Will I still get cold water benefits in a wetsuit? | Evidence of illegal ‘dry spills’ | How to swim faster
Published: Sat, 11/26/22
Your essential weekly edit of outdoor swimming
YOUR ESSENTIAL WEEKLY EDIT OF OUTDOOR SWIMMING
#swimwildandfree
Dear fellow water lovers
This week, the water in my regular swim spot in the Thames dropped below 10 degrees. It’s an arbitrary number but it feels significant, like the start of ‘proper’ winter swimming. I keep my winter dips short (less than 10 mins) and usually
swim head-up breaststroke. That’s partly because of the cold, but also because we know that water companies frequently pour sewage into our rivers and seas, as Surfers Against Sewage reported this
week.
While this news is distressing, I hope it doesn’t put people off outdoor swimming. Of course, we need to be prudent, not swim after heavy rain and
practice good hygiene. But we shouldn’t stop swimming because of pollution – it’s the water companies that should stop polluting our waters! The reality is, while we do hear frightening stories about people getting ill after swimming, the majority of swims do not result in illness and the benefits outweigh the risks.
I’ve also been thinking this week about swimming fast, and trying to answer the question: why aren’t I a faster swimmer? Take a look at this
article to see if this applies to you, too.
Happy swimming Simon Griffiths, Founder & Publisher
NEWS
WATER COMPANIES PERMITTING ILLEGAL ‘DRY SPILLS’ REPORTS SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE
New report shows evidence of illegal ‘dry spills’ into UK rivers and seas by water companies, as outdoor swimmers continue to suffer the grim consequences of swimming in sewage.
Editor Ella Foote looks back on her weekend hosting talks and film sessions at the Kendal Mountain Festival, alongside British ice swimmer and open water swimming expert Colin Hill. She also made time for a dip or two, of course.
ASPIRE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR 2022 OPEN
WATER SWIMMERS
Congratulations on an amazing year! The funds you have raised will make a huge difference to the lives of people with Spinal Cord Injury.
To find your 2023 challenge visit aspire.org.uk/swimming. We have swims including River Arun, Cross Solent and Scilly Swim Challenge. It is never too early to register your interest for a 2024 Relay Channel team.
NOWCA’S SUB10 CLUB ENCOURAGES NEW SWIMMERS TO TRY WINTER
WATERS
New to winter swimming? NOWCA’s Sub10 Club invites newcomers to try cold water for the first time in a safe environment, with lifeguards on hand for advice and assistance.
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Even if you never want to enter a swimming event, learning how to turn quickly and efficiently around a buoy is a fun and useful skill to learn. Jonathan Cowie has your expert guide.
5,000 OCEAN ACTIVISTS TOOK A DIP A DAY THIS
OCTOBER
Surfers Against Sewage’s first mass participation event proved to be a roaring success, with 5,000 people immersing themselves in cold water every day in October.
