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.
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
Bu hikaye SUP International dergisinin ISSUE 22 - WINTER 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye SUP International dergisinin ISSUE 22 - WINTER 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Turning Points
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At this time of year, the rate of infection for colds and flu normally tends to slow down as we enter warmer, springtime months. However, if you’ve been anywhere at all in the world recently, then there’s one word you can’t escape at the moment: Coronavirus. Infection rates, mortality rates and prognostic data are changing daily at the moment. As a new virus none of us have previously been exposed to it, meaning that currently, we have no immunity to it. It’s only through being infected by a virus that our bodies are able to make the right antibodies to not only enable us to recover but to also help protect us from any recurrent and future infection from it. If you’re keen to stay well and keep getting out on your SUP board this spring, then focussing on boosting your immune system is a positive step to take.
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Polar Bear
In 2019, the Polar Bear showed the world his teeth. After a fourth place in the toughest SUP race in the world, the Red Bull Heavy Water, the now 19-year old Christian Anderson became World Champion in November in the Technical Race at the ISA World Championships in El Salvador. He also won the U-18 title on the Euro Tour with an 11th place overall. What’s behind the young Dane's rise to power?
SHADENFREUDE
TEST REPORTS
Desire Lines
We were on the outskirts of Helsinki, scouting a new destination for our sup camps. Just 45 minutes’ drive from the city, the untouched nature of the Nuuksio National Park stretched out before us. Mirror-smooth lakes, wild herbs and an impressive fauna waiting to be explored over on board or on foot via the many desire lines made by the land mammals.
Magical. Mystical. Epic.
Alexandra is a club ambassador and SUP racer for Bray Lake; relatively new to the SUP scene she completed her first race season in 2019. She participated in her first international event, the Gla Gla, 2020, and placed 1st Brit, 8th lady and 81st overall, out of a mass start of 637 paddlers. Here she shares the highlights of her first Gla Gla experience.
Green Medicine
As a keen outdoorsman and busy GP, Paul Sampson has come pretty close to attaining the mercurial work-balance. When not busy with his patients, he can be found hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, wild swimming… anything that gets him outside soaking up the great outdoors and reconnecting with nature in the beautiful South of Cornwall.
Depth Charge
Many of us have are staying away from the beach for a while, some are confined to our homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still train for the surf. If you try the following for just one week you’ll see results, never mind three months…
