More than 100 cold-water swimmers gathered at U Žida on Christmas Eve morning. The weather really was on our side: melting snow, slush, murky water and a strong current… well, that is how a softie might describe it. We decided it was beautiful, and beautiful it was. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, friends.
The first snow of the year is always a big occasion, for cold-water swimmers as well as children. This season it arrived today, Saturday 10 December 2022. It was not knee-deep, but it was snow all the same.
For the third year running, we launched the North Moravian leg of Nebuď srab! Namoč se pro ranou péči — Take the plunge for early intervention with a group swim by the weir at U Žida. The campaign supports families raising children with disabilities and the early intervention services they rely on.
The first ice-water swim is always a big occasion. For anyone unfamiliar with the terminology, in winter swimming ‘ice water’ means water at 4°C or below. This time it fell on Saturday 19 November. The weather was glorious, and we took our first group photo in quite a while.
First, a few words of introduction. I had been thinking about writing this for several years. I discussed every topic with many experienced cold-water swimmers, including people who pass on the myths below with the best of intentions. We often found that something is repeated out of a kind of precaution: ‘Ota, if you say jumping into icy water is OK, someone will miss the part where you say it is not for beginners, jump in and hurt themselves.’
Vojta Vajdiss’s photos speak louder than words. Here is what our swims looked like during an exceptionally sunny October. We have been turning out in force, having a great time, and newcomers can start any week — on a Saturday.
Our new fellow swimmer Vojtěch Vajda (www.vojtechvajda.cz) brought a drone and a camera to the season opening and captured some lovely footage. Here is the result. Thank you! We look forward to something similar with ice and snow.
Almost 200 people came to the season opening, and 136 went swimming. Thank you to everyone who joined us or helped out. The photos are by Michal Ševčík — many thanks.
On 27 June 2022, the Kapitola bookshop releases a unique and beautiful book of photographs by Jan Smekal, documenting life in our lovely town of Frýdek-Místek. Its title is Frýdek-Místek, tady jsem doma — Frýdek-Místek: This Is My Home.
If you are thinking of taking up cold-water swimming in the autumn, consider an exercise ECG. It can reveal heart problems that a resting ECG may miss. This can help prevent complications and identify whether swimming in icy water is unsuitable for you.
We said goodbye to the season on Saturday 2 April with food, drinks, a performance by Věrka Kišová’s group and Tomáš Chlebek, and one last swim together.
…or so the horoscopes promised at the start of the month. I only know a little about everyone’s love life — congratulations to those of us doing well! — but we have all had more than our share of March sunshine.
To welcome new swimmers as others stop for one reason or another, we occasionally need to promote winter swimming in the media. So when Czech Television asks to film how we do things in Frýdek-Místek, we say yes. Thank you to everyone who came. It will surely encourage more interesting people who have been thinking about joining us.
Enthusiasts say that whether you choose a cold shower, a barefoot walk in the snow or a dip in icy water, cold exposure can benefit both physical and mental wellbeing.
Even without a backdrop of ice and snow, we are enjoying the still-icy Ostravice. Every Saturday brings at least one brave newcomer taking a first dip. Today was no exception; see the video below.
Thinking of trying cold-water swimming? In this January 2022 article, Ota explains how newcomers join the Saturday swims in Frýdek-Místek and shares a video of first-time participants. Get in touch or come and meet the group.
