Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Yesterday the water was 52ºF, but this young lady stepped on her paddle board and headed out on the Lake sans neoprene. I gave her the Club web address, so hopefully she'll see her photo here and be able to download it. We did worry, not knowing if she'd fallen in. Just as we were thinking of calling Hall Co. Rescue, she paddled back to shore having stopped on an island for a picnic.

Barrett

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arrogantj
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Joined: 01/24/2012 - 14:11
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Yes. Sh*t happens and it's usually not from something you had control over.

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

What kind of board was she on. It looks kind of like an old school WS board. I saw people swimming in the lake just a few week ago w/o wetsuits. They said it was some sort of swim team.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Bic Ace-tec. Like your old one.

The water is colder now than when you saw the swimmers. Lisa did the polar bear swim at the Olympic rowing center one year. Few people spent more than the minimum in the water.

The water temp is only part of the "interesting point". The 15-25 wind is tough if you are dry

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Randy
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Yeah - temps do drop a lot this time of year. I thought they were crazy then. I haven't been seeing them lately. I thought about going to Polar Bear with a drysuit. They would probably hang me.....

So how was the 15-25 today? Inquiring minds and all.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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webguy
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?
Randy wrote:

So how was the 15-25 today? Inquiring minds and all.

Felt a bit more in the gusts today but nice. More west so the swell was fun to foil down. Chris P, Barrett, Rhett, Hamdi, Pat P and Al made it plus Neal and Reggie on the SUP, Wingfoil side. A little chillier. Very little boat traffic. One sailboat and a handful of powerboats.

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Thanks. Guess I asked in the wrong thread.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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webguy
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?
Randy wrote:

Thanks. Guess I asked in the wrong thread.

On this website, there is no wrong thread. Lol

Parts of me feels bad for piling on here but parts of me don't. I think that if she actually came by and read some of the comments, she wouldn't be pleased. But this time of year, hypothermia is our biggest risk on any board sport on the lake. Ed had an adventure last winter and that's with wearing a full 4/3 wetsuit. It was still challenging for him but he was at least somewhat prepared for a time in the water and that made all the difference. Just because you don't think it won't happen to you doesn't mean it can't happen.

Case in point - this was last year on the Chesapeake Bay. Light breeze. Good visibility. What could go wrong?

https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2018/08/17/dont-see-everyday/

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nitro
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Joined: 08/26/2003 - 15:07
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

Not wearing a board leash either Dash 1

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Langdon
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Joined: 04/19/2016 - 18:03
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Re: Do You Really Need a Wetsuit in Winter?

While I agree she definitely could / should have used a leash and... neoprene. She did go clear across the lake and back... DRY!
I am pretty good on a SUP but there is a good chance I would have swam at least once (water was not exactly flat).

Kudos to her for having the drive to come out on a cold day and do something that would be a challenge to most of us.

There are a lot of people that think WE are completely crazy / suicidal for going out on the lake when it is cold.

I hope she follows our site and will come out again and maybe do some windsurfing.

We can find her some neoprene

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