VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Island view delivered super fun kiting today, and for the first time ever winter sailing/ kiting, I didnt get screaming cold hands, or chilled- after a solid (2 hour?) session.
I am super stoked on winter kiting now- new stay warm system had me almost overheated at times- thought I'd post it for those looking to stay warmer ( and for the dude on the beach asking):
-200 lightweight Merino base layer wool long sleeve shirt and shorts,
-Ocean Rodeo Heater shorty fleece,
-OR fleece Heater Base Layer
-OR Pyro Surf. Love the drysuit in the winds- way warmer than my 6/5/4 wetsuit.
The best part( to me) of the system is the coldfire hood- it is super warm and comfortable- virtually no neck strain because it is detached and the warmest hood material I have ever used- smooth skin titanium- totally blocks the wind. My neck gets tweaked out from my Excel suit, and the hood isnt as warm in the wind.

It was my first time in about ten years using gloves for windsports, and I was suprised that it worked so well- used the OR/Whites 3mm, again with titanium smooth skin. Just warm enough, no cramps, no grip problems at all, no issue with sheeting line or jumps. Swinging arms a few times got the warm blood in and kept toasty fingers.

THe test for me came when an hour after the session I could play guitar...No finger pain/ stiffess/retarded pinky- and that is a first for me for winter sailing..
Great to see everyone out ripping up the shorebreak... Stoked.

I was stoked to see more kiters enjoying things out there, some great skill displays too in the bigger conditions

I used my prolimit gloves mostly flipped open but hands were quite warm, no probs. I use a summer coastal wetsuit 5-4 from ProMotion which has room enough for a sleeveless neoprene hoodie and because of it's zipper flap and the bulk from the hoodie keep it from flushing too much.

The hoodie does cause some muscle neck strain but is plenty warm. Will look into the hoodie you describe. Love the promotion and almost bought their dry thicker suit but mine is plenty warm, glad I did not so I don't overheat.

It was afterall near 6 degrees I think, my feet get cold when onshore walking around. Draining them whenever you are onshore helps or filling them with warm water from a thermos or an RV if ya got one having a tea during a break and warming up in the rig helps too, haha

lately ive started wearing my vest (old hooded vest with the hood cut off) over my suit instead of under, adds the same warmth but keeps water out better. plus it looks bitchin.

Near 6 degress? THat would have been balmy! Instead, it was near-barmy (to use an English homonym). I think it was 3-4, that agrees with the weather stn log and my van was showing 2.5 in the sleet going up the hill to the hwy as the highway.

Wore my 1mm neoprene rashie under the drysuit as 'fail-safe' layer - but it smelled a titch mouldy from sitting in the van for months, even though it was clean and dry when stored - I wore it anyway but it gave me an excema reaction. Prob the same goes for wetsuits and booties!

5.4-5.7 throughout

Bummer about the rash, look on the bright side: it could be on another appendage
I'm slightly allergic to toluene and get it sometimes on shoulders/arms when there is not enough flushing. Perhaps you are too Or: Drysuit=lotsa nice culturing going on

Other than cold hands after the early session ( I need thin gloves in my pogies below 5C , I will give those 3 mill cold-fire gloves a try ) I was cozy in my 5/4 hooded wetsuit ... Second session (5C) the pogies were adequate !!! Good times. ... I use a long sleeve rash guard under my suit & 5mm cold-fire booties.

I have found the best way to stay warm when it is below 5 degrees is to make a hot cup of cocoa, and to sip it slowly while watching on the webcam...

Here's a MEC product I wasn't aware of, jumped on it, can't wait to try it out. Thin enough to fit under the lid no probs, fleece lined

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4442630656



Also finally found a pack that has all plastic zippers (after returning literally dozens) in a fanny style tio use as a winter emergency pack. My Sail til dark Klover Point/ Sidney Island excursion gear with two pouches for reflective gear, whistle, streamer, water wing (rig), rope, strobe & cliffbar

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 8511981546

And as usual, MEC's pricing is RIGHT, wow

& pogies on the same page !!! Oh & Tom I can't play guitar no mater what the weather

OR predator, 3mm coldfire gloves, 5mm coldfire booties, stretch fleece by OR. Never cold surfing or kiting. Perfect for 2nd sessions, no cold wet wetsuit.

12/120v bootwarmers on sale @ Marks workwear this week $33.95

Noted the mention of rash with wetsuit. This was such a bummer for me (and still is) that I had patch testing done revealing ++++ rx to disperse blue 106 /124 dye. This stuff is in most clothing colored black , blue, red and brown.......... and in dark colored wetsuits! Though it doesn't work perfectly (and certainly looks ridiculous) a white, unbleached cotton turtleneck shirt with the shirt collar tucked underneath the wetsuit collar seems to mitigate the rash. I do the same with the drysuit with the downside being it leaks!
Interested to know of other remedies or ideas.

anyone contemplating a hood with an extended neck-shoulder section- if you tuck that thing into your wetsuit you provide a venue to flush cold water directly to your core. hey i think i said this last year too.

I recently cut off the top to my worn out Bear polar heat, put it over my 5/4 oneill mutant and eliminated the refrigerator evaporator effect on the arms and upper body, ...toasty.

scarlet wrote:Noted the mention of rash with wetsuit. This was such a bummer for me (and still is) that I had patch testing done revealing ++++ rx to disperse blue 106 /124 dye. This stuff is in most clothing colored black , blue, red and brown.......... and in dark colored wetsuits! Though it doesn't work perfectly (and certainly looks ridiculous) a white, unbleached cotton turtleneck shirt with the shirt collar tucked underneath the wetsuit collar seems to mitigate the rash. I do the same with the drysuit with the downside being it leaks!
Interested to know of other remedies or ideas.

Scarlet, same for me on some new suits, BARE being the worst. The promotion had none of that, not that I would want to promote them as the seams and material is failing on mine now after 1 year.....but using and flushing it lots decreases the rash, u need to get out more and don't ever sit on the beach with it on I always thought it was the toluene I was reacting to. yes, using an undergarment of any type helps but does not completely eliminate it in wetsuits, it does in drysuits for me and I don't bother with the neck part. No probs with Promotion as said, may wanna try that.

downwind dave wrote:anyone contemplating a hood with an extended neck-shoulder section- if you tuck that thing into your wetsuit you provide a venue to flush cold water directly to your core

yeah, knew about this, bought it anyway and the neck section ends behind the shoulder flap on the promotion, no problems. Nice and warm today, minimal flushing. I suppose if you bail lots and lots this would add up tho