f you’ve ever dived into an open-air lido in
September and muttered expletives that are
unprintable here, you’ll know that jumping
into chilly water can be a shock – as well as
a heart-pounding rush that makes you feel intensely alive.
So we’re sending huge respect to the Russians who, every
January, sledgehammer holes in frozen lakes and rivers and
immerse themselves in the water to mark the Christian
holiday of Epiphany. Emergency medical staff stand by. Oh,
and it’s seen as an outrage to wear anything more than a
swimsuit and goggles. In the Arctic Circle, in winter. *Shudder*
There is definitely something beautiful about swimming in
the open air, gazing at treetops and sky rather than a concrete
roof. And it seems that winter swimming in open water is
actually good for you – after the initial aargh. ‘In cold water,
the ribcage contracts, which leads many swimmers to feel
as though they can’t breathe,’ says Dr Mark Harper, keen sea
swimmer and a member of the Outdoor Swimming Society.‘Limbs soon become weak, swimming 25 metres can be an
achievement, and it only takes a minute or two before the
skin becomes a lurid purple-orange-red. That said, the joy of
swimming without a wetsuit is the ultimate cold-water high:
bringing a rush of endorphins and pure exhilaration. Winter
swimmers frequently become addicted, because a two-
minute swim can leave you feeling good all day.’ According
to Harper, a cold swim increases your basal metabolic rate,
meaning you burn off more calories afterwards. And reports
of a more robust immune system are common among the
winter-swimming community, which is growing in number
overseas and in the UK.
Tempted? Open-air New Year’s Day swims are becoming
increasingly popular at British seaside towns, including
Whitmore Bay in Wales and Whitley Bay in Tyneside, with
hundreds of enthusiasts, often in fancy dress, diving into
the freezing-cold sea to raise money for charity. We’ll
see you there.012 / / JANUARY 2017
I
Every January, hundreds of Russians crack open thick river
ice and plunge into the freezing water – without a wetsuit. And
they’re not the only ones enjoying a wild winter dipWords: Catherine Gray. Photograph: Alamy