Surf & turf in a winter wonderland (I mean, UK)

It was 4 degrees (both air and water) when I did my first ever winter surf last Saturday in The Witterings. Crazy? Ha! Suicidal? Nah. Frustrated? Yeah, I’m so crap at surfing I didn’t even manage to properly pop-up. And I ended up looking like a puffy eye dragon following the session (still not sure whether to blame saltwater or a very tight hood). Plus I left my credit card in a pub, two hours out of London.  In short, a frickin disaster, you’d say. Far from it. It was an awesome day.  Having tried many a sport, I can authoritatively say that surfing kicks ass. On par with a ridiculous fast gallop across the plains.

That brings me to this Saturday exploits.  Yet again, 4 degrees and icy wind when we took to the stables at Chobham Common. Lovely Julia found this gem of a riding school, which combines English dressage (wanky) with Western riding (awesome). We went out on a two-hour ride across the Common, accompanied by Buddy, Dude and Uno, lovely criollos.

If you thought surfing in winter was a stupid idea than riding in winter is fucking lunacy. I could not feel my fingers or my toes, leaving Uno to steer himself. Horses are not the most intelligent animals in the world and Uno is no exception. I have suffered a few bruises and wig-smacks when he tried to squeeze through some horse-size gaps, clearly forgetting he had a human on his back. In hindsight, maybe he’s not stupid at all, just an egotistical beast. I loved him to bits.

So how do they compare? On a scale of 1-10: mild hypothermia – surfing was 5, riding about 8. Aches and pains? Surfing – 1, riding – 8.  I definitely looked better after riding though.

If you feel like cooling your cockles join the London Surfing meet-up or my own Horselicious meet-up. I can promise you this: you will be freezing and you’ll love it.