What Happens To Your Body In Cold Water and Why You Should Wear The Right Winter Surfing Wetsuit and Accessories
If you’re surfing in Gisborne’s winter sea temperatures, you know the bite of cold water. The dreaded isecream headaches, fatigue and loss of coordination. Our local ocean temps often sit between as low as 11°C but usually around 13°C during winter — cold enough to seriously affect your body if you’re not properly protected. In this blog, we’ll break down what happens to your body on immediate exposure to cold water, what happens with prolonged cold water exposure, and how a 4/3 winter wetsuit, plus wetsuit boots, gloves, and hoods, are critical for comfort, performance, and safety.
What Happens to Your Body on Immediate Cold Water Exposure (11–13°C)
When you first hit the water in winter, your body goes into shock mode. Even in relatively “mild” cold water (11–13°C), you’ll experience:
✅ Cold shock response: Your body reacts within the first 1-2 minutes by gasping for air, rapid breathing (hyperventilation), and increased heart rate. This can feel overwhelming and can be dangerous if you’re not ready for it.
✅ Peripheral vasoconstriction: Your blood vessels in your hands, feet, and face constrict to prioritise blood flow to your vital organs — your brain, heart, and lungs. This can make your extremities go numb very quickly.
✅ Loss of motor control: Fine motor skills (think paddling, gripping your board, or adjusting your leash) can start to fail almost immediately.
What Happens With Prolonged Exposure to Cold Water (Over 10-15 Minutes)
As your body continues to lose heat:
⚠ Core temperature drop: Your internal body temperature starts to fall below 35°C, putting you at risk of hypothermia.
⚠ Reduced muscle function: Cold muscles become stiff and slow, reducing your strength, coordination, and reaction time.
⚠ Mental fog and fatigue: Prolonged cold exposure impacts concentration and decision-making — not great when you’re navigating waves or rip currents.
⚠ Further loss of dexterity: Hands and feet can lose feeling entirely, making it harder to paddle, pop up, or even grip your board.
How a 4/3 Winter Wetsuit Protects You
A 4/3mm wetsuit (like those from Rip Curl, O’Neill, Billabong, and other top surf brands stocked at Blitz Surf Shop) is purpose-built for these conditions. Here’s how it helps:
🌊 Thermal insulation: The 4mm neoprene panels on your core and 3mm on the arms and legs trap a thin layer of water between your body and the wetsuit. Your body warms this layer, creating an insulating barrier that slows heat loss dramatically.
🌊 Wind chill protection: Many winter wetsuits feature smooth-skin or mesh panels that block cold winds from sapping your heat when you’re sitting on your board.
🌊 Improved mobility: Despite the thickness, modern 4/3 wetsuits use super-stretch neoprene and advanced paneling so you can still paddle efficiently and are not the burden to wear that they were 10 or so years ago.
🌊 Sealed seams: GBS (glued and blind-stitched) or liquid-sealed seams stop cold water from flushing through your suit.
🌊 Chest zip or back zip options: Chest zips (and zip free) offer minimal water entry and better warmth, while back zips are easier to get into.
Why Add Wetsuit Boots, Gloves, and Hoods?
Your extremities lose heat the fastest. That’s why wetsuit boots, gloves, and hoods are essential for winter surfing:
🧤 Wetsuit gloves: They stop your fingers from going numb, helping you maintain grip strength and paddle power. This is vital for duck diving, popping up, and grabbing your rails.
🧦 Wetsuit boots: Your feet are in constant contact with the cold water. Boots protect them from heat loss and also give extra grip on your board — ideal for wintery, slippery conditions.
🧢 Wetsuit hood: A huge percentage of your body heat is lost through your head. A hood prevents this, while also stopping the dreaded ice-cream headaches when duck diving or wiping out.
Together, these accessories extend your session time, improve safety, and make winter surfing far more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts: Gear Up for Winter Surfing
Surfing in Gisborne or anywhere around New Zealand during winter demands the right gear. A quality 4/3 wetsuit, paired with boots, gloves, and a hood, lets you surf longer, stay safer, and actually enjoy the cold water months.
At Blitz Surf Shop, we stock a full range of men’s, women’s, and kids’ winter wetsuits, along with wetsuit boots, wetsuit gloves, and wetsuit hoods from leading brands like Rip Curl, O’Neill, Billabong, and more — available both online and in-store.
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