Hey- I'm baaccckkkk....
I would get a squid lid for sure! Blue seventy sells quite an assortment of cold water gear now. They sell booties and gloves too, but I'm not sure how many races will allow them. It's wierd cause they are marketing them to triathletes? All I know is at IMAZ we were not allowed to wear the booties or gloves. But in the cold ocean they may make an exception.

And Santa Cruz.... That was *my* old surfing grounds.... waaaaayyyy back in the day! OY! I'm old!!
Pleasure point BABY!!! Long board heaven!!!

I think as long as your noggin is warm you'll be ok. But if it makes you feel better to use a heat pack, by all means...
Where is the race held at? It's not at the boardwalk is it? Or is it in capitola? I thought one of the races was in capitola. I LOVE it there!!
Anyhooo..... Look at YOU!!! Big bad ocean tri mama!!!