What no one seems to realize is that this El Nino is coming with a vengeance - it's going to make 82' look like a rain shower. In my 50 plus years surfing in Santa Cruz this is the warmest winter we've ever had. I was wearing a new 2mm summer suit at the end of January, and wore it for a week in Feb., and began recycling my old suits to wear so I would not wear out my summer suit before summer. I know guys are saying the water is cold up north, but here in the Monterey Bay it's been nice. We only had 2 cold spells this winter and they never lasted more than 4 days each. There were a number of days where it was warmer in the water surfing, than standing on the cliff watching the surf.