How Does One Stay Warm Surfing Through a Northeast Winter? [James Ready: “That high you get"...]

Surfline ^ | 05/10/09 | Gabe

[fight_truth_decay]

QUESTION I live in the northeast and want to continue to surf year-round. The H20 temp is around 32F and the air temp is in the 20's. Any tricks on staying somewhat warm? Asked by Gabe

ANSWER Maine photographer and surfer Jim Ready responds

"There's a variety of methods to stay warm through a New England winter. The best advice is to buy a 6/4/3 -- and maybe a van to change in [laughs]. Some guys, if they're putting on wet rubber, will bring a cooler with hot water and they'll rinse the suit off in the cooler before putting it on. A lot of times....

[fight_truth_decay]

"And then some guys have a different way of staying warm all winter -- they just don't surf. They sit in the car and watch."

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Barney Frank, not appearing anyway close to being athletic, seems the type to sit in the van and just...watch.

[Admin]I also believe this falls under Politics, as a recent NewYork magazine story "reefer-ed" to James Ready as:
Barney Frank’s Boyfriend Is Becoming Our Favorite Political Spouse

"Frank, 68, and Ready, 39,who describes himself as shy, met three years ago at a political fundraiser for Blind Democrats hosted by NY Governor Patterson, but Ready said he’s had a crush on Frank ever since the lawmaker was forced out of the closet in a scandal when his partner was arrested for prostitution in 1987."

“I remember seeing him on TV because it was big news and I was like, ‘Wow, he’s hot,’” Ready said. “And then when I met him, I told him that, and the rest is history.”

With Frank in D.C. most of the time, Ready said he spends his time at his Maine home, where he lives with his cat Pumpkin and tends to his awning shop business. In the colder months, when business is slower, Ready works a handyman."

"An avid surfing enthusiast, Ready said he goes surfing in Maine even in the winter."

“That high you get — it’s almost unexplainable to someone who doesn’t know,” he said. “I could be having the worst day in the world. Even just one wave kind of makes me feel better.”[ phone interview with the Blade]

[fight_truth_decay]

Note: body glove "6. 4/3". Hooded winter suit.

[dainbramaged]

How about a dry suit for scuba divers? My Alaskan friends use them year round for chasing king crab and scallops.

[bgill]

Stay home in front of the fire.

[IYAS9YAS]

Vodka. Lots and lots of vodka.

[Joan Kerrey]

Any tricks on staying somewhat warm?

Apply for the get warm government grant now available to qualified union members

[mmercier]

Drink a gallon of Gatorade and keep peeing in your wetsuit...?

Just guessing.

I do see surfers in Marblehead in the winter.

You could not get me in that water with a shotgun.

[who knows what evil?]

Make out your will first, Gabe...

[fight_truth_decay]

Maine has its own potato vodka--Cold River.

"You can even sample it for free next time you’re in Freeport: Maine Distilleries opens its doors to the public for tours seven days a week during the summer."

[puppypusher]

Ditto’s to this statement.

[Conan the Librarian]

An Electric Heater with a REALLY REALLY long extension cord should do the trick. Just don’t fall off the board.

[Liz]

"I gotta lose Ready. Look at the shoulders on Beilat.
Being manhandled by a Marine is every fag's dream."

[calex59]

Stay out of the frickin water in the winter, a sure way to keep warm.