Cold water wakeboarding

[malarson]

I've been double dared to go wakeboarding on New Years Day. Water temp 40 degrees. I plan on wearing two wetsuits with gloves and neoprene booties. Plus a neoprene hood if I can find one. My boat has a hot water shower and a heater.

I'm interested to know if others have tried this and what preparations need to be made. Thanks in advance.
Mike

[G-MONEY]

what is the air temp?


I did 50 water and 53 air last December with just 1 wetsuit.

don't fall

[yllw20]

try borrowing a dry suit from somebody if possible.
- when you fall the cold is shocking - relax and catch your breath.
- good luck

[mcd]

Dry suit is the way to go if one is available. Booties will be a huge help also. As long as you can fit into you bindings. We keep a cooler with warm water in the boat. Soak your feet, hands, gloves, and booties, before you go in and after. Or do like G-master said. Don't fall and do a dock start. Have fun and take lots of pics.

[talltigeguy]

Air temp is really going to be the big factor in how miserable this is.

I have found that my closed toed boots are really sweet for cold water. I once considered booties, but now I won't as long as I am riding in a closed toed binding.

[KonaKing]

DRY-SUIT

[bobbysky]

Santa Suit
http://www.krem.com/video/featured-v...-80095532.html

[malarson]

Awesome BobbySky.
I was able to procure a used drysuit from Northwest River Supply today for only $100. The neck gasket has a small hole and the sales lady said that the fabric might leak a little. But, I think it was a good purchase and if I wear a wetsuit under the drysuit it will be sufficient. The air temp is forcast to be a balmy 40 degress. I plan on taking lots of photos for the forum. I hope I can convince a few of my friends to join me for at least a surf session.
Wish me luck.

[mcd]

Depending on how the drysuit fits, you probabley won't need the wetsuit underneath. If everything is too tight you'll be too restricted and won't have as much fun. You don't want to be like Ralphie's little brother in a Christmas Story.

[talltigeguy]

I got a friend wanting to go out tomorrow at 10 am. He has to be at work by 12. It still will be in the 30's then. I am not so sure. Maybe if he could wait until after 12.

[malarson]

SUCCESS!!! We had a great time wakeboarding today. Water temp 40 degrees air temp 43 degrees.
We got to the launch at 12:30. Boat started pefectly, we warmed up the motor a bit and made sure I'd put all the manifold & engine plugs back in properly. No leaks.
I birthed myself into the drysuit, put on the frogman cap, booties and gloves and I was ready to go. We could have done without the wind and choppy water but so what.
I did a sitting dock start. What an awesome feeling to be wakeboarding again after 3 months off even if the conditions weren't ideal. It did feel odd to be wakeboarding in my clothes. I fell once and it was then that I realized I had forgotten my PFD. However the drysuit had so much air in it that I floated just like a river otter. Lucky Me. The suit leaked a little around the zipper but nothing unbearable.
After my run the challenge was getting out of the suit. I felt like I was trapped inside a bungie cord.
We did invite one other brave soul that tried it. Our friend Angie grew a pair and went for a run in some really bad chop. The picture of her shows her bright red hands from the cold water.
Then the rain started and we decided to call it a day.
Here's a few pics.

[Kito]

Nice picts. When we use dry suits we never wear PFDs.

[yllw20]

sweet - way to go.

[talltigeguy]

Awesome! at least you can say you did it.

I still wear my PFD, but I am a little bit of a safety freak at times. I also let most of the air out of the drysuit. If I were ever unconscious, the suit alone would not necessarily keep me upright, or if I let enough air out, might not even keep me afloat.

[SPBFAN]

That is great. It has been tradition for us since we bought our boat. We did not get our boat until Dec. 29th 2005 so we had it for the new year and started the polar bear plung January 1 2006. We have not missed it since then. Over the last four years I must say we have got smarter and purchased dry suits but it is now a tradition for some freinds and I. This year we had to take two boats. When I get the memory card with photos back from my freind I will post picks.

Make it a tradition you will love it.