Editor’s Letter

As the autumn sets in, it can

Lido Love

Lidos were where my love affair with open

View From The Water

Outdoor swimmers need pools to survive, says Simon Griffiths

ENVIRONMENT

SUSANNE MASTERS

SAVE OUR POOLS

Rowan Clarke investigates why it’s more important than ever to fight for your local swimming pool.

A POOL OF ONE’S OWN

With an increased interest in outdoor swimming there is a new demand for privately-owned natural swimming ponds. Ella Foote takes a dive into the trend.

SWIM PEOPLE

Image: Mike Sannwald-Kirk ELAINE HOWLEY• SARAH THOMAS SOPHIE

POISON IN THE POOL

How a deadly chemical became the world’s preferred means of keeping swimming pools clean and tidy.

Sarah Thomas: Marathon Swimmer

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US

Adaptive Swimmer: Sophie Etheridge

LOVE YOUR POOL

COMMUNITY

SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

SWIM TOGETHER PILOT – BRINGING MENTAL HEALTH SWIMS TO INDOOR POOLS

Over the last few months Mental Health swims

What kind of people swim an English Channel relay?

People like you! says Nikki Pope of Mencap Marvels

COACH

Image: Nikos Mamalos & Konstantinos Kasratasitsas POOL TRAINING

POOL TRAINING

Why you should have two modes for your swimming training, by Simon Griffiths

BACK TO BASICS

LIFE IN THE SLOW FAST LANE

KETTLEBELL AROUND THE WORLD

PERSONAL TRAINING WITH VIVIENNE RICKMAN

NO POOL? NO PROBLEM!

How to maintain swim fitness without pool swimming

THE POWER OF THE PRESENT

Have you trained for hours without seeing results? Brian Holliday wants you to move with the water rather than fight it, here he explains why you should consider intuitive swimming.

You Ask, We Answer!

QUESTION: I am a social swimmer and I

GEAR

BOOTS & BLANKETS

BOOTS

Voylok Shortie Boot, £125 THEY SAY… The most

BLANKETS

BEST FOR DURABILITY YETI Lowlands Blanket, £200 THEY

CHALLENGE

SWIM COPENHAGEN • IONIAN ADVENTURE Image: Nikos Mamalos

COPENWATER

Richard Nelsson swims like a local with the Copenwater crew.

IONIAN ADVENTURE

‘I’m very excited about swimming from one countr y to another.’ Around 70 intrepid swimmers are waiting at the Port of Corfu with a one-way hydrofoil ticket to Albania; all with the sole purpose of swimming back.

LET’S SWIM!

UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS

EXPLORE

PIGLETS BOUTIQUE B & B • SOMERSET SWIM

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO ESSEX

So much more than a bed a breakfast, but not as impersonal as a hotel, Ella Foote heads to Piglets Boutique Country Stay to dip into their special offer.

SOMERSET SWIM RETREATS

Simon Griffiths took a weekend off racing for some welcome rest and recreation… but it still involved swimming

SWIMMING OFF THE END OF THE EARTH

An ocean pool at the rocky tip of Cape Finisterre, long considered the westernmost edge of the world

THE JOURNEY OF ASWIM

Swimming journeys, when you go from A to B with a tow float and your own steam is a brilliant experience, Ben Lane explores South Devon with a local guide.

PATRONS

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

SWIMLIFE

MY SWIM STORY • SWIMTERPRIZE WATCH, READ, LISTEN

OVER TO YOU

ISLE OF WIGHT SWIM After 54 years of

IN MEMORY OF: NAOMI CROWDER

“Just days before she was taken ill she

My Swim Story: Paul Frangipane

Photography led Paul to reconnect to his city and his swimming.

RACHEL HAWLEY: SWIM WILD SWIM FREE

Tell me a bit about your swim background.

BOOKS for TRAINING

Open Water: The History & Technique of Swimming Mikael

FAR FROM DERELICT

It might be a little worn at the

Editor’s Letter

COVER: ROGER TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY IMAGES: JEFF HOPKINS Unlike

HOW I TRAIN: HECTOR PARDOE

Hector Pardoe represented team GB in the 10km marathon swim at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He ’s a regular swimmer on the World Aquatics open water circuit. In 2020, Hector won the FINA Olympic qualifying event in Setubal, Portugal. After taking a gap year to train in France after his A levels, he now studies at Loughborough University and is aiming to secure a spot at the Paris Olympics in 2024. We asked him about his training.

SHOULD YOU TRAIN IN OPEN WATER OR IN A POOL?

Image: Isabel Young There’s a principle that says

THE 7 BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A SWIM COACH

Think that swim coaching is only for the super-speedy and for those entering races? Think again. Spending time with a coach can benefit everyone, from open-water newbies to seasoned outdoor swimmers, says Helen Webster.

CREATE YOUR OWN WINTER SWIMMING TRAINING PLAN

If you have the budget and want to progress quickly, a good swimming coach can create a training plan to suit your needs – and can help in other ways too (see page 10). But if you don’t have the funds or if you would prefer to be your own coach, then this brief guide will help you get started.