The 5 Warming Techniques Holding You Back (And What We Do Instead)

It happens to the best of us, no matter how seasoned a surfer you are. You drive an hour to the coast, the forecast looks perfect, and the waves are firing. But thirty minutes into your session, you're shivering in the lineup, more focused on the thought of a hot shower than the next set rolling in. For years, many of us wondered what was wrong: was it our wetsuit, the conditions, or our stoke fading too quickly? The truth is, it wasn't the gear or the surf at all. It was how we prepared our bodies to handle the cold.

After countless sessions at our local break, we realized we were making the same mistakes as many others. The key to lasting longer in cold water isn't just a thicker wetsuit, but preparing your body inside and out. Think of your body as a furnace: it needs the right fuel, a balanced thermostat, and solid insulation to stay hot. With that in mind, here are five common warming mistakes surfers make, and how to fix them so you're always ready for the next session

1. Mistake: The Cotton Towel Trap

When you get out of the water, that soft cotton towel feels like a godsend. It's the first thing we reach for, wrapping it around our shoulders. But that towel becomes a problem almost instantly. It's a heat sink, not a source of warmth.

Cotton is a hydrophilic fiber, which means it loves to hold onto water. As soon as you use it to dry off, it becomes saturated. Now, you're trying to warm up with a cold, damp piece of cloth. The wind hits it, and the process of evaporation, where the water in the towel turns to vapor, cools you down even faster. It's what meteorologists call the "swamp cooler effect." You're literally using a wet towel to make yourself colder.

What We Do Instead: We block the wind and get dry with synthetic materials. As soon as we exit the water, our first priority is to put on a windproof layer. Our Surf-fur Waterparkas are designed for exactly this moment. They're made with a durable, windproof nylon outer shell and lined with cozy, quick-drying polyester fleece. The second you put it on, the wind is shut out, and your body's natural heat is trapped inside. There's no wet towel to slow down the rewarming process.

We also make sure to have a dedicated, dry towel for our body, ideally a microfiber one that quickly wicks away moisture without staying damp. We use our Surf-fur parka for immediate warmth and wind protection, then towel off under the shelter of the parka itself. This method is crucial to preventing the "afterdrop" effect, where your core temperature continues to drop even after you're out of the water.

2. Mistake: Skipping the Pre-Session Warm-Up

We all want to get in the water as fast as possible. The waves are calling, and we rush to put on our wetsuits and paddle out. But our bodies are not ready. We're not talking about a rigorous workout; instead, simple, deliberate movements that prepare your muscles and get your blood flowing.

When you're cold, your body sends blood to your core to protect vital organs. This means less blood flow to your extremities, making you feel clumsy and weak. Going into cold water with an already-chilled body is a recipe for a short session. It's like trying to start a car in the dead of winter without letting the engine warm up. You're putting stress on a cold system, and it will fail you early.

What We Do Instead: We build heat before we ever touch the water. We start by putting on warm, layered clothes, like a cozy fleece sweatshirt or our Windbreaker with a cozy lining, before we even leave the house. At the beach, before suiting up, we do a quick, gentle warm-up. This includes movements like arm circles, leg swings, and torso twists. We also take the time to put on our wetsuits in a wind-sheltered spot. We get our body temperature up and keep it there until we hit the water. This proactive approach ensures our muscles are ready and our body can withstand the cold longer, leading to a much more comfortable and productive session.

3. Mistake: Not Warming Up Properly Between Sessions or Dives

The dangers of hypothermia are real and often misunderstood. Our bodies are incredible at regulating temperature, but they can only handle so much. When your body's core temperature drops below 95°F, it enters a state of mild hypothermia. This is when your brain's survival instincts kick in. It starts by telling you to get sleepy to conserve energy, and then it restricts blood flow to your extremities, like your hands, feet, and face, to protect your core. This is why your hands can feel like useless claws after a long session.

It's easy to dismiss this as "just being cold," but it's a warning sign. The brain's reduced function can slow your reaction time, which can be dangerous when diving or navigating a lineup. Your ability to make quick, critical decisions is impaired, and your muscles are not getting the blood supply they need to perform.

What We Do Instead: We prioritize rewarming after a session or dive, and we do it properly. The goal is to get our core temperature back to normal as quickly as possible. The moment we are out of the water, we remove our wetsuits and immediately get into a warm, dry layer. Our Surf-fur parka with its quick-drying fleece lining is perfect for this. We also make sure to have warm, dry clothes ready to go.

Getting your core and extremities warm again is paramount. A few quick tips to do this are to wrap a scarf around your neck and put on a warm hat or beenie, as most body heat is lost through your head. We also make sure to have a pair of warm, easy-to-put-on socks and shoes waiting for us. Standing on a cold surface can instantly sap your body's warmth, so having a designated changing mat or a towel to stand on is a small detail that makes a huge difference.

4. Mistake: Consuming Too Much Caffeine or Alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics. A diuretic is a substance that makes you urinate more frequently. When you're trying to stay warm, staying hydrated is crucial, and consuming things that dehydrate you is counterproductive.

Beyond that, caffeine is a stimulant that increases your heart rate. While this may seem like it would help you stay warm, it makes it harder for you to slow your breathing and stay calm, which is essential for things like freediving or just maintaining a steady paddle rhythm. Alcohol, on the other hand, causes vasodilation, that is, it widens your blood vessels, bringing warm blood closer to the surface of your skin. This makes you feel warm but actually causes you to lose heat much faster. Both substances work against your body's natural ability to regulate temperature.

What We Do Instead: We focus on proper hydration with water and warm, non-caffeinated drinks. We bring a thermos of hot herbal tea or bone broth to the beach. These warm drinks heat us from the inside out and help our bodies replenish fluids. We also make sure to eat a proper, high-energy meal a few hours before our session. A bowl of oatmeal or a nutrient-rich soup provides the sustained energy our bodies need to generate heat without the crash associated with sugary or caffeinated foods. A well-fueled body is a warm body.

5. Mistake: Wearing Improperly Fitted Gear

We've heard the stories: a group of friends heads out for a trip, and some are wearing ill-fitting, rented wetsuits. Within an hour, they're shivering on the boat, dreaming of warmth. A wetsuit that's too loose allows cold water to rush in and flush out the thin layer of water your body is trying to heat up. A wetsuit that's too tight restricts blood flow, which is also a massive issue for staying warm.

Properly fitting gear is not a luxury, but a necessity for safety and performance. Your wetsuit is the single most important piece of gear you have for cold water. It works by trapping a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. Your body then heats this water, and the neoprene keeps the heat in. If your suit is too loose, that warm water is constantly being replaced by cold water from the outside. If it's too tight, you cut off circulation to your fingers and toes, which are already struggling to get blood flow.

What We Do Instead: We invest in quality, properly fitted gear. We know a good wetsuit is a serious investment, but it's one of the best you can make. It can be the difference between a miserable 30-minute session and an epic two-hour one. We also use accessories like the Surf-fur hoodie, gloves, and booties to seal the deal. These accessories prevent water from entering the most critical points of heat loss, like your head and extremities. Our Surf-fur changing robe is another piece of gear that we use post-session. Its oversized design allows for a quick, private change out of a wetsuit while also blocking the wind and providing immediate warmth.

The wrong warming techniques can hold you back from epic days on the water. By understanding the science of heat loss and making simple changes to our routine and gear, we've found that we can stay warm, stay focused, and stay in the water longer. It's about being prepared, not just being brave. And that's what being a waterman is all about.

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