Bye Bye Summer, the winds are changing, it is time for a magical and wonderful Autumn new season, we are ready and we are here to help you get ready! What are The Official Test Centre Team Riders doing to prepare for the new season? You'll be falling over yourselves to get on the water all year round, with the right wetsuit and the perfect kit there's nothing stopping you from enjoying water time all the time! Fall in love with Autumn on the water! Speak to our expert team at SurfDoctor and dive into the windy season with new vigor and a new quiver! We are your one stop shop for everything you need to go out on the water, we have everything from wetsuits to wings and boards to booms! Happy Sailing!
By Emma Nicholson.
I caught up with four of The Official Test Centre (OTC) Team Riders to find out what Autumn has in store for them, some are off to warmer climes and other's will prepare for the colder sessions by uping the thickness of their wetsuit and checking over their kit, like an MOT for windsurfing gear, let's see what Lilia has to say first...
The OTC Team Rider Lilia Yelland, said: "Luckily for me I won’t have to bring out my 4/3 winter or my 5mm long john as I’m living in Bonaire so all I need is boardshorts and a bikini!! But this winter brings wind to the island so I will for sure get in the early morning training before work to make the most of my time here. Training wise I hope to nail my mark roundings and try jumping the sausage as the slalom X is very tempting for me!"
The OTC Team Rider, Aaron Smith said: "Well similar to last year I will be cheating winter with a one-way ticket to Dahab at some point this side of Christmas! But I will be in the UK for a few weeks inbetween and will absolutely be getting my 5mm wetsuit out to get afloat, this is probably the most important thing in the winter to keep your core warm and stay afloat longer. I am also alot happier falling in when warm, which is a big help for improving. With less daylight it often removes the options at sailing at either high or low tide due to a lack of visibility. Combine this with colder sessions i definitely find that i study the forecasts/tides a little more as I know I won't last much past 90 minutes, to try and ensure I am out in the best conditions. I'll also spend a little longer with session aims/visual moves a little more before heading out to try and make the most of every minute. Winters provide some of the best conditions so having well maintained clothing (no holes, well fitting) is an absolute game changer!"
The OTC Team Rider, Scott Norman, said: "The most important thing for me, is having a wetsuit that keeps me warm and comfortable, especially when it’s stormy having a stretchy wetsuit that doesn’t restrict my movement is super key in being able to train properly. Personally, I use the Ion Seek Amp 5/4 wetsuit, which does a great job at keeping me warm and leaving my range of motion untouched. When it starts to get even chillier, I use solite 3mm boots to keep my feet warm even in sub-10 degrees water. I personally wait as long as I can until I wear boots, but they’re still needed when you can’t feel your feet! I also check my kit over, make sure ropes are in good condition, and generally just check it’s not going to break!"
And last but not least, The OTC Team Rider James Hardy, said: “Autumn and Winter for me is an exciting time of year, the storms start to roll through and so do the waves. To prepare I’m digging out the thicker wetsuits along with the gloves, hood and maybe the boots if it’s really chilly! I’ll be looking to get a lot more time in the waves, both for windsurfing and winging. There are few ideas floating around in my head for winter get away but nothing solid yet. Ask me again in a couple of weeks and I will might have a different answer ha!”
Get the right wetsuit and kit for the Autumnal conditions from SurfDoctor, shop online or pop down in person, our SurfDoctor shop is located at 1 Building, Navigator Park, Puma, Mereside, Portland DT5 1FU our expert team will be happy to help you find the perfect fit and the perfect set up!
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