmets have become so popular because they keep people warm not because they prevent head injuries.
WindmanV
WindmanV
VIC
819 posts
WindmanV WindmanV
VIC, 819 posts
1 Jul 2010 8:55am
Nosinkanow said: "In regards to boots, apparently split toes are the best as they don't tend roll when your foot is squirming about on the deck but dunno how the material between your big toe and second toe feel jammed into a footstrap".

Tried split toes years ago. As you force your foot into the footstrap, the divider between the toes comes back and forces itself into the skin between your toes. EXCRUCIATING!

Round toes work for me (Mirage Classic)

Gorgo
Gorgo
VIC
5124 posts
Gorgo Gorgo
VIC, 5124 posts
1 Jul 2010 9:54am
nosinkanow said...
...
Find a wettie with the most amount of smooth skin (uncovered neoprene outer), water runs off it. All double lined wetsuits (surf) hold water between the knit of the outer covering, once air passes over it it evaporates, same effect as refrigeration! ...


I think the benefits of smooth skin wetsuits is exaggerated. My Rip Curl Fireskin 4/3 is toasty warm for Melbourne winter surfing and kiting.

The smooth skin is very fragile and does not wear well. Just carrying a surfboard under my arm wore a hole through the smooth skin. Fortunately Rip Curl replaced the whole top half of the wetsuit under warranty and upgraded it to the newer double-lined fabric.

JoLee
JoLee
QLD
294 posts
JoLee JoLee
QLD, 294 posts
1 Jul 2010 12:51pm
Gestalt said...

htfu




Bugger that. We have friends in Canada who used to go Windsurfing on an ice lake with a some sort of sled. How fast would that go
flipper4444
flipper4444
VIC
1214 posts
flipper4444 flipper4444
VIC, 1214 posts
1 Jul 2010 4:00pm
firiebob said...

Midnight and it's 23c
Goodnight


I have to move to QLD i think this cold is to much for me now.. i was windsurfing in about 10 degrees this week in a real gusty gale was no fun at all..
Gestalt
Gestalt
QLD
14953 posts
Gestalt Gestalt
QLD, 14953 posts
1 Jul 2010 4:48pm
Hi Jolee,

those guys on the ice fly!

i couldn't do it though. anymore than a springsuit and i'd loose interest. the longest period of my life without windsurfing was living in the UK. 2 years and not even a niggle.
Windxtasy
Windxtasy
WA
4019 posts
Windxtasy Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
1 Jul 2010 2:53pm

Gestalt said...

htfu




That's dedication to the sport.
either that, or his brain is frozen!


OceanBlue64
OceanBlue64
VIC
980 posts
OceanBlue64 OceanBlue64
VIC, 980 posts
3 Jul 2010 2:32pm
Just got back from a light wind session at Pt Henry. It was 8.6 when I entered the water and as I packed up, it had warmed to 12.8.

It wasnt too bad except when I stuffed up the gybes.
sboardcrazy
sboardcrazy
NSW
8333 posts
sboardcrazy sboardcrazy
NSW, 8333 posts
3 Jul 2010 6:35pm
OceanBlue64 said...

Just got back from a light wind session at Pt Henry. It was 8.6 when I entered the water and as I packed up, it had warmed to 12.8.

It wasnt too bad except when I stuffed up the gybes.


Thats my problem..I remember the days when I never stuffed a gybe now practically everyone I end up in the icey water I went out today & it was 15 degrees & the water was a lot less..came home looked at the horse and thought yep.. maybe I should concentrate on riding in winter instead....
KenHo
KenHo
NSW
1353 posts
KenHo KenHo
NSW, 1353 posts
3 Jul 2010 6:56pm
I skateboarded and cycled in the warm Qld sunshine.
Sometimes, ya just gotta go with the flow.

sboardcrazy said...

OceanBlue64 said...

Just got back from a light wind session at Pt Henry. It was 8.6 when I entered the water and as I packed up, it had warmed to 12.8.

It wasnt too bad except when I stuffed up the gybes.


Thats my problem..I remember the days when I never stuffed a gybe now practically everyone I end up in the icey water I went out today & it was 15 degrees & the water was a lot less..came home looked at the horse and thought yep.. maybe I should concentrate on riding in winter instead....


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