Hi ,

Today we are celebrating International Women's Day and I am thrilled to see not only the amount of women participating in open water swimming but also how the body-positive attitude of the outdoor swimming community is now being reflected by outdoor brands. There is a wide spectrum of healthy body sizes so I am pleased that brands such as Orca are now catering to active women regardless of size, age or body shape. 

This year our Attitudes to Outdoor Swimming Survey recorded continued growth in our sport – and that growth is being driven by women, whose participation has risen to 77%. Age is no barrier either, with the majority of swimmers being over 40, and a fifth in their 60s. 

Although the most popular time of year for swimming is summer, there is a lot of love for winter out there – especially among women. “I love it. I get a real buzz from it and do it as often as I can,” said one swimmer. 

Whenever and wherever you swim in open water, having the right kit is imperative – it not only needs to fit correctly but also be suitable for the kind of swimming you do, whether breaststroke, wild swimming or open water racing. I am therefore really excited to share Orca's new 2023 Openwater range with you. Developed with the help of Spanish women's swimming group 'Orca Maris', it includes the Vitalis TRN wetsuit which comes in two new inclusive sizes. Whatever your shape, size or age the open water is for everyone – join me in embracing the joy of swimming outdoors.

Happy swimming,

Ella Foote, Editor  

Tested by the women of sea swimming group 'Orca Maris', the brand new Orca Vitalis TRN wetsuit is the perfect wetsuit for swimmers who are starting out in open water or who need a suit for daily dipping. The TRN is a multipurpose suit with high flexibility and neutral buoyancy, making swimming very comfortable, while its buoyancy will keep you feeling secure. Plus, with new MW and LW sizes the Vitalis TRN is suitable for women of a more diverse range of sizes. 

The new Vitalis Breaststroke is the first wetsuit in the Orca range designed and developed specifically for breaststroke swimming in open water. It is made of thin, flexible materials such as Yamamoto 39FS. The low buoyancy leg area prevents the wetsuit from altering the swimmer’s position in the water and allows for more efficient kicking.