Cold Water Challenges vs Yourself

There are lots of brand new cold water swim challenges this year. Whoop! Open Water swimming is now apparently three times more popular than it was last year and that has to be a good thing.

Winter swim challenges have been around for ages and lots of my friend have loved taking part in the polar bear and the penguin challenges. They are great to sign up to as they help motivate you to get in, swim a distance and challenge yourself to try new things. I’ve found myself being a polar bear companion swimmer many a time.

This year I’ve been worried. More than ever, people aren’t considering their own ability vs the conditions, thinking more about completing the challenge and ticking it off rather than their own wellbeing. This last week I’ve seen it all on social media and my advice is:

• Do not get in the sea if it’s dark and you are not a strong swimmer.

• Do not get in the sea if it’s dark, you are not a strong swimmer and there are big waves.

• Do not get in the sea if it’s dark, you are not a strong swimmer and there are big waves and there is a pollution warning!

Please look at the conditions and make up your own mind as to your own abilities and what might be the sensible thing to do. In winter I’d think very carefully about swimming alone (in fact, I wouldn’t).

I’m not going to wax lyrical about all the dangers and risks involved in winter swimming, but because I can’t help myself, do read up on:

• Cold Water Shock
• Swim Failure
• After Drop
• Hypothermia

They are all explained here in the Outdoor Swim Society page, helpfully under the title of ‘Survive’ and ‘Cold’. Here you go

Now I’ve stopped frowning and worrying. Happy swimming folks!