PATRONS

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

• TRENDING •

BEACH OF DREAMS Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide

Ice hole dip, by Lily Ramsbottom

1 Lily’s mother Rachel having an ice hole

Scotland’s Secret Waterfall, by Ian Douglas

2 Stichell Linn, near Kelso in the Scottish

Ice dippers, by Dawn Adkin

3 Winter ice and snow swims definitely worth

Bude Sea Pool

Swim in the Atlantic Ocean from the shelter

Inchbaggers Loch Lomond

Run by two-time Channel swimmer Chris Sifleet, Inchbaggers

Uswim Openwater

Uswim are the Northwest’s original open water team

La’al Sauna | Cumbria

Photo: Ian Wood La’al Sauna is the first

Swim on the Wild Side

We are the Lake District’s fully qualified, coached

Qswim Adventure

Qswim Adventure offer guided swims, events, experiences, training

Ullswater Swim Place & Swim Shop

Located on the shores of Ullswater – Colin

Susan Cheshire

Technique focused coach helping all levels find greater

Southlake Waterpark, St. Neots

NEW at Southlake Waterpark: Sub Zero Swimming! Dive

Jurassic Coast Swimming

Guided swims, weekend retreats & long-distance events at

tri swim coaching

Tri Swim Coaching offer beginner and improver swimming,

Inchmurrin Loch Lomond

Swimstay Weekends 13/20 June • Guided swims

Welcome to the April issue...

One of the many reasons I love outdoor

Ready for departure

Travelling by air can be an daunting prospect for a wheelchair user. Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge shares her recent experiences

View from the water

Enjoy swimming wherever you travel, but take care

WORLD OF WATER

From the Sea Nomads to ultra-marathon swimmers, Rowan Clarke explores swimming around the world

UNLOCKING CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH ADVENTURE SWIM TRAVEL

Adventure swimming is more than just a test of endurance; it is a gateway to deeper connections with the natural world and the diverse cultures, Aaron Davis reports

SWIM PEOPLE

SWIMTERVIEW • WORLD SWIMMING • SWIM HISTORY

MERMAID OF THE SEVEN SEAS

Open water swimmers need to be ambassadors for our precious blue spaces, Oceans Seven swimmer Bárbara Hernández tells Abigail Whyte

GROUNDED BY WATER

At the launch of his debut novel, Before We Hit the Ground , Rowan Clarke finds out why Selali Fiamanya swims outdoors

CELEBRATING FLONG FORTITUDE

Forty-eight years on, an historic swim between two little-known islands shows that women have always had the write stuff in open water

Reviving Cellardyke Tidal Pool: A Community Mission

Image: Cellardyke Tidal Pool Perched on Fife’s stunning

COACH

WILD & RECREATION • POWER OF THE POOL

WILD & RECREATION SPRING INTO THE SEASON

“You might find mist dancing across your favourite

Sensory Swimming

This is what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste at the water ’s edge this month.

WALK THIS WAY

Walking is a great partner to outdoor swimming.

POWER OF THE POOL

Hate pool swimming? Ella Foote discovers heading to the pool with a plan is the secret of successful pool training.

Beyond borders

What are the universal things that connect us as swimmers?

CHALLENGE AND ENDURANCE

CHALLENGE SESSIONS

Kickstart your swim event fitness

Personal trainer Vivienne Rickman outlines how to dryland train for the upcoming season

IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE

Liz Lowe tells us why balance is important and how to improve it

HEALTH

BACK TO BASICS • WHAT ’S UP DOC • EAR HEALTH

Back to basics

Unlike January, when the days are still dark

Trending taste test

Do you save recipes on social media and

What’s up, Doc ?

Outdoor Swimmer is thrilled to introduce new regular contributor, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi who will be sharing the latest news and views from the medical world. To kick us off this month, Dr Hussain shares how swimming has promoted health across cultures

DEEP DIVE SWIMMER’S EAR

At least 10% of swimmers will experience an

GEAR

GOGGLES • GOGGLE LENS GUIDE • PROTEIN POWDERS KIT WE LOVE

GOGGLES

There is plenty of innovation in this year’s goggle round up, from honeycomb technology for a super comfortable fit to an in-goggle digital compass to help you swim straight in open water

WHICH GOGGLE LENS?

Swimming goggles come with a vast array of lens types, all suited to different light conditions. Gear Editor Jo Tinsley explores which lens suits your swim

Meet our reviewers

One piece of spring kit you can’t do without…

PROTEIN POWDERS

Protein is an essential macronutrient for repairing and building muscle after a strenuous swimming session. While you can’t beat animalor plant-based protein eaten as part of a balanced diet, protein powders are a convenient way to increase your intake

SUSTAINABLE KIT

Corca Mar makes sustainable kick floats and pull buoys from natural cork, a durable and functional alternative to EVA foam. We spoke to Founder, Rebecca Hill

KIT WE LOVE

SPEEDO FASTSKIN LZR PURE VALOR 2.0 HIGH WAIST,

THE DIARY OF A GREEK ODYSSEY

Is there anything more poetic than swimming 100km to save a museum?

MAKING A SPLASH IN HONG KONG

American Brett Kruse fell in love with city swimming in Hong Kong and last year became the eighth person to swim around Hong Kong Island

WIN THE ULTIMATE OPEN WATER SWIMMING BUNDLE!

Prize includes: an Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival package for two, Swim Secure bundle, Outdoor Swimmer Shop voucher, Selkie robe PLUS a 12-month Outdoor Swimmer subscription

EXPLORE

WILD SWIM WALKS • WILD GUIDE MOROCCO

WILD SWIM WALKS: BRISTOL AND BATH

In her new book, Wild Swim Walks Bristol and Bath , Georgie Duckworth shares why this peaceful corner of the West Country makes for the perfect wild swimming adventure

BEYOND THE DESERT: OUTDOOR SWIMMING IN MOROCCO’S HEARTLAND

Morocco’s outdoor swimming secrets lie inland, where rivers carve through ancient gorges and mountain lakes glisten under the North African sun. From the emerald pools of the La Rivière Amtoudi to hidden cascades in the Rif Mountains, each swim is a journey into the heart of a land shaped by water. Passionate outdoor swimmers Lola Culsán, John Weller and Danny Weller share eight of their favourite outdoor swimming spots from their new book Wild Guide Morocco

SWIM LIFE

SWIMTERVIEW • ENVIRONMENT • SWIMTERPRIZE

PIPSIGLASS

Pip Wilson creates figurines and meaningful keepsakes for the swimming community inspired by her love of water

ENVIRONMENT

A new alternative to elastane, swimming medals made from drinks cans and a toolkit for protecting your local river – Environment Editor Jo Tinsley reports on the things that matter to us as swimmers

EMILIA HART

Author Emilia Hart almost drowned as a child yet still loves the water. Her new book, The Sirens is all about the power of the sea.