Winter swimming. Or ice swimming. If you didn’t know what that meant, you might think: New Year’s dive! The massive traditional plunge into the sea or lake to welcome the new year. On January 1st, so swimming in winter, there you have it: winter swimming! However, it has very little to do with the New Year’s dive. Ice swimming is an age-old tradition in countries like Russia and Finland and has now become a serious sport here, with even Dutch Championships. And you might not think so with all that cold, but winter swimming is very healthy.
Wim Hof
Wim Hof is actually the main reason ice swimming became known in the Netherlands. We first hear about Wim Hof, nicknamed 'The Iceman', when he sits for hours, almost naked, in a tub filled with ice. And he doesn’t suffer from hypothermia. In fact, Wim Hof is the epitome of health. He uses breathing and mindset to withstand the extreme cold: the Wim Hof method. He has since gained a lot of recognition for it, written books about it, offers courses, and has his own website. He also organizes trips to very cold places to go ice swimming and meditate in the cold under his guidance. This is also an important part of the Wim Hof Method. He holds about 20 world records, all related to extreme cold conditions, from a marathon at the North Pole to climbing a winter mountain in shorts. Wim Hof is rightfully called the Iceman.
Swimming in cold water
Why is winter swimming healthy? The cold water triggers a kind of stress response in the body. That might not sound good at first. But it actually is. The blood vessels constrict, causing blood to flow much more than usual to the organs. This has a cleansing effect. Moreover, your body temperature temporarily rises to a fever-like level due to the cold. This is extremely effective against pathogens; ice swimming can even help cure certain diseases and gives your immune system a serious boost!
Like any extreme sport, winter swimming does carry certain risks. Prolonged ice swimming can cause 'swimming failure.' The body locks up due to the cold, and you can no longer move. People with weak hearts, kidney or thyroid issues, or high blood pressure should also be cautious. That’s why proper supervision during winter swimming is important. Hypothermia is a real danger. A warm body is crucial, so ice swimmers often go for a run before entering the water. And the swimming distances are logically short at temperatures of -20 degrees, at most about 50 meters.
Winter swimming/ice swimming
Both are about the same thing; swimming in cold water. However, there is a small difference. Ice swimming is more extreme because it literally involves swimming in a lane cut out of ice. At temperatures of, indeed, sometimes as low as minus 20! We might call it Wim Hof conditions. This is commonly done in Russia and Finland, for example. Winter swimming can also be done in the Netherlands. Swimming outdoors when it’s cold, preferably in winter. And as we said, it’s not just about the New Year's dive. The Netherlands also has a winter swimming club, the Walrus Club from Deventer. Want to know more about this literally cool sport? Check out their website: www.winterzwemmen.nl
