SolveYourProblem Article Series: Extreme Sports
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What is Ice Swimming?
   

It is the depth of winter, and your friends are heading out for some sports activity. Of course, what comes to mind is ice skating, skiing, or maybe even snowboarding. But upon closer observation, you notice that their gym bags are filled with towels and bathing suits. Where are they going? You may be surprised to hear that ice swimming is growing in popularity. Long since popular in Finland, ice swimming is a trend that combines the refreshing properties of a dip in the water at freezing temperatures with the thrill seeking spirit that is so common to many Americans.

As with any sport, there are some suggestions to make this swimming adventure if not enjoyable, at lest somewhat more bearable:

Don’t enter the swimming hole straight from a sauna or other highly heated environment. While it makes sense to stay warm in the winter, exchanging an overly hot environment for an overly cold one may wreak havoc with your body. Instead, gradually cool yourself down so that the dip into the icy water will not be a shock to your system. Once you come out, however, by all means head for the warmest spot you can find!

Do not dive. Diving in these freezing temperatures may shock your brain and you may very likely fall unconscious and never reach the surface again. Instead, keep your head above water at all times. Additionally, diving may disorient you and you may find yourself underneath the ice, unable to find the way back to the hole.

Do not go ice swimming by yourself. Even if you think this is a great regimen for keeping fit and healthy and you love to plunge in at six in the morning, be sure to have somebody with you who are physically capable of getting you out of the water if you get into trouble.

Find a safe place to swim. A hole in the ice is not enough. Instead, be sure that there is a ladder secured for easy access, as well as a safe access path to leave the ice and reach terra firma again.

Consider wearing surfing boots. These will help your feet to stay somewhat warm, protect them from shards of ice, and help you to have a good steady walk on the ice. After getting out of the cold water, the last thing you want to experience is a slip and fall on the frozen lake!

Have a nice warm place to go to after getting out. A sauna would be perfect, but a hot tub or even warm bathtub will do.

As you can well imagine, a dip in an icy lake is invigorating, and many ice swimmers enjoy making this a frequent event. As a matter of fact, a number of ice swimming clubs, referred to as Polar Bear Clubs, have sprung up around the nation. Many have websites that feature a group of friends who will get together once or twice a week for a nice dip in the frigid waters. Men and women, young and old, athletic and not so buff, all join together. In a friendly atmosphere everybody jumps in, stays in for a few minutes or remains for a quarter of an hour. Sometimes they horse around in the water, and other times they do not. Since these groups are so large, they usually go to the nearest beach rather than cutting a hole into the ice of a lake. Very often during these club events paramedics are standing by to ensure the safety of all participants. Many polar bear clubs require their members to visit their physician prior to the onset of swimming season just to make sure their systems can take the shock of the water. All clubs insist that member will sign a release so as to hold the club harmless from any claims in case there is an accident. After all, membership is entirely voluntary, and since there are no medals or ribbons to win, there is no pressure to stay in the water longer than one feels comfortable doing. Onlookers are never far away, and sometimes these onlookers will turn into ice swimming enthusiasts themselves! How about you? Are you ready to give it a try?

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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