Welcome to the Warmcor A-Z of Open Water Swimming
AFTERDROP
After a cold water dip, your body keeps cooling for up to 40 minutes after you get out. Keeping your core warm is important for reducing the effects of afterdrop and possible hypothermia.
BODY IMAGE
The beautiful things about open-water swimming is the community, and how no one is bothered about body image. All shapes and sizes descend into the water. You are more likely to comment on someone's mentality than their body shape. The cold water brings out the person who has been in hibernation, stuck in the modern-day world’s ideals. With the open water swimming, you can just be you. And it’s glorious!
CAKE!
Or any snack for that matter, savoury or sweet is an enjoyable part of the kit list. This has a functional as well as tasty necessity. Eating something is a great way to get your metabolism working and thereby generate internal heat which can help fight against afterdrop. We have lots of tasty treat ideas in the Post-Swim Recipes section of the Wild Swimming Journal.
DEEP WATER
A common misconception in summertime is that because it feels like, on the shoreline, you are in the Costa del Sol (not North West England), when we swim out into the body of water, the temperature will be the same. Wrong. This is how people can get hypothermia in the middle of summer. By the time you swim out and reach the cold water, your body starts to cool. Energy to keep your vital organs warm means the energy to get back to shore is reduced, so much that when you do get back Hypothermia is knocking at your door. Look at the environment and wear the correct kit for those conditions.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment, weather, entry and exit points, what wildlife shares the swim location. All of this should be considered by the open-water swimmer. For your health as well as the health of the environment that you are in. Pollution, be that through litter or transporting of invasive species from water to water is a serious problem. Respect the environment and it will do the same in return.
FOOTWEAR
Whatever the season and location, having the right type of footwear on can make the difference between a painful and pleasurable experience. This is on many levels. In colder waters, having neoprene socks on can lengthen your time in the water considerably. Alternatively, stepping on something slimy or sharp as you are entering or exiting the water can be particularly off-putting. Step into the water with confidence with a decent pair of water shoes. There are lots on the market in various price brackets to suit any budget.
GROUP SWIMS
Group swims are a great way to build confidence, especially if you are new to it. Going with a reputable swim guide that has performed all the due diligence of risk assessing the location, and has life-saving qualifications, can help you as the swimmer to relax and learn from observing. The guide could advise on the length of stay in the water because of the weather conditions or can help spot signs of hypothermia quickly to stop it from getting worse.
HYPOTHERMIA
Hypothermia is when afterdrop has been and gone and now your body is showing signs that it is shutting down. This is serious and if you suspect that you or someone in your group is hypothermic, ring 999 as soon as possible. We have a helpful guide to hypothermia in the Wild Swimming Journal.
IMMUNITY
With any cure for a disease, you need to be given a little bit of it, so your body can learn how to deal with it. This is how antibodies are made. So is the same with adapting to the cold water. Your first expose will feel extreme. But with managed and regular exposure, the cold water shock decreases in length so you can get on with enjoying the rush of happy hormones.
JUDGEMENT
You will need good personal judgement to pursue open-water swimming as a hobby. Doing your own personal risk assessments, entry and exit point analysis, and internal check-ins, will all inform you as to whether or not you should swim at that location, on that particular day, with the kit that you have with you. As soon as you let peer pressure sway your decisions, your judgment for your own safety can become impaired.
KIT LIST
Essentially what you need to go swimming outdoors is just yourself. No kit is required. However, if you want a comfortable and safe swim, we do have some suggestions on what should make it into your kit bag. Have a look at our Ultimate Guide to Open Water Swimming.
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
There are good locations and bad locations. The best way to learn how to spot a good location is to ask those in the know. Join group swims and learn how to scout out a good location, or check out our Outdoor Swimming Locations.
MENTAL CHALLENGE
The body's response to cold water does many things. One of which is to release a cocktail of hormones which brought together can give a sense of calm, happiness and zen. Many people suffering from mental health problems have found a sense of grounding through open-water swimming.
NEOPRENE
Neoprene was invented in 1930. It is a synthetic rubber that is produced by polymerization of chloroprene. The process makes the fabric hard-wearing and buoyant. It also acts as a great insulator so neoprene socks, gloves and hats are great to have in your kit list. When getting a neoprene wetsuit we advise that you get properly fitted.
ONLOOKER
“You’re not going in there are you?” Bare with, while I do an eye roll. Yes, yes I am going in that cold water while you gasp in horror, ignoring your dog yapping at your heels. The onlooker is someone who, unfortunately for them, hasn’t yet come to terms with their internal limitations and inability to give things a go. And so they label the open water swimmer as “crazy”. No mate, the crazy one is you. If an onlooker says to me “You’re crazy. I tried that once, never again!” then fair enough. They have come to their conclusion through their own experience so I will take your “crazy”.
PLANNING
We don’t advise swimming alone. But if you do, plan ahead. Make sure someone knows where you are swimming and when you should be back.
QUALITY
Water quality is turning into a very hot topic. With water companies dumping waste in our waterways and coastlines the stories of people swimming in shit are unfortunately becoming very common in the press and the open water community. Surfers Against Sewage have a fantastic campaign and app resources to use to make sure that you are not swimming in shit, as the outcomes of this can be very serious for
The environment: sewage can cause algae blooms which reduces the quality of the water which over time can cause plants and water species to die.
Your personal health: Stomach upsets, skin infections, ear infections, eye infections, sore throat, chest infections, Hepatitis and E.coli.
RNLI
These hero volunteers get called out day or night 365 days of the year to help those in need out on the seas. We recently talked to Colin Wadey of St Bees RNLI to get his top tips for enjoying the sea safely.
SKINS
The term is used when someone swims in just their swimming costume (not the nuddy!)
TECHNIQUE
We are all individuals. What works for one person, may not work for another. Some people like to just dunk in the water as soon as possible, while others splash water to gear themselves up before they fully submerge. When relearning to do the front crawl at Ullswater Swim Place, Jenny confronted her misconceptions about the motivation of the front crawl open water swimmer and the breaststroke open water swimmer. Both, she realised were doing the same thing. Deep mindfulness, but in different ways. Whatever technique works for you to get out and enjoy the open water. Hats off to you!
URBAN SWIMMING
You don’t need to be by the seaside or in the countryside lakes to enjoy open water swimming. There are lots of opportunities to enjoy open water swimming in the urban environment.
VAGUS NERVE
The Vagus Nerve is part of the nervous system. By stimulating the vagus nerve through cold water you can improve the Vagal Tone which means your body is more likely to deal with challenging experiences in a productive way and have more effective rest and recovery.
WETSUIT OR NO WETSUIT?
The bottom line, it is up to you. Don’t let the all-year skins swimmers make you feel intimidated. You do you!
XXXXing FREEZING!
In winter, brace yourself for hearing new and creative swear words that will indicate the cold level of the water.
YARD
Whether it’s an up-to-the-knee paddle or a mammoth 6-hour swim in freezing waters like Guðlaugur Friðþórsson, do the distance that is suitable for you. Challenge yourself in the cold water and don’t compare yourself with others.
ZONES
A lot of people’s first reaction to open water swimming is a stone-cold NO THANK YOU. And yet as the popularity grows, open water swimming is a great way to reach out of your comfort zone and discover a new side of yourself.
