Editor’s Letter

Happy New Year! I hope you had a

Creativity and Swimming

What’s your favourite swim stroke? Trudgeon, side-stroke or

View From The Water

Simon Griffiths suggests reflecting on the bigger picture when setting your swimming goals for the year

Dulse (Palmaria palmata)

WILD LIFE Illustration: Alice Goodridge Out swimming, you

Living seawalls

ISSUE Wildlife does make use of manmade structures,

WHILE YOU’RE AT THE WATER

NOTICING FROSTY FORMS

The Rivers Trust

It’s exciting to reflect on the theme of

RISING SWIM STARS

Rowan Clarke looks at how swimming inspires filmmaking

SWIM PEOPLE

ELAINE HOWLEY • SWIMTERVIEW• SARAH THOMAS SOPHIE ETHERIDGE

WATER DRAWN

From Medusa drying her snakes with a hairdryer to the difficulties of putting your pants on in the cold, Jonathan Cowie talks to artist Nancy Farmer

POET IN PENZANCE

Accidental poet Katrina Naomi shares her creative practice and how swimming helps her out of her head and into her body

STAINED GLASS SWIMMERS

Artist and outdoor swimmer Charlotte Savill starts 2024 in a promising position after featuring in BBC1’s Make it at Market television series. Her work is inspired by wild swims and her own outdoor synchronised swimming. Ella Foote finds out more

THE ART OF SWIMMING

A sampling of master artists who have captured on canvas the allure of water and swimming

Sarah Thomas: Marathon Swimmer

An open water swim in December is a

Adaptive Swimmer: Sophie Etheridge

Discovering the writer in me

COMMUNITY OUR POND JOURNEY

Open water has always held a special place

CREATIVITY: HOW SWIMMING INSPIRES WRITING, POETRY, ART

ITCHEN MENTAL HEALTH SWIMS HOST, RACHEL JONES

Make 2024 your best yet!

Join the Mencap Marvels and swim the English Channel in relay

COACH

WINTER REFRESHER • MOVE OF THE MONTH BACK

WINTER FREESTYLE REFRESHER: PART 3: USING YOUR ARMS IN FRONT CRAWL

It might seem strange that we only come

KETTLEBELL HALO

PERSONAL TRAINING WITH VIVIENNE RICKMAN

‘BE LIKE WATER’ – A MORNING RITUAL TO PRIME THE MIND FOR CREATIVITY

This month’s edition focuses on creativity. Bodies of

BACK TO BASICS

HOW DO I GET MY FACE IN THE WATER?

You Ask, We Answer!

QUESTION: Hello Cassie, I have been on a

GEAR

AFTER SWIM LAYERING

HOW TO WARM UP AFTER A WINTER SWIM

With numb fingers, damp skin and scant shelter, it can be hard to get dressed and warm after a cold water dip. Understanding the benefits of layers and the right materials can make all the difference

LAYERING

★★★★★ Alpkit Kepler Boxers (£29.99) and Vest (£44.99)

KIT WE LOVE...

Outdoor Swimmer love to try out new kit on the market which can be anything from something to wear or a problem-solving creation we never knew we needed. Here is a round-up of what we like this month!

CHALLENGE

LOCH LOMOND • BAY OF BANDERAS • EVENTS

GO SWIM LOCH LOMOND

Simon Griffiths travelled to Scotland for a little dip in a big loch

SWIM FOR THE WHALES

Daniel Shailer shares how Stephanie Montero Bending swam across Banderas Bay, Mexico, for the first time, galvanising a community of swimmers

SWIM ADS

Bude Sea Pool Swim in the Atlantic Ocean

EXPLORE

Image: Susanne Masters THE SAMLING HOTEL • FLORIDA

WEEKENDING: THE SAMLING HOTEL

In our new travel feature, we visit places that offer weekend escapes with a swimming opportunity. This month, Ella Foote enjoys a cool dip in Windermere with an award-winning warming meal after

FLORIDA SPRINGS REVISITED

Florida’s springs offer paradise. Welling up from the

PATRONS

Thank you to the following individuals who have joined Outdoor Swimmer magazine as Patrons and Super Patrons

SWIM LIFE

MY SWIM STORY• SWIMTERPRIZE WATCH, READ, LISTEN •

My Swim Story:Martyn Webster

Swimming has enriched my life immeasurably in so many ways. I feel that I have gone through many chapters and at each stage swimming has played a part

SARAH TROTTER: SARAH TROTTER ART

Tell us a bit about your swim background.

COMING SOON IN 2024

Weathering Ruth Allen Rocks and mountains have withstood

Löw Tide Böyz, a Swimrun Podcast

The Löw Tide Böyz (Chipper and Chris), a

Watch Read Listen

SWIMMING SCREENTIME Make it at Market Episode 7,

SHINING LIKE PEWTER

Outside it smells like rain and wood smoke.