UK Cold Water Swimming Championships 2013

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Sat 26 Jan 2013

The South London Swimming Club will be hosting the fifth UK Cold Water Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec Lido on 26 January 2013. Endurance knows no limit as participants as young as 10 years old (and more than a few pensioners) take on the cold water challenge in temperatures hovering around freezing.



The championships will include individual races, team relay races, and an invitation-only endurance challenge. The individual races have a choice of head-up breaststroke or freestyle swimming. The head-up breaststroke is a traditional cold water swimming event with the simple rule that the head must stay above the water. This prevents the terrible ice cream headache effect from submerging one's head in freezing water. Participants in the head-up breaststroke are encouraged to wear creative hats during the swim and the best hat of all will be rewarded with a prize at the end of the day.



Advanced cold water swimmers will be participating in an endurance swim of 450 metres. This is by invitation only and is already closed; however, the other championship races are still open for registration until 31 December 2012.



Anyone can enter the championship races, so long as you are prepared to face freezing weather in a swimming costume and have been previously acclimatised to ice cold water. Between the competitive races other swimmers can take part in untimed swims ranging from a pool length swim to a quick jump in and out of the water. These are perfect for the first time cold water swimmer, for children, or for the less competitive. The following untimed swims are available: Polar Bears (60 metres), Seals (30 metres), or Penguins (quick jump in the pool).



To help the swimmers recover (and to keep spectators warm), there will be a Finnish sauna, hot showers, hot tub, and lots of winter food stalls and beverages. Register your interest to participate by the end of December or just come along for the show on 26 January. This crazy winter tradition is invigorating for both swimmers and spectators alike.

#january
#competitions
#family
#outdoor
#sport
#tooting_bec
!date 26/01/2013 -- 26/01/2013
%wnlondon