Hi 

One of the headline statistics from our Trends in Outdoor Swimming Survey was the amount of people swimming for well-being and mental health benefits. Winter can be a difficult at the best of times, but with so much uncertainty in the world at the moment now more than ever it is important to look after our mental as well as physical health. An early morning swim with friends is beneficial on many levels: community, the cold and being outdoors all help counteract the dark days of winter and set you up for the day ahead. Likewise, taking time out from our screens is good for body and soul. Producing Outdoor Swimmer magazine can be challenging in today’s digital world, but we believe that ink and paper remains a special experience that can’t be captured in the same way on your phone or tablet.

I am very proud of the new edition of Outdoor Swimmer magazine, out now, which highlights men’s mental health and the importance of community. The recent growth in cold water swimming has been driven partly by interest in its mental health benefits, but come to the water and the majority of swimmers are often women. But a new wave of men’s groups are swimming explicitly for mental health, breaking down the barriers to men talking about their problems. In our cover story, Swim To Live, we meet one such group, the Edinburgh Blue Balls.

Elsewhere in the magazine, Elaine Howley explores the open water legacy of father and son Ted and Jon Erikson; Sarah Thomas champions saying ‘no’ to goal setting; coach Tracey Baumann explains the importance of the pressure you apply during your catch; and we test the best changing robes on the market. This issue we also welcome two new columnists: GB ice swimmer Caroline Saxon explores the highs and lows of winter swimming; and writer Joe Minihane chronicles his exploration of his local area. Order your copy or subscribe here.

Jonathan Cowie, Editor