Paddle Science #13 Cold Exposure

Why are we so afraid of being cold? As creatures of habit we’ll always seek comfort over discomfort, a couple of pillows over none, hot tea rather than tepid coffee and a windproof jacket over a t-shirt. With internal heating, thermostats, Primaloft jackets, merino wool base layers and knitted hats and scarves to keep us warm, it’s hard to actually be cold these days. When you think of the guys who used to climb Everest, right back at the beginning, they wore nothing other than wool jumpers and basic coats. They had none of the technical clothing and gear we have today yet still faced extreme freezing conditions well into the sub-zeros.

- Kate Starling

Whilst a SUP session in the winter isn’t exactly like climbing Everest, immersing yourself in a cold ocean at this time of year becomes a lot more challenging. Generally, this challenge is far more psychological than it is physical. In the UK, the sea temperature doesn’t drop that dramatically but as the air temperature plummets during a cold snap it’s easy to be forgiven if you’d rather stay in your nice warm car and stare at the ocean rather than getting in.

Notably, living the comfortable lives that we do, we rarely face any physiological stressors throughout the course of a day. However, jumping into a cold sea in January will push you out of your comfort zone. And that really isn’t such a bad thing. If you’re in need of convincing and need some motivation to SUP throughout the winter, then consider the benefits of cold water SUP. If you’re keen and motivated enough to get in the sea, remember a warm shower, a hot cup of tea and some dry clothes will always be waiting for you once you’ve finished.

IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Throughout the body, our lymphatic system consists of a network of lymph vessels. These vessels transport lymph fluid which removes any waste products, bacteria and microbes from the body. When we expose ourselves to cold water, it stimulates the lymphatic system, encouraging increased lymph fluid circulation. As a result, this prompts our white blood cells to attack and destroy any bacteria within the blood, boosting our immune system response. Cold water has been shown to reduce infection frequency and increases the number of lymphocytes within the body. Immersing yourself in the cold can therefore help your body to fight and stave off infection over the winter months.

IT IMPROVES YOUR CIRCULATION