Ear Protection for Windsurfers

In this article we look at the best ear protection for wind surfing in all seasons, this includes winter and spring, the coldest months to surf and summer and autumn. In the UK all year round is seen as cold water wind surfing and keeping your head and ears warm can really improve the enjoyment of the sport and the time you spend in the water.

How Can Windsurfing Affect Your Ears

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Wind Surfers Can Have Their Ear Drum Rupture

The mast hitting you hard straight at the ear, or suddenly landing in the water while going at a high speed has the potential to rupture to your ear drum, as well as pain and immediate dizziness from exposing the middle ear to cold water can also occur. 

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Windsurfers Can Get Surfers Ear

Regular exposure to cold wind and water can cause bony growths within your ear canal to develop. This can trap water and debris which has the potential to cause a painful ear infection. In some cases when the growths begin to close the ear canal, causing deafness, surgery is required to remove them. The combination of both cold wind and cold water in windsurfing increases the refrigeration affect within the ear that causes Surfers Ear.

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With better wind surf technology, thicker wetsuits and new neoprene accessories on the market, more people are wind surfing colder waters and in winter months than ever before, increasing the risk of surfers ear. 

If you are concerned you may have damaged your ear during wind surfing you will need to consult your GP for an ear examination.

If you are a windsurfer you will know how important it is to wear a helmet, aspects such as the mast hitting you on the head, gliding into some rocks can make for a horrible accident. In regards to protecting your ears, a good helmet will help provent against your sail splicing your ear, a sudden perforated ear drum and even surfers ear. Additionally the occurance of "brain freeze" is common while wind surfing in cold water, so a good helmet that helps to insulate your head and protect from wind chill is what you need.

Ear Protection For Windsurfers

Helmets For Wind Surfing

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Ear Plugs for Wind Surfing

Wearing a good quality hood will definitely help reduce the chances of bony growths developing within your ear as the hood will help to keep the water entering your ear warmer than the actual temperature of the sea water. The problem is a hood will still allow water into your ear, so for extra caution, using ear plugs will also help. Preventing water getting into your ears completely will protect your ears.

When it comes to finding the right ear plugs, there are many options out there but you need to find the ones specifically designed with surfing in mind.

The best solution to protect your ears while using a helmet is to get custom fit made ear moulds.  Although these do need you to have an impression of your ear taken, this means the ear moulds themselves will match your ear correctly. An ear impression will take into account each contour and unique bumps and shapes of your ear. If you have tried generic ear plugs and have still yet to find them to seal your ear properly then these are a must for an avid wind surfer.

What you will find is because they match your ear shape correctly they will also be much more comfortable in your ear as well as keeping your ear fully sealed for water. The custom fit also has the ability to stay within your ear better and most custom made ear moulds will come with a lanyard to connect to your wetsuit if they do fall out. The major things to consider with custom made ear plugs is the price and booking yourself in with an audiologist to get an impression taken and over time you will need to have them re made as your ears slowly grow. If surfing is your world then custom moulds really are the way to go.