Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. As expected, the 450m endurance event at this year's Big Chill Swim in Windermere was won by Germany's Christof Wandratsch. But the competition in the winter swimming community is heating up. After four consecutive years of winning the 1 km race in England, Wandratsch was defeated by Scotland’s James
Windermere in winter with Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina venue in foreground. Start of women's race in the Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina venue. World champion Christof Wandratsch competing in the 1 km race in 2016. Courtesy of Big Chill Swim, Windermere, England. "It is not possible." "No way." "It is incredibly dangerous." Those are the
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. We find Dr Roger Allsopp to be one of the most fascinating and humble individuals in the global open water swimming community. His energy is palpable; his personality is engaging; his smile is contagious. And his swimming pedigree is without question. In 2011, the retired surgeon and active big-thinker
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. When we look at the award podium and record books of the winter swimming and ice swimming worlds, our eyes immediately go to the fastest and first. World-class swimmers like Christof Wandratsch of Germany who won the recent 1 km race at the Big Chill Swim Winter Swimming Gala in 12 minutes 42 seconds are
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Video shows mid-race at the men's Big Chill Swim in Windermere in rough 6.4ºC (43.5ºF) between Christof Wandratsch (middle lane who finished in 12:42.27), Henri Kaarma (right lane finished in 13:50.48), and Paul Smith (left lane finished in 14:08.20). Results of the 1 km race at the 2016 Big Chill Swim
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. After completing a 1 km winter swim at the 2016 Big Chill Swim in Windermere, England, 23-year-old Julian Taylor pondered the question in the post-race sauna if he will ever swim the 1 km again... ...you better believe it [after his 15 minute 56 second effort in the 6.4ºC (43.5ºF) water]. Copyright ©
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Put Ger Kennedy in 1 km at 0.5ºC (32.9ºF) water in -20ºC (-4ºF) air and he feels the painful sensations of hypothermia and the after drop. Refer to above photo by Shamil Tanna in the recovery room in March 2015 after a 1 km 0.5ºC swim. But put Kennedy in the 6.4ºC (43.5ºF) water of Windermere at the 2016
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. We often see race volunteers of big open water swims wearing colorful t-shirts identifying themselves as staff or volunteers. They are the generously minded people who help swimmers at events. But at the Big Chill Swim in Windermere, we loved how the volunteers were easily identified by their bright orange
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The raccoon eyes of open water swimmers are an example of an extreme goggle tan where the swimmer's temple and skin around their eyes is of pronounced paleness relative to the rest of their face. Normally, the relative paleness is due to sunshine because the area outside the eye area has been suntanned by
Lewis Pugh talking about his swim in the North Pole. Lewis Pugh talking about his swim on Mount Everest. Lewis Pugh talking about his swim in the Maldives. Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. After headlining the WOWSA Awards and cheering on his ice swimming colleagues at the Big Chill Swim and International Winter Swimming
