Courtesy of BBC South East Today, Islas Malvinas, Argentina. Two giants in the ice swimming community completed a tandem swim in 6ºC water between the two main islands of the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands). The Falkland Challenge between West Falkland to East Falkland was completed by Matías Ola from Argentina and Jackie Cobell from Great Britain in 2
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Bárbara Hernández helped Cristian Vergara, Matías Ola, Julietta Nunaz Gundlach, and Max Sonna expand the Argentinean winter swimming scene. Starting out in her wetsuit in the open water, Hernández has now ventured out of her neoprene and ventured out in the cold glacial water with only her bioprene in an
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. On September 21st as part of his ongoing Unir el Mundo project, Matías Ola successfully swam on a crossing between Asia and Oceania, swimming across the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. "The journey began at 6 am in the morning from Indonesia's Muara Tami in the presence of the community of
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. While Matías Ola of Argentina is known as an ice swimmer and ice festival organizer, he is also embarking on his Unir el Mundo project. His swims around the world include the following: 1. Strait of Gibraltar 2. 86 km Bering Strait Crossing (international relay team) 3. Bering Strait from Big Diomede
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Matías Ola's International Winter Swimming Festival Argentina (II Festival Internacional de Natación de Invierno en Argentina) keeps getting bigger and bigger, and presenting greater challenges that were never thought possible. Ola has recruited 54 ice swimmers to the Winter Swimming Festival in Argentina
Courtesy of Matías Ola Laguna del Inca.
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Matías Ola will attempt to swim 4.5 km with British ice swimmer Jackie Cobell across the Estrecho de San Carlos between Gran Malvina and Soledad in the Falkland Islands. From the frost-covered shores, they will enter Antarctic waters where sea temperature of only 8°C. "This crossing, together with Jackie,
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Matías Ola has outdone himself. Not as an ice swimmer as he usually does, but also as an event organizer. At the International Winter Swimming Festival Argentina 2014, representatives from 17 countries swam in the inaugural ice swimming event in Ola's native country. Swimmers from several Russian
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. "I tell people to follow your heart, follow your passion - and you will find that life’s journey will show you amazing people, places, and adventures," so advises winter swimmer Capri Djatiasmoro. The 60-something New Yorker says of her own journey that began with the Coney Island Polar Bears on New Year's
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Just as ice swimming requires certain rules (e.g., no flip turns, experienced re-warming procedures), we believe that tropical swims demand certain considerations and protective rules in order to maintain safety. In an apparent contradiction, we also believe that rules pertaining to swims in the 50-82ºF
