THE DIP | First ever Channel relay in January | The benefit of ice baths | Warm hats and boots for swimmers

Published: Sat, 01/27/24

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Dear fellow swimmers,

We hope you enjoyed last week’s special issue of The Dip, which we packed full of tips to improve your front crawl. You can read it here if you missed it.

This week, we’ve been reading about the amazing swimmers who have been nominated for World Open Water Swimming Awards. We’re delighted that two of our contributors, Sophie Etheridge and Sarah Thomas, feature in the list of nominees. The awards are now open for public voting and you can cast your vote here.

Also, thinking about incredible swimming achievements, we caught up with endurance swimmer John Myatt, who was part of the 5-person relay team who completed the first ever relay crossing of the English Channel in January under standard Channel swimming rules in water of 7 to 9 degrees and air temperatures just above freezing.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has completed our survey so far. If you haven’t yet done so, please do – this is how we find out what you want!

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NEWS

First January relay Channel swim

Fresh from his team's record-breaking relay in the English Channel, endurance swimmer John Myatt spoke to us about how they battled the cold and choppy conditions to make it to France.

GEAR

The wonders of merino wool

When it comes to warming up after a swim, material matters. We discover more about merino wool, an insulating fabric swimmers should consider wearing next to their skin after a winter dip.

OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

The benefits of ice baths

Remember lockdown when we couldn’t go swimming and so we got in our wheelie bins instead? Rowan Clarke investigates why our backyard bathing rituals stuck and how ice baths can support swimming. (Premium content)

IS THIS THE YEAR YOU VISIT GUERNSEY?

The Islands of Guernsey: Dive into a wild swimmer’s playground

It really doesn’t matter if you’re into your sandy bays or your rocky coves – we’ve got it all in Guernsey,” says Jayne Packham, who swims all year round with local group the Mental Tentacles. “I would recommend getting in touch with some of the local swimming groups. We have a wide variety of swimming groups in Guernsey. There’s nothing like a local for knowing their own water.”

The Islands of Guernsey, with their tapestry of golden beaches, hidden coves and tidal rock pools, should be on every wild swimmer’s bucket list. Whether you’re a seasoned winter swimmer ready to thrill to the chill of winter waves or a curious first-timer keen to dip your toes for the first time, the Islands offer a year-round aquatic playground for swimmers of all abilities.

Want to know more? Read our guide to the best places to swim in Guernsey.

READ OUR GUIDE

STAY INFORMED & SWIM RESPONSIBLY

WOWSA 'WOMAN OF THE YEAR'

Sophie Etheridge and Sarah Thomas are among an impressive array of nominees in this year’s WOWSA awards. Cast your vote!

NEW BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES

The OpenSwim Pro is Shokz’ first Bluetooth and MP3 compatible sports headphone made with bone conduction technology.

OLDEST TRIPLE CROWN SWIMMER

68 year-old Brit, Ed Horne, tackles 20 Bridges and a 28.5 mile loop through Manhattan in ‘life-threatening’ rainstorm.

WARM HATS FOR COLD SWIMMERS

Lined with merino, fleece or neoprene and with reflective yarn for visibility, we review the best warm hats for winter swimmers.

WARM BOOTS FOR SWIMMERS

Insulating, easy to slip on and grippy on muddy riverbanks: keep your feet toasty in our pick of the best warm boots.

STRETCHES FOR SWIM READY FEET

Easy stretches that can build strength and increase mobility in your feet, improve your kick and reduce likelihood of cramp

Outdoor Swimmer – the magazine for adventurous swimmers

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FEB 2024 - THE PROTEST ISSUE

Vote with your feet: how swimming can bring about political change
Meet the team behind the world’s first biodegradable wetsuit
Nurture nature: the swimmers giving back to their swim spots
OSS’s Inland Access Group shines a light on the legalities of swimming so you can dip with confidence.

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WIN GREAT PRIZES

Two lucky readers can win a White Water Robe

To celebrate the launch of their latest, most innovative designs last month, we are giving away a White Water Robe of your choice to two lucky readers!

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Win one of two weekends away, staying in the luxury Classic Lodges of the Lakeside Hotel & Spa – and taking part in a distance of your choice at the Great North Swim.

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Return to nature for this YogaSwim experience, a blend of freshwater lake and tarn swims, as well as restorative yoga sessions in Cumbria’s iconic Lake District!

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EVENTS COMING SOON

ULTRASWIM 33.3 #3 CROATIA (33.3km over 4 days)
17-20 May | Stari Grad, Croatia
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GAELFORCE GREAT RIVER SWIM (5.8km, 3.1km, 800m)

18 May | Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Ireland
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GREATER MANCHESTER SWIM! (500m, 1 mile, 3 miles)

18 May | Dock 9, Salford Quays
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BEST Fest 2024 (7 swims over 7 days: 5k, 1.9/3.8k, 1.5k, 2.5k, 3k, 7/10k and 4x500m)
25 May | Colonia Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Spain
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Great North Swim (250m, half male, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5km, 10km)

7-9 June | Windermere, Lake District
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24-hr Swim Relays (24hr challenge)

8 June | Shepperton

15 June | Clevedon

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

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

One of the most important things you can do for your swimming performance is to be consistent with your training. I’ve been lucky that the I’ve been able to train regularly over the past few months without any breaks for injury or illness. Then, last weekend I took part in a masters gala and raced 400m FC, 200m IM, 100m FC, 100m FL, 50m FC and 50m FL. Out of those six, I swam five life-time long-course personal best times. And while I didn’t set a new personal record for the 400m FC, I was five seconds faster than last year. This was quite unexpected given the length of time I’ve been training and racing but it shows the difference that consistent training can make. It’s also been a lot of fun as I’ve focused my efforts on sprints, starts and turns. I’m planning to do a couple more masters galas this winter and then I have to remember how to swim long distances in open water again. I love that there are so many different things you can do in swimming and I encourage you to take the most of the opportunities.

Happy swimming!

Simon Griffiths

Founder & Publisher, Outdoor Swimmer

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