On 1 November the sun sets in Christchurch at about 8:15 pm. By the 30th it's about 8:52 pm.
That's a lot of usable evening. You can finish work, get to a court and still play a full set in daylight, no floodlights involved.
The evening is the good slot
Health NZ's advice for hot weather is blunt: avoid strenuous exercise in the heat, and if you do exercise, do it in the early morning or evening. Tennis at 6 pm in November fits that without any effort.
There's also a cost to playing at midday. SunSmart says sun protection is recommended between 10 am and 4 pm from September to April when the UV Index is 3 or above, or when you're outdoors for a long stretch. It also says you can't see or feel UV, so a cool or cloudy day doesn't get you off the hook.
What to do about it
Sunscreen of SPF30 or higher, broad-spectrum and water-resistant. Reapply every two hours, and sooner if you're sweating, which on a court you will be. SunSmart also points to a hat and wrap-around sunglasses. A cap does the job if a bucket hat isn't your thing.
If you do play in the middle of the day, find the shade between games. Bring a drink. Cold and non-alcoholic is the Health NZ line.
When heat stops being a joke
Heat exhaustion looks like dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, a headache or cramps. Rest somewhere cool, drink, loosen your clothes. Health NZ says you should start to feel better within 30 minutes; if you don't, see a healthcare provider.
Heat stroke is different. Confusion, hot dry skin, trouble staying awake or a temperature above 40 degrees means call 111. Health NZ says to call for any of the signs, so if in doubt, call. Health NZ lists people doing strenuous exercise as one of the groups at higher risk, and says it can come on quickly with little warning. A hard singles match qualifies.
Where the evening play is
Waimairi runs organised social play on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, and its seniors page invites people to come along for a free trial. It also runs a 30+ midweek interclub on Tuesdays at 6 pm at Wilding Park, but that is a team competition, not a turn-up night. The social tennis post has more places to turn up.
If your only free window is after 8:45 pm, civil twilight ends around then on 1 November, and you'll want lights: Tennis after dark covers where.
Why this matters to Hitter
Long evenings only help if there's someone to hit with. Most of the trouble with summer tennis isn't the sun, it's lining up a court, a time and a person who suits you on the same night. That's the problem Hitter is built around for Christchurch adults.
More at hitter.nz.
