Start surfing in 7ºC..?!

Sometimes is good to ask yourself: what I really want to do? The worst part is when your heart just simply answer: I want to learn to surf. And that was it. Did I mention that in Europe the freezing winter just started? Read more about my winter surfing adventure.

(As always) I booked spontaneously my flight to Portugal just night before and packed my hand luggage. This time I decided to stay in Porto for one month, because I wanted to have time to learn surfing.

After lot of searching I chose Fish Surf School in Porto and booked my first lesson. Before the class I went to Couchsurfing meeting and had long discussion about how crazy is starting learn surfing in 7ºC. Everyone just told me that it's not good idea. Anyway I went to the first class day after and it was super windy plus heavy rain. Of course. But the teacher was super nice and had patience with all of us. They rent us wetsuits and boards and it was time to go!

The feeling when I was barefoot crossing the road on my way to the beach was at first weird especially in the cold condition, but then I just loved it. On the beach we were warming up with running and few exercises. After that our teacher showed us how to paddle, stand up and most importantly cover our head to avoid be smashed by board (how many times after I didn't do it and the board hit me).  "Let's do it," said the teacher enthusiastically. After one hour and half in quite huge waves when I was mostly drowning in waves I came to beach with big smile and the smile doesn't disappear till now. I just fell in love with surfing for a first sight.

So what pros for starting surf in winter?

• you are the only one to catch THE WAVE
• you will have full attention of the surf teacher (not sure if is this really cons maybe?)
• waves are bigger in winter
• no one will watching you embarrassingly drowning in sea
• you can meet the real professional surfers and have small talk with them
  

The only one con is convince yourself to get into the water, but afterall with right wetsuit is everything great. What about you? Do you surf in winter?