Otužilci Frýdek≈MístekIt is easier than it looks.

Otužilci Frýdek≈Místek together beside the River Ostravice in winter

Overview

Season openings and finales

19 articles · Invitations, photographs and memories of the opening and closing of our cold-water swimming seasons.

9 September 2026Season openings and finales

Our eighth season of swimming together at U Žida starts on Saturday 3 October

Hello, fellow lovers of icy water! At 9 am on Saturday 3 October 2026, we begin our eighth season of cold-water dipping and winter swimming together at U Žida in Frýdek-Místek. Everyone who has shared a winter or two with us is invited — and so is anyone who keeps saying that next year they really will come along. Make this the year!

Otakar Zemek9 September 20263 min read

16 March 2026Season openings and finales

End of the season: everything everyone needs to know

Our end-of-season gathering is much more than a duathlon: a chance to meet properly, share some food and celebrate another winter together. Come at 9am to help or soak up the atmosphere. The race starts at 10am, and our group swim takes place afterwards.

Otakar Zemek16 March 20262 min read

4 October 2025Season openings and finales

Our seventh season of winter swimming together at U Žida is under way

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I will keep this brief. Today, 4 October 2025, another excellent turnout marked the start of our seventh season of winter swimming together in Frýdek-Místek.

Otakar Zemek4 October 20251 min read

16 August 2025Season openings and finales

We are back on Saturday 4 October at 9 am

Hello, fellow lovers of icy water! Here is your official notice: our season of winter swimming together at U Žida begins again at 9 am on Saturday 4 October 2025.

Otakar Zemek16 August 20252 min read

6 October 2024Season openings and finales

Our sixth season of swimming together at U Žida has begun

Despite complications with the flood clean-up, less-than-ideal weather and water that could have been clearer, we began our sixth season of winter swimming together at U Žida on the first Saturday in October, as planned.

Otakar Zemek6 October 20241 min read

30 September 2023Season openings and finales

The 2023–2024 season gets under way in style

After a six-month break, we met at U Žida at 9 am on 30 September 2023 to begin our fifth season of swimming together in the River Ostravice, Frýdek-Místek.

Otakar Zemek30 September 20231 min read

29 August 2023Season openings and finales

Our fifth season of cold-water swimming at U Žida begins on Saturday 30 September 2023

For the fifth time, those of us who love cold-water swimming will get together to open another season. As usual, the opening is on a Saturday. After that, we swim every Monday and Wednesday at 4 pm and every Saturday at 9 am.

Otakar Zemek29 August 20231 min read

25 April 2023Season openings and finales

The end of the 2022–2023 cold-water swimming season

At 9 am on 1 April, we brought six months of regular swimming to a close. We do this every year: a break is welcome, cold-water swimming makes less sense in summer, and it gives us all the more reason to look forward to autumn. The 2023–2024 season opens at 9 am on Saturday 30 September 2023. I will be posting that everywhere, so you cannot miss it. In the meantime, you can already put it in your diary.

Otakar Zemek25 April 20231 min read

2 October 2022Season openings and finales

The season opening from above: drone footage by Vojtěch Vajda

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.

Otakar Zemek2 October 20221 min read

1 October 2022Season openings and finales

The 2022/2023 season is under way — photos and videos

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.

Otakar Zemek1 October 20221 min read

22 August 2022Season openings and finales

Opening our fourth cold-water swimming season in Frýdek-Místek

Our fourth season of group cold-water swimming at U Žida begins on Saturday 1 October 2022 at 9am.

Otakar Zemek22 August 20222 min read

3 April 2022Season openings and finales

The 2021/2022 cold-water swimming season ends after six months

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.

Otakar Zemek3 April 20221 min read

2 October 2021Season openings and finales

Opening our third cold-water swimming season in Frýdek-Místek

On Saturday 2 October 2021 at 9am, we opened our third season of group cold-water and winter swimming at U Žida on the Ostravice in Frýdek-Místek.

Otakar Zemek2 October 20211 min read

29 August 2021Season openings and finales

The swimming season starts on 2 October 2021

A warm invitation to everyone who enjoys winter swimming and cold exposure: join us for the opening of the cold-water swimming season in Frýdek-Místek.

Otakar Zemek29 August 20211 min read

28 March 2021Season openings and finales

Celebrating the end of the 2020/2021 swimming season

Thanks to a special exemption, on Saturday we were able to celebrate the end of a successful 2020/2021 season together. Thank you to Michal Ševčík for the photos.

Otakar Zemek28 March 20211 min read

5 December 2020Season openings and finales

Restarting the cold-water swimming season in Frýdek-Místek

Today, Saturday 5 December at 9am, a strong turnout of swimmers from Frýdek-Místek and the wider area marked the restart of our season after a wave of Covid restrictions.

Otakar Zemek5 December 20201 min read

1 October 2020Season openings and finales

The season opens with a strong turnout from Frýdek-Místek and beyond

The Frýdek-Místek cold-water swimming season began on 30 September 2020 at 4.15pm. Almost seventy people swam in the Ostravice at 13°C, and the warm-up run afterwards also attracted a record 38 runners.

Otakar Zemek1 October 20201 min read

1 September 2020Season openings and finales

The 2020/2021 season starts on 30 September at 4.15pm

The winter swimming and cold-adaptation season in Frýdek-Místek begins on 30 September 2020 at 4.15pm, at our usual spot, U Žida on the Ostravice.

Otakar Zemek1 September 20201 min read

15 April 2020Season openings and finales

The season is over

Our IoT thermometer recorded its lowest reading, −0.1°C, on 26 January 2020. From then until the end of the winter swimming season, the temperature kept rising. The most interesting fluctuations occur in early spring: the daily minimum is around 9am, followed by an afternoon peak up to 5°C higher.

Otakar Zemek15 April 20201 min read