Open Water Swimming

135 watchers

rf_fozzy Aug 2020 2:59pm, 15 Aug 2020 11,188 posts	0 rf_fozzy Helsinki harbour was full of ice when I was there a couple of years ago!
GregP Aug 2020 3:07pm, 15 Aug 2020 121,769 posts	0 GregP I haven't been to Helsinki for many, many years. It was damn cold though. Probably because it was early January, in fairness.
Juliane Fuchs Aug 2020 3:17pm, 15 Aug 2020 20 posts	0 Juliane Fuchs Yes, during the winter skiing is the better thing to do in/on the sea :D Nice to take a dip into the cold icy water too, but not for longer swims... have you been to Sompasauna? free of charge guerilla-Sauna close to the city centre, ice-swimming is possible too there
GregP Aug 2020 4:18pm, 15 Aug 2020 121,773 posts	0 GregP I lived in Sweden at the time - this was the 1980s - and as a Swede-by-proxy Finland felt very ‘foreign’. Must go back one day.
flip Aug 2020 6:38pm, 15 Aug 2020 6,003 posts	0 flip Lots of posts to catch up on. I was given an orca wetsuit by a very good triathlete fetchie 10 years ago and only used it occasionally. It sat for 3 years during some bad knee injury stuff and low and behold when I came to use it again it had shrunk! I went for an entry level orca one from start fitness for £130.00 telling myself I'd get a better one when I'd slimmed down. But I love it and can't see me changing it. I may get a core vest for the winter but that's all. It has orange arms that appear to be made of a different type of neoprene. It's almost impossible to click or nick. I changed from my old garmin 220 running watch to the 735xt. At my main swimming place, Roker, Sunderland I know the distances and the 735xt is very accurate. Of course its good for the pool, biking and now with various downloadable apps, all sorts more. I use aquasphere goggles. They leak sometimes if I don't get them sitting right but don't they all? I realise how lucky I am to live not only by the sea but with a great relativity safe sea swim spot. The best local lake, ellorton is 45 mins drive, only open at certain times and £6.00 a swim with compulsory wetsuits. Mind its lovely, clear as a bell and I saw a post yesterday saying its 20 degrees. Unheard of in the sea. But I like the sea and just go in when ever I fancy for free. That said I have a lakes swim in coniston tomorrow. It'll be my longest distance so far and the Tri distance I have in my goal tri next year. . No pressure on myself, just want to swim the distance at a reasonable even pace. I didn't book anywhere to stay so canny drive first. Enjoy the 🏊
Angus Clydesdale Aug 2020 8:02pm, 15 Aug 2020 19,295 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale I just bought one of those orange-armed Orcas. It’s relatively thin and I love it. As you say flip, the arms are made of “feels like something else” and it’s dead easy to get on and off.
flip Aug 2020 8:56pm, 15 Aug 2020 6,006 posts	0 flip It is thin Angus but comfortable . I manage with the cold although as I said , I may get a core vest. It's my hands that suffer the most though. I'm not up on what if anything helps with swimming faster. There are suits that cost £500.00 . I wonder if they are worth it or even the £300 ones. What makes them faster ? Is thicker neoprene therefore more buoyant a tad quicker?
poppyH Aug 2020 8:58pm, 15 Aug 2020 1,049 posts	0 poppyH I joined the pembrokeshire bluetits for a sea swim this evening, what a lovely group of welcoming ladies. It was fab.
flip Aug 2020 9:07pm, 15 Aug 2020 6,007 posts	0 flip Lots of groups about now poppy especially ladies groups. If you are ever my way , look up the Fausto bathers group. It's not ladies only but I'd say 80% ladies. It's a wonderful community. Most go in without a wetsuit, but they don't judge. I sometimes join them after I swim on a Sunday. We all used to go in the Fausto cafe after but that's knocked on the head for now.
Angus Clydesdale Aug 2020 9:56pm, 15 Aug 2020 19,297 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale I think there’s a bit of a swing in the market. 10 years ago the only people that wanted swimming wetsuits were cyclists-turned-triathletes that needed all the help they could get with body position etc. A lot of them are now much better swimmers and there’s also a core of indoors proper swimmers that are now venturing outside. So I think there’s a lot of wetsuits now available that are neutral buoyancy and much better for real swimmers.