Having a great time at low temperatures
However if you do take the necessary precautions you can go kitesurfing in winter and have a great time at temperatures under 10 degrees. Important in this is not just the thickness of the wet suit! Whoever does not want to freeze must get hold of a good wet suit at least 5mm thick on the backside and 3-4mm on the arms and legs - manufacturers give this data through the 5/3 labelling. The suit must be soft and must fit snugly especially on the backside. The suit works on the principle of a tin layer of warm water that keeps you warm. If the suit is too tight then there are problems with the flow of blood back to the veins which can lead to problems with your circulation. It's a suit that should suit your body rather than your purse! The quality of the suit is paramount. There are suits with a titanium layer in them to reflect the bodies heat back. It does not necessarily have to be a dry suit. Washing does greatly reduce the warmth in the suit. The same is true of semi-dry suits. You should not consider the old 2-piece suits - whoever goes out in one of those in winter does so with an unnecessary risk.

A further step to insulating the body is by wearing lycra underwear with either neoprene or titanium combinations. As the underwear is close to the body there is excellent retention of warmth. They are not cheap, but they are effective.

You avoid freezing by moving about. Hands and feet are a bit more problematic. There are extra thick winter boots and the thickest of these are to be recommended. It's harder with the hands because they affect the grip. However, gloves are less problematical for kite surfers than they are for windsurfers. You do not notice them after a few hours. If you do have difficulty gripping there are mittens you can buy with a hole in. As it is the wind rather than the air temperature that cools the hands down this principle works well.

For your head there are neoprene hoods. They might not look good but they do protect what most of us regard to be our most important organ. You can wear a polyester cap that allows in little water and is windproof tight on your head. Whilst it does get wet the insulation is excellent. It must fit tightly otherwise there are serious problems.

So, overcome the inner gremlins and find a like-minded friend to head out in winter! You won't forget it.

Source: www.kitesurfing-kiel.de