We are in the middle of winter but it was only during the last few days that Portugal really felt the truly arrival of the coldest season of the year - all due to an "evil" mass of polar air that led to a 3-7 degrees’ drop all over the country.

There are those who say that we are spoiled by the climactic wonder that is our precious corner in the Iberian Peninsula, but because the Portuguese people are really a physical demonstration of vigorous robustness, we refuse to find petty excuses to simply not surfing in the cold.

To help you out in this chilling journey here are eight tips to help you surf in colder waters.

1. Choose the right gear

There are no wheels to invente here: neoprene is the only possible answer. If you do not want to miss a surf session even in cold waters, it is mandatory that you have a nice quality "rubber" to match. Ideally for the most challenging temperatures, you should opt for a 5mm model, with anti-cooling system, chest zip to minimize water coming in and quick dry lining. Keep in mind that while it's good to have a custom-made suit, it's not so good that it's too tight because that will limit your blood circulation and you'll feel cold faster. If it’s really, really cold, you should definitely consider adding boots, gloves and an elastic cap to your gear - not feeling your feet or hands or having to bear na ice-cream headache can be a big challenge.

2. Eat well

In general, the more water the food has, the more it will cool your body. For example, even though they are admittedly healthier, fruits and vegetables will cause the temperature of your body to drop drastically. If you are preparing to hit some cold waters, do the right thing and feed yourself accordingly before you go out - this means getting on some (good) fat, protein and carbohydrates that promote the rise in body temperature.

3. Drink lots of water

Fighting dehydration is crucial, especially at a time of year when we have a natural tendency to drink less water, even when we are engaging in intense physical activity. In this case, however, there is yet another advantage ... yep, we’re bringing it up: when the cold comes and weakens us, there is nothing like the unexplainable joy of a warm pee circulating through the suit. We won’t judge you, we’ve all done it before.

4. Hydrating and Vaseline

Spending a lot of time in the cold can be a disaster for your skin and lips, so you can imagine the damage if in top of being cold you are also wet... Do yourself a favor and moisturize yourself profusely, particularly at the extremeties and finish off with vaseline on top to seal the deal. At the end of the session do the same process after the shower.

5. Warm Up and Stretch

You should do it when it’s hot, but you MUST do it when it’s cold. Warm up and stretch properly to allow the blood to circulate rigorously from the start. When you’ll enter the cold water your body will automatically react to reduce the bloodstream at your extremities so that it conserves heat.

6. Move!

We know what you’re thinking - it seems obvious, but it’s incredibly important: do not sit there still and shivering while waiting for the next wave. Move, paddle, stay active. The more you move, the better you’ll have your blood flowing, the warmer you’ll keep your legs and arms.

7. Don’t overdo it

Do not stay in the water too long. Surfing in cold water is incredibly tiring and your body spends more energy than you’d think just to stay warm.

8. Changing

There is no big surprise here - this is and will always be the worst part of our sessions. In a perfect world we would all have a warm and cozy space to change, take a hot shower and get back to the warm clothes, but in real life you will probably be awkwardly bent over at the back of your car trying to escape the chilly wind that makes you shiver like crazy. However, there are some handy tricks you can try to ease the process. One of them is to bring a container with hot water from home - when you finish the session, pour it over you to remove the sand and reset the temperature a little. Another tip is to use a neoprene or foam mat to protect your feet. And do not forget to leave everything organized before you get out of the car so you can change easily when you arrive.