Chilled to the Bone – 30 minutes at -6°C
Last Wednesday 1st December, as Britain descended into the coldest pre-Christmas snap on record and most of his peers had made their winter getaway to the sun, Adam Sims spotted a forecast for strong NE winds on the north Kent coast. Against all sensible advice, he decided to give it a go – here’s his story and Josh Willmot of Blacklab Films’ movie of the session…
08:00 Look out the window and the ground’s covered in snow... The plan to go to Whitstable could be off. It's -7°C outside!
10:00 The kit’s in the van. Along with a semi-dry wetsuit.
10:30 I phone my friend Ed and let him know this was a stupid idea, but I'll meet him there anyway. It’s warmed up a bit now, about -5°C.
10:35 I pull out the drive and instantly find myself sliding onto the wrong side of the road. I remember the weather warnings the night before on the telly... “Heavy snow in parts, combined with strong winds, could lead to drifting and even more treacherous driving conditions. Unnecessary journeys are not advised.” Good job this is completely necessary then...
10:50 I hit the main road and it’s a bit clearer…
11:30 Should be there by now!
12:00 Some serious drifting on the south downs as I make my way over them. Note to self: snowboard here tomorrow if I can.
12:30 Journey took double the time and I step out of my van. 'WHAT THE F…' Must be -15°C windchill with 30 knots from the NW. Well, maybe I was exaggerating a little after stepping out my warm van, but -10°C windchill’s probably spot on. I meet up with Josh in the BoardWorx shop and he grabs the camera.
13:30 I buy a new jacket and ski goggles for the occasion (well... and for skiing in a week – thanks for the deal BoardWorx!) We meet up with Ed and rig up. I put on two wetsuits and … yesss! I've forgotten my winter boots. So on go the summer slippers…
13:45 One run and I come in. It took about 30 seconds for all the blood in my feet and hands to retreat back to my core and kindly leave me with no sensation at all! I warm up ... arghhhh – deep, burning pain!
13:55 This time I manage about three runs, my hands aren’t so bad, but my feet are even worse than before. I get this strange pins and needles pain in what feel like lumps of ice for feet. I run about for a few minutes – deep, burning pain – tell myself to man up and get back on the water for a few more runs.
14:08 One more run... I manage two. Must be enjoying it then!
14:10 Game over, I run up the beach with my kit and sit down shaking my feet and hands back to life… arghhhh – deep, burning pain! Josh finds it funny to interview me whilst my feet are warming up. I don't really know what I was saying but it'll do.
15:10 I leave to get home with swollen hobbit like hands and feet...
16:10 Great! It's snowed whilst I've been out windsurfing, even more drifting. Getting home takes even longer…
Summary
Slightly masochistically enjoyable. Would I do it again? Yeah, why not?!? I’ll just remember the winter boots next time...
