This year over CNY we will have a surfing class available each morning. Early morning is the best time to surf on the East Coast during winter as normally the bei hai feng (strong north east winds) will start to blow each morning at around 8:30 am or 9:00am and the conditions once the strong wind is blowing is not as comfortable, nor are the waves as good. For this reason, we go out early to get some waves before the wind starts to blow through.
What to Expect in Winter Surfing in Taitung.
Winter is a good time to surf in Taitung, and depending of course on the conditions, is still also a good time to learn to surf. It is obviously colder than the summer, but depending on the day you can surf with just a 1mm rash suit top or spring suit (short) wetsuit. If you really feel the cold, you might like to prepare a steamer (full length) wetsuit, but I don’t think it’s really necessary as the water around Taitung actually stays warm all year around.
The only thing that is cold is the wind, if it’s cold on that particular day. Sometimes, it can be 20 degrees plus, sunny and its even fine to wear boardies only. That said, I would recommend if you can to prepare at least long sleeve rash vest or 0.5 to 1mm rash vest to stop getting cold from the wind. That with boardies will be fine.
The waves will likely be bigger in winter, as we get a more consistent swell coming through, however most days are surfable even for beginners, as long as they feel comfortable in the ocean. On some days beginners will just surf the white water and catch reform waves if it is too big, but again as long as they are comfortable in the ocean, it is no problem from a safety perspective. On the positive side, when the waves are bigger, you don’t have to wait around for sets to come in, as its just wave after wave. For those people who can already surf, the winter is a great time as we get consistent predictable swell rolling through.
In terms of how we run lessons, in winter, sessions will probably be a little shorter, due people getting colder quicker. The key in winter is just not to muck around. I find you will catch the same amount of waves in 1 to 1.5 hours as you would in a summer 2 hour session, as you don’t rest, just keep catching waves until you are tired, then that’s it. This is the way I like to surf myself in winter and also run the classes. Just everyone goes hard to catch as many waves as they can within an hour or 1.5 hours, then by then the cold will be creeping in. Then its quickly back to the car to change into some warm clothes and grab a hot coffee which we will prepare and bring with us. Then you can sit back appreciate the warmth and watch a few sets roll in before we head back.
In winter it’s important to bring a change of clothes to the beach with you, so after surfing you can change into some warm clothes. I recommend a wooly hat and or hoodie as this stops the cold from the wind, which I find is what makes you cold at the beach. We will also prepare some hot coffee as there is nothing like a hot drink when you come out of the ocean on a winter’s morning.
I really love winter surfing and recommend people to give it a go to feel and experience the ocean in winter. It’s not for everyone, but I think that anyone that loves the ocean should give it a go. The ocean is colder, the waves perhaps a little bigger, and the feeling is different from a warm day in summer where you can just laze around without a care. Somehow there is more energy in the winter water. Feeling that icy wave breaking on your head, having the wind howl in your face, coming back to the car at the end of a surf with your lips blue and not feeling your feet, and of course the feeling of your car heater and the hot coffee after putting on some warm dry clothes and watching the sets come in. Coming from New Zealand where it gets real cold, and the beaches are deserted apart from the odd surfer, winter surfing is a rite of passage. I surf all year round and I look forward to the large, lonely winter swells as much as I do the warm lazy endless summer days.
So give it a go, either way, I’ll be out there surfing…..
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