Things to consider before cold water swimming for the first time

  • Getting Started

Folks, we hate to break it to you, but summer won’t last forever, but before it’s time to prepare for toe-tickling mornings and scraping the ice off your car at daft o’clock, let’s think about how we can keep swimming once we hit autumn and winter.

Yes, winter is indeed coming, as it always does every year – I don’t know why we always get so surprised! Still, with that in mind, your open water team here at Beyond Swim want to remind you of some helpful tips if you’re considering taking the plunge and doing a bit of cold water swimming this year.

Here’s what you must remember before immersing yourself in chilly waters…

1. Get cool first

And we don’t mean personality-wise; we really can’t help you with that one!

What we can help with, however, is advising you to take a cold shower or have a cold bath. You need only do this for around 2-3 minutes to feel the effects, but it allows your body to naturally acclimatise to the change in temperature without going into complete shock.

Believe us, as soon as your body hits the cold open water, you’re going to feel it!

2. Don’t go it alone – let a friend be cool too!

If you must feel the freeze, why not force one of your mates to join you? We jest, but with all our open swimming advice, you must always take someone else with you for extra safety precautions.

They aren’t going to warm you up much unless you snuggle up to one another, but they will serve as extra support should you need it. Hopefully you won’t, but if anyone gets into a crisis, there is an additional person on hand to call the emergency services.

3. What do you need to wear?

Open water swimming isn’t as simple as popping on your favourite pair of Speedos and winging it, especially when dipping into colder waters.

The human body is an incredible thing, but it isn’t designed to withstand extreme levels of cold for long periods of time without some protection or barrier between the cold. Think about whether you’re best wearing a full-body swimsuit/bodysuit and if you need gloves or booties – rash vests are always a good shout when contending with the cold too.

4. Know where you’re swimming

Only ever attempt to cold open water swim in an area you are familiar with. You should check areas where it is easy for you to exit and ensure you know what the current is like. It’s also worthwhile assessing the weather situation beforehand. We know it’s cold, but drastic weather changes with wind or rain could disrupt the current and make your swimming experience far harder, and potentially dangerous, so always be cautious of your full surroundings.

With this in mind, we also suggest swimming on a warm sunny day beforehand to test the waters and get used to them. However, we appreciate that the idea of a “warm sunny day” is a bit of an enigma in the UK!

5. Get a post-dip base kit ready

Does anyone remember those cold winter mornings when your P.E teacher would still force you to run 5km of cross country in little more than a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and you couldn’t feel your hands afterwards?

Yeah, well, that’s how you will feel following cold open water swimming.

Not to put anyone off as it is a fantastic experience when you know what you’re doing, but the dexterity in your hands may suffer as a result. Get your clothes, shoes, food, towels, and anything else you need to warm up with laid out in advance and close to where you’ll be swimming. This way, you don’t have to fumble through a bag or try to locate items with jelly fingers.

6. Know your limits and control your breathing

The cold water may come as a shock to you at first, and you may feel sensations of pain, but it is important to breathe through this and regulate your breathing. The pain will subside quickly but be sure to take long, deep breaths which will aid your comfort faster.

If you’re swimming with people who have cold water swum before, do not push your limits to meet theirs. Get out of the water well before you’re ready. You may feel fine while swimming, but as the body continues to cool even after you have gotten out, you may be in a worse situation if you’re not careful.

7. Treat yourself

After being exposed to the cold, treat yourself to a warm mug of tea or coffee and pack lots of sugary snacks.

Look, we’re not dietitians, but once your body has plummeted to cold depths, it will need some energy to warm you up fast, and sugar is a key source.

Also, get dressed as soon as possible; your body will keep cooling even after you have left the water, so be sure to bundle up in warm clothing to regulate your temperature.

8. The cool down

The most important thing to remember when doing any open water swimming is always to update your safety knowledge!

You may be a seasoned swimmer, but that doesn’t mean you know everything and things can’t change. If you’re a rookie, you must follow all the guidance you can find.

Cold open water swimming can be incredibly exhilarating and rewarding when practised safely. The best way to do that is to only swim at accredited venues – you can find your nearest Beyond Swim accredited venue here.

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