Frothing x Freezing

Surf & Adventure alum Reid Ganther smacks the coping on one of Saturday’s many ramps. Grandfield photo.

Words by John Streit. Photos by Craig Grandfield, Sarah Micele & Streit.

Over the years, I’ve received more skeptical/negative comments about winter surfing than I care to remember. I don’t understand why you would do that to yourself. You must be crazy. Do you actually enjoy being cold?

Most of the commentary comes from non-surfers. Some of it doesn’t.

I’m most definitely not here to get on a high horse about surfing in the cold. I’ve come to learn that surfing means many different things to those who do it. Some like it only when its warm outside. Some hate it when it’s choppy. Some are weekend warriors and others are hardcore lifers. Some brave the coldest temperatures our latitude throws at them. Some don’t.

And you know what, it’s all good. Heck, that’s what makes our sport and lifestyle so great: No one can tell you there’s a right or wrong way to do it, and that’s true from everything from the kind of board you ride to what weather suits you best.

Saturday, Jan. 4 was by far the coldest morning of the winter by to that point with morning temperatures in the 20s. For those of us who don’t mind braving the cold; the trade-offs included bright, bluebird skies and super fun waves on tap for the entire day.

Sounds good, if you ask me.

Coffee: a mandatory item for any below-freezing surf check. Photo: Streit.

S&A’s John Streit took advantage of the many lefthanders the northeast swell opened up in Sandbridge. Photo: Grandfield.

Reid Ganther. Photo: Grandfield

Eric Coulson. Photo: White.

Meanwhile, at First Street Jetty, S&A team rider Evan Micele picked his nuggets out from the crowd. Photo: Micele.

Our good friend Casey Smith came all the way from Richmond for Saturday’s session in Sandbridge. Growing up surfing in Southern California, he had never braved temps like this before. After scoring it fun, it’s safe to say he’ll be back for more. Photo: Grandfield.

Good times! Photo: Grandfield.

Evan Micele. Photo: Micele.

The earlier the bigger – and colder – was the call for Saturday. Alec Truelove finds the bottom on one of the more sizeable set waves of the morning. Photo: White.

John Streit. Photo: Grandfield.

Reid Ganther. Photo: Grandfield.