THE DIP | What was Roger Deakin really like? | Best jammers for outdoor swimmers

THE DIP | What was Roger Deakin really like? | Best jammers for outdoor swimmers | How to keep your shoulders healthy

Published: Sat, 07/29/23

Your weekly edit from

Dear fellow swimmers

Patrick Barkham, author of a new biography of Roger Deakin, The Swimmer, gave us a fascinating presentation earlier this week about the life, loves and times of the famous writer of Waterlog. This was a subscriber-only event but we’ve made the recording free to view. It’s well worth watching, so set aside an hour and prepare for a treat. Then dive into the rest of this week’s newsletter…

INTERVIEW

What was Roger Deakin really like?

Roger Deakin, the author of Waterlog, is credited with being a driving force behind the revival of outdoor swimming. But what was he like as a person?

Watch our exclusive event

NEWS

Fast Rescue Device (FReD) launches in the UK

North Wales water rescue experts behind the launch of a pioneering life-saving device: a remote-controlled life buoy designed to help people struggling in deep water.

OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

How to keep your shoulders healthy

Swimming specialist physiotherapist Alex Ewart looks at what works and what doesn’t for preventing shoulder injury. (Premium content).

SPONSORED CONTENT

What is the biggest open water swimming challenge you can think of?

The English Channel is the Mount Everest of swimming – but that doesn’t mean it is out of your reach. Swimming the English Channel as part of a charity relay team is a great way to push your limits and achieve something truly worthwhile. Swim charity, SwimTayka – now recruiting for their Channel Relay teams in 2024 – are ready to take on the challenge for 2024, are you ready to make a difference to the lives of people around the world?

If you are tempted to sign up, or curious about Channel swimming, SwimTayka are running live webinars: Next date: 8 August, 6pm – SwimTayka’s coaches explore the benefits of open water swimming and how the Channel challenge is a truly lifechanging event. Join here.

Why not find out more?

JOIN THE RELAY TEAM

STAY INFORMED & SWIM RESPONSIBLY

NEWS

Marvel at some of Europe’s very best art depicting tidal and marine environments at the upcoming RSMA Annual Exhibition.

GEAR

Flexible fit, thermal fabric or a hybrid short? Our guide to the best jammers, briefs and shorts for outdoor swimmers.

NEWS

A mural commissioned by swimming charity SwimTayka has been unveiled at Lake 32 to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.

NEWS

Join in the Big Swim with Team GB Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing, raising funds for the Black Swimming Association.

CHALLENGE

In June and July, 130 swimmers joined our ClimateGames challenge, removing 40kg of plastic from the sea. Join them this August.

EVENT REVIEW

“Wet, wild, windy: these are some of the words used to sum up the Wales Swimrun 2023." Read Simon Griffiths’ review.

AUGUST 2023 - PLAY

Expand your swimming horizons and achieve your swimming dreams. Read Outdoor Swimmer on digital or in print from anywhere in the world. Purchase a single issue or subscribe to a monthly magazine and save up to 20% each month.

(sponsored content)

AUGUST

LA TRAVERSEE DU LAC TREMBLANT (1km, 2km, 3km, 5km, 10km, 15km)

3-8 August 2023 | Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Find out more...

THAMES MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON (5.5km, 13km)
13 August 2023 | Marlow
Find out more...

GO SWIM LOCH TAY (250m, 750m, 1.5km, 3km, 5km, 10km)
19 August 2023 | Kenmore, Aberfeldy
Find out more...

BEAT THE TIDE 4K (4km)

19 August 2023 | Aberdovey
Find out more...

THE DYFI (13km)
20 August 2023 | Aberdovey
Find out more...

SEPTEMBER

GO SWIM LOCH LOMOND (250m, 750m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m)
2 September | Loch Lomond, Balloch
Find out more...

GAELFORCE GREAT FJORD SWIM (750m, 2km, 3.9km)
9 September | Connemara, Ireland
Find out more...

THE BIG BRUTAL SWIM (2.5k, 5k and 10k)
10 September | Llanberis, North Wales
Find out more...

SWIM WALES CHALLENGE SERIES (500m, 1.5km, 3km, 4x500m relay)
16 September | Llys-y-Frân, Pembrokeshire
Find out more...

GO SWIM LOCH MORLICH (250m, 750m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m)
16 September | Aviemore
Find out more...

MARINERS MILE (500m, half mile, 1 mile)
23 September | Cheshunt
Find out more...

SWIM CASCAIS '23 (1km, 1.9km, 3.8km, 5km, 10km, 20km)
23 September | Cascais, Portugal
Find out more...

ULTRASWIM 33.3 #2 MONTENEGRO (33km, 6 swims over 4 days)
29 Sep-3 Oct | Herceg Novi, Montenegro
Find out more...

SWIMTHEISLAND – GOLFO DELL'ISOLA (800m, 1.1km, 1.8km, 3.5km, 6km)
30 Sep-1 Oct | Bergeggi, Italy
Find out more...

OCTOBER

PROM'SWIM (500m, 1km, 2km, 5km, 10km)

7 October | Nice, France
Find out more...

GREAT BARRIER REEF OCEAN SWIM SERIES (1km, 3km, 5km)

21 October | Port Douglas, North Queensland
Find out more...

COOL MILE, TAL Y LLYN (1 mile)
28 October | Gwynedd, North Wales
Find out more...

Find an event on our website . To promote your event here, please email stuart@outdoorswimmer.com .

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

The other highlight of my week was taking part in the Wales Swimrun 2023. I spent the week before worrying it would be cancelled as the weather forecast was grim but the organisers found a way to let it go ahead, albeit with some changes. You can see my race report on our sister site swimrunner.world.

Also, please join the challenges we run with ClimateGames. These are a super easy way to help remove plastic from the ocean and are free to join. Check out how much plastic Outdoor Swimmer readers removed in June and July.

Finally, if you would like to sample our Outdoor Swimmer Extra stories – that's all the best stories from the magazine available on our website – we are offering 14 days for free for August. Read more here.

Have a great week.

Simon Griffiths

Founder & publisher

6 Maida Vale Business Centre
Mead Road
Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7ER
UNITED KINGDOM

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