A foot plunges into the icy blackness. Cold penetrates the skin like a knife. Bit by bit, the rest of the body becomes submerged. Slow, intentional movements. One leg, then the other. A cautious step forward. Edging in, feeling for the river bed. Numb from the waist down. It’s time to take the plunge. A…
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Learning to swim is a slow process. Perfecting techniques, ploughing across a pool. Progressing to swimming competitively. Monotony, up and down. Up and down. Then, a discovery. Swimming as an adventure. Getting from A to B. Combine it with walking or running and a whole new world opens up. Swimming to a destination I’ve been…
Water sports are a bit like marmite. You either love them, or you hate them. And if you love them, they become all-consuming. Fondness for sailing turns quickly to a love of the sea. Appreciation of the tranquility of paddle boarding can quickly turn to a desire to dive in, and a lifetime yearning for…
The thing about wild swimming is that if you love it, it gets addictive. That first swim is exhilarating, you leave the water wanting more. Days later, you’re back. Staying in for longer. Safely pushing the boundaries and getting to know your body. How you cope with the cold, whether you’ll suffer from after drop….
Last January, I sat in a cafe with a friend looking out at the snow on the ground. We talked about starting wild swimming in a few months time and laughed at the irony of discussing it while the weather was so cold. We agreed to start wild swimming in May and carry on until…
Deceptively bright sunlight presents the illusion of a summer’s morning, but a glance at the frosty ground reveals the real temperature. A thin mist hangs over the river. We walk towards it, removing layers of jumpers and coats, leaving only our swimming costumes. It may be a controversial opinion, but there’s no better feeling than…