Surfing in winter: The best spots and equipment tips
- Introduction
- Why surfing in winter?
- Where to surf in winter?
- Surfing in winter in Europe
- Surfing in Andalusia in winter
- Weather & climate for surfing in Andalusia
- How big are the waves in El Palmar in winter?
- The advantages of surfing in Andalusia in winter at a glance
- Learn to surf in winter
- Surfing in winter for beginners & advanced surfers
- Equipment for surfing in winter
- Which wetsuit can you surf with in winter?
Arne has been surfing since 1996 and runs the camp with extensive knowledge from surf trips around the world. He is a qualified and licensed surf instructor from the British Surfing Association (BSA) and the International Surfing Association (ISA) as well as a qualified sports scientist and personal and fitness trainer. With his ISA Level 2 Surf Coach Diploma and many years of experience, he offers professional and holistic coaching.
Introduction
Why surfing in winter?
A brief overview of the appeal and challenges of winter surfing
Whether surfing in November or surfing in January - the wave conditions are often ideal, as winter storms create strong swells. Especially in regions such as southern Spain in winter or on the coasts of southern Spain in November, you can experience impressive surfing conditions that are difficult to find in summer. What's more, the temperatures here are quite mild even in winter, so even in January you'll be fine with a 4/3 wetsuit. And between surf sessions, you can drink coffee in a T-shirt.
In other European countries, however, winter surfing also brings its challenges. Cold water temperatures require significantly better equipment and preparation than surfing in summer. A high-quality wetsuit, gloves and boots are essential in Germany and Scandinavia, for example, in order to have fun in the water even at low temperatures. Then there are the physical and mental challenges: Surfing in December or surfing in January requires not only strength and stamina, but also a strong mental attitude to brave the cold and make the most of the winter waves.
Importance of the right preparation for the experience
The right preparation is crucial to make surfing in winter safe and enjoyable. This includes not only the right equipment, but also physical and mental preparation. Before a session in cold water, a thorough warm-up is important to prevent injuries and prepare the body for the strain (this applies to every season, of course). You should also find out which surf spots are particularly suitable in winter. Places like El Palmar in Andalusia, known for surfing in winter, offer perfect conditions for winter surfers who appreciate mild temperatures and great waves.
Another important aspect of preparation is the mental attitude. If you consciously prepare for the cold temperatures and set yourself clear goals, you can enjoy even the coldest days in the water. After all, surfing in winter is not just a physical sport, but also a mental one.
Aims of the blog post
In this blog post, we not only want to give you the best tips and tricks for winter surfing, but also introduce you to the best spots and the right equipment. Our goal is to help you enjoy winter surfing to the fullest, whether you're traveling to Southern Spain in winter or just want to take advantage of the waves at your home spot. We also want to inspire you to discover new places like El Palmar for your next winter surf trip and experience why surfing in winter in Europe is so unique.
Where to surf in winter?
If you're looking for the ideal place to surf in Europe in winter, El Palmar in Andalusia is perfect. Flights don't take long, they're cheap and it's wonderfully warm all winter long. It's still mild even when it gets really uncomfortable in northern Europe. So you can look forward to a mild climate, excellent waves and an empty line-up - in Euroa!
You can use the free time between your surf sessions to get to know the beautiful nature or the southern Spanish culture. Andalusia is the cradle of flamenco, sherry and, of course, delicious tapas. The Moorish past casts a mystical spell over the small villages and towns, sometimes making you feel like you're not in Spain at all.
Surfing in winter in Europe
Swap winter depression for sunny lightness. When it's cold in Germany, many landlocked surfers long for a sunny surf vacation in the warmth. Fortunately, this is possible, because in some countries it is warm when it is cold in Europe. Bali, Sri Lanka and Morocco are among the most popular winter vacation destinations. But they are also quite far away. The south of Spain is much closer. You can be in Andalusia in just two to three hours by plane from Germany. Flights are never as cheap as they are now. You can fly to us and back to Germany for €20. You can get a rental car for €40 a week. We'll tell you more about this below.
Surfing in Andalusia in winter
Southern Spain is a real insider tip in the surfing scene. Andalusia has a special charm, especially in winter. In contrast to the high summer months, the beaches are almost deserted at this time of year. The days are also long and sunny in November, December, January and February (sunset around 18:30) and the temperatures are wonderfully mild. And best of all: El Palmar has the best waves in winter. So if you want to surf in Europe in winter, you've come to the right place.
Since the conditions for surfers are so good in winter, our surf camp is also open in winter. The surf spot is right in front of the surf camp. Complete your surfing vacation with yoga, cozy accommodation and fresh, delicious food.
Weather & climate for surfing in Andalusia
We are often asked whether it is still warm in winter. In El Palmar, we enjoy long, sunny days all year round. In winter, it rarely gets colder than 15 C° during the day. The sun sets at 18:30 at the earliest. We have our big neighbor to thank for this: El Palmar is only 50 kilometers from Morocco. From Tarifa, it's only 14 kilometers to the other continent. In good weather, we can see Africa from the beach. Thanks to our proximity to Morocco, we enjoy over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. It's never really wintry here. This year, it's so warm in November that we have to sit on the terrace in T-shirts and board shorts and slather ourselves in sun cream.
But it does get cooler in the evenings. Then we light a fire in the yoga garden and make ourselves comfortable. Surfing in winter is also possible in Europe. And without freezing. So your surf or yoga vacation in the warmth doesn't have to be far away.
How big are the waves in El Palmar in winter?
Andalusia offers the best and most consistent waves in winter. While a very small swell arrives in El Palmar in summer (July, August), we have the most consistent waves from November to March. The size can of course vary, but the waves are usually waist to shoulder high.
The advantages of surfing in Andalusia in winter at a glance
Visit us in El Palmar in winter and look forward to:
Clean beaches
A lot of sun instead of winter depression
Mild temperatures (rarely below 20 C° in winter)
Long days (sunset around 18:30 pm)
Constant waves for beginners and advanced surfers
Favorable flights (from 20€ to the warmth)
We are looking forward to your visit in our surf camp!
Learn to surf in winter
Of course, we offer courses for beginners who want to learn to surf as well as for advanced surfers. Or you can simply grab a surfboard and surf on your own. In our blog post about the weather and waves in El Palmar, you can get an overview of the surfing conditions here in Andalusia.
Surfing in winter for beginners & advanced surfers
Winter is the perfect time to learn to surf or improve your surfing skills. Of course, there are also days with bigger, head-high waves. If the waves in El Palmar are ever too big, we will always find a good beginner wave of the right size - within a maximum 20-minute drive.
Equipment for surfing in winter
Which wetsuit can you surf with in winter?
If you travel to Andalusia to surf in winter (November, December, January, February), you can look forward to a wonderful climate. Depending on how sensitive you are to the cold, you can leave the 5/3 wetsuit at home. We usually surf here with a 4/3 wetsuit. In December, January and February, the sea temperature is around 16 °C.
