Cold men and women of this world, we have great news for you that the most skeptical will not believe: in winter... you can do water sports! And the thing is that the luck we have in Spain to have this climate and of course, some of the best coasts, means that exercising in winter is not at odds with water.
Finding benefits to sport is not difficult, but if we also talk about water and winter sports the positive points multiply. The drop in temperatures inevitably makes the water colder but this, believe it or not, makes you even colder:
- More calories are burned due to the extra work our body has to do to stay warm.
- Noticeably improves blood circulation.
- It releases many more endorphins and stimulates the parasympathetic system, responsible for rest and relaxation.
- The immune system is stimulated by the body's reaction to a "brief stress" by increasing the production of white blood cells, and therefore, greater defense.
We are not proposing that you jump into the frozen sea "with bare chest" or that you participate in the collective bathing every Christmas on the coasts of half the world (including Barcelona). Eye! If that's what you're looking for, perfect and send us photos, but we prefer another type of activity, something that you would like to do or try. That's why we have made you the top 5 water sports that you can practice when the solstice arrives.
5 water sports to practice in winter
1. Surfing
Forget that idyllic image of surfing in California under a warm sun. It exists, yes, but some of the best waves you can find surfing in our country are in the winter months. And not only that, you will find the beaches much less crowded, swells more constant and a greater level of connection with the waves.
A good neoprene suit will solve the cold issue, you can even complete it with booties, gloves and a hood.But also keep in mind that the sun's rays in the months summer or spring, they cause such a pleasant sensation that, added to the waves you surf, they will make you forget about the cold.
In Spain the best areas to surf in winter are in the north. Cantabria, Asturias or the Barcelona coast, but also if we travel to the Canary Archipelago it will not be a problem that It's not summer for surfing.
Find all the winter surfing destinations here
2. Diving
Althoughdiving in winter involves using different techniques, the good visibility in the water thanks to the lower phytoplankton, the clarity of the water, the number of fish among which you can dive and the lower presence of tourists, makes it a real pleasure.
But it also means evolving significantly as a diver. You will have to do shorter dives, avoid decompression, try not to move your arms compulsively so as not to get cold (it is proven that exercising underwater causes cooling)... All of this, among many other techniques, will help you better understand diving and plan. with more enthusiasm each dive in the cold months.
Living on a peninsula multiplies the possibilities of diving or taking diving courses. On the other hand, if you go to the Canary Archipelago, even in the summer, you will find everything from baptismal diving to dives along any of its coasts. The warmth of the winter sun in the Canary Islands will make diving in its Atlantic a real pleasure. You will have the best options for diving on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, although you can find something in Lanzarote.
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Gran Canaria
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Tenerife
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Lanzarote
3. Windsurfing
As incredible as it may seem, the main reason that put me back when it came to practicing windsurfing in winter was the few hours of daylight we have and not the cold that it can get. But today, not even that matters to riders thanks to technological advances and neoprene suits have made any month, be it autumn or winter, perfect for a good day of windsurfing.
The neoprene has to be 5-6 mm thick at least. Also get good gloves that do not put too much pressure on your wrists, and if you can, have the palm of your hand exposed so that you are in direct contact with the boom. A hood, booties and ready to fly over the waves.
Once again, the Canary Islands are the perfect destination to practice windsurfing in winter. Head out with your board and sail towards Gran Canaria. Without a doubt, it is the best option to guarantee a good windsurfing session when the cold hits. In fact, at Anfi del Mar, you will find just what you are looking for as a rider.
Find here how to practice windsurfing in winter in Gran Canaria
4. Kayaks
Whether to play sports or to enjoy a little corner of the coast, river or swamp that you want to discover in winter. The fact is that a good rowing session aboard a kayak may be one of the star sports in the summer season. It depends on the level of excitement you want to give to the practice, you can go with the kayak in a section of the river with rapids, on the coast with the characteristic waves of the months cold or in one of the spectacular dams that we have in our country.
In fact, there are even important national and international winter kayaking competitions. Of course, if you are starting out in this sport, it is better not to risk it and leave your "first steps" with kayaking in warmer months. But otherwise, with technique and good thermal equipment that insulates you from the cold, doing a kayak route at this time is a lot of fun.
In Spain, above all, you can find kayak excursions in the Rías style="font-size:16px;">3. Windsurfing
As incredible as it may seem, the main reason that put me back when it came to practicing windsurfing in winter was the few hours of daylight we have and not the cold that it can get. But today, not even that matters to riders thanks to technological advances and neoprene suits have made any month, be it autumn or winter, perfect for a good day of windsurfing.
The neoprene has to be 5-6 mm thick at least. Also get good gloves that do not put too much pressure on your wrists, and if you can, have the palm of your hand exposed so that you are in direct contact with the boom. A hood, booties and ready to fly over the waves.
Once again, the Canary Islands are the perfect destination to practice windsurfing in winter. Head out with your board and sail towards Gran Canaria. Without a doubt, it is the best option to guarantee a good windsurfing session when the cold hits. In fact, at Anfi del Mar, you will find just what you are looking for as a rider.
Find here how to practice windsurfing in winter in Gran Canaria
4. Kayaks
Whether to play sports or to enjoy a little corner of the coast, river or swamp that you want to discover in winter. The fact is that a good rowing session aboard a kayak may be one of the star sports in the summer season. It depends on the level of excitement you want to give to the practice, you can go with the kayak in a section of the river with rapids, on the coast with the characteristic waves of the months cold or in one of the spectacular dams that we have in our country.
In fact, there are even important national and international winter kayaking competitions. Of course, if you are starting out in this sport, it is better not to risk it and leave your "first steps" with kayaking in warmer months. But otherwise, with technique and good thermal equipment that insulates you from the cold, doing a kayak route at this time is a lot of fun.
In Spain, above all, you can find kayak excursions in the Rías
Forget that idyllic image of surfing in California under a warm sun. It exists, yes, but some of the best waves you can find surfing in our country are in the winter months. And not only that, you will find the beaches much less crowded, swells more constant and a greater level of connection with the waves.
A good neoprene suit will solve the cold issue, you can even complete it with booties, gloves and a hood.But also keep in mind that the sun's rays in the months summer or spring, they cause such a pleasant sensation that, added to the waves you surf, they will make you forget about the cold.
In Spain the best areas to surf in winter are in the north. Cantabria, Asturias or the Barcelona coast, but also if we travel to the Canary Archipelago it will not be a problem that It's not summer for surfing.
Find all the winter surfing destinations here
2. Diving
Althoughdiving in winter involves using different techniques, the good visibility in the water thanks to the lower phytoplankton, the clarity of the water, the number of fish among which you can dive and the lower presence of tourists, makes it a real pleasure.
But it also means evolving significantly as a diver. You will have to do shorter dives, avoid decompression, try not to move your arms compulsively so as not to get cold (it is proven that exercising underwater causes cooling)... All of this, among many other techniques, will help you better understand diving and plan. with more enthusiasm each dive in the cold months.
Living on a peninsula multiplies the possibilities of diving or taking diving courses. On the other hand, if you go to the Canary Archipelago, even in the summer, you will find everything from baptismal diving to dives along any of its coasts. The warmth of the winter sun in the Canary Islands will make diving in its Atlantic a real pleasure. You will have the best options for diving on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, although you can find something in Lanzarote.
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Gran Canaria
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Tenerife
Find here the best opportunities to dive in winter in Lanzarote
3. Windsurfing
As incredible as it may seem, the main reason that put me back when it came to practicing windsurfing in winter was the few hours of daylight we have and not the cold that it can get. But today, not even that matters to riders thanks to technological advances and neoprene suits have made any month, be it autumn or winter, perfect for a good day of windsurfing.
The neoprene has to be 5-6 mm thick at least. Also get good gloves that do not put too much pressure on your wrists, and if you can, have the palm of your hand exposed so that you are in direct contact with the boom. A hood, booties and ready to fly over the waves.
Once again, the Canary Islands are the perfect destination to practice windsurfing in winter. Head out with your board and sail towards Gran Canaria. Without a doubt, it is the best option to guarantee a good windsurfing session when the cold hits. In fact, at Anfi del Mar, you will find just what you are looking for as a rider.
Find here how to practice windsurfing in winter in Gran Canaria
4. Kayaks
Whether to play sports or to enjoy a little corner of the coast, river or swamp that you want to discover in winter. The fact is that a good rowing session aboard a kayak may be one of the star sports in the summer season. It depends on the level of excitement you want to give to the practice, you can go with the kayak in a section of the river with rapids, on the coast with the characteristic waves of the months cold or in one of the spectacular dams that we have in our country.
In fact, there are even important national and international winter kayaking competitions. Of course, if you are starting out in this sport, it is better not to risk it and leave your "first steps" with kayaking in warmer months. But otherwise, with technique and good thermal equipment that insulates you from the cold, doing a kayak route at this time is a lot of fun.
In Spain, above all, you can find kayak excursions in the Rías style="font-size:16px;">3. Windsurfing
As incredible as it may seem, the main reason that put me back when it came to practicing windsurfing in winter was the few hours of daylight we have and not the cold that it can get. But today, not even that matters to riders thanks to technological advances and neoprene suits have made any month, be it autumn or winter, perfect for a good day of windsurfing.
The neoprene has to be 5-6 mm thick at least. Also get good gloves that do not put too much pressure on your wrists, and if you can, have the palm of your hand exposed so that you are in direct contact with the boom. A hood, booties and ready to fly over the waves.
Once again, the Canary Islands are the perfect destination to practice windsurfing in winter. Head out with your board and sail towards Gran Canaria. Without a doubt, it is the best option to guarantee a good windsurfing session when the cold hits. In fact, at Anfi del Mar, you will find just what you are looking for as a rider.
Find here how to practice windsurfing in winter in Gran Canaria
4. Kayaks
Whether to play sports or to enjoy a little corner of the coast, river or swamp that you want to discover in winter. The fact is that a good rowing session aboard a kayak may be one of the star sports in the summer season. It depends on the level of excitement you want to give to the practice, you can go with the kayak in a section of the river with rapids, on the coast with the characteristic waves of the months cold or in one of the spectacular dams that we have in our country.
In fact, there are even important national and international winter kayaking competitions. Of course, if you are starting out in this sport, it is better not to risk it and leave your "first steps" with kayaking in warmer months. But otherwise, with technique and good thermal equipment that insulates you from the cold, doing a kayak route at this time is a lot of fun.
In Spain, above all, you can find kayak excursions in the Rías
