PATRONS

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

TRENDING

BRASS MONKEYS The motivation to keep swimming as

CHALLENGE

EVENT REVIEW • EVENT LISTINGS

SWIM LIFE

FELL FOODIE• SWIMTERPRIZE WATCH, RE AD, LISTEN • SHORT STORY

HELLO!

With our changing climate and seemingly now very

View from the water

Simon Griffiths looks at risk and reward in winter swimming

Common difference

I have just returned home from completing the

CHILLY CHALLENGES

Rowan Clarke takes a tour of this year ’s winter swimming events, competitions and challenges

SWIM PEOPLE

ROB DA BANK • THE POWER OF HOT & COLD EL AINE HOWLEY • SOPHIE ETHERIDGE • COMMUNITY

SAUNA CULTURE

With a nod to sweat house history, Rowan Clarke discovers how the UK is embracing sauna culture

SOME LIKE IT H OT

Best known as a noughties BBC1 Radio DJ and cofounder of music festival Bestival, Rob da Bank has recently swapped spinning discs for steam and plunge pools. Ella Foote dips into Dorset to visit his new SLOMO (Slow Motion) venture in Christchurch

THE POWER OF HOT AND COLD: FROM SAUNA TO SEA

In Finland, there ’s a saying that a woman is considered to be at her most beautiful after a sauna. Helsinki-based author and outdoor swimmer Katja Pantzar (pictured above) would update the phrase to ref lect the growing popularity of contrast therapy, which has a range of researched health benefits: ‘People positively glow after a cold dip in the sea or a lake followed up by a hot sauna.’ For when you take care of your physical and mental wellbeing , you shine inside and out

CAN CRYOTHERAPY AID COLD WATER SWIMMING?

It seems the UK is embracing sauna culture

“BETTER IN THE WATER ”

Jack Starrett inspired other swimmers to achieve more

Sub10 Club

Our Sub10 Club is back! Running from 1

AUDREY’S STORY – PARTICIPANT AND VOLUNTEER SWIM HOST

I have a long history of mental health

WHY I SWIM SEANA SMITH

From the thrill of Scottish dips to a deep love of ocean swimming , author Seana Smith shares her connection with water

COACH

CRYOTHERAPY • WINTER EVENT TIPS • SARAH THOMAS MOVE OF THE MONTH • PAUL NEWSOME • LIZ LOWE

HOW TO TRAIN FOR WINTER SWIMMING EVENTS

Racing in cold water is very different to dipping , says Simon Griffiths

LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR 2025

Paul Newsome explains why technique matters and how to improve it

Hot water battle

In September, I gave tips on how to

BODYWEIGHT SQUAT

PERSONAL TRAINING WITH VIVIENNE RICKMAN

GEAR

Image: Orca NEOPRENE ACCESSORIES • L AYERING •

NEOPRENE ACCESSORIES

ORCA Women’s One Piece Neoprene Swimsuit, £79 GREAT

LAYERING

COLUMBIA Arctic Crest Down Hooded Jacket, £300 ★★★★★

HOT DRINKS

Cold water swimming calls for hot drinks for warming up after, but what should you pop in your flask this winter?

KIT WE LOVE...

SPEEDO FLEX BAND SWIMSUIT WITH SWIM BRA, £51

THE ARUN: A PERFECT OPEN WATER CHALLENGE FOR FIRST TIMERS

In September, Digital Editor Abi Whyte swam four miles in the River Arun with spinal cord charity Aspire. A newbie to front crawl, here ’s how she got on on this beautiful swim through West Sussex

LET’S SWIM!

UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS

WEEKENDING: CREESIDE ESCAPE, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

Abi Whyte heads to an overlooked part of Scotland to explore its rivers, lochs and coast, and for a much needed digital detox

THANK YOU, JONNY!

Last month, Contributing Editor Jonathan Cowie wrote his last column for the magazine and handed in his notice after over a decade dedicated to Outdoor Swimmer. Founder and Publisher Simon Griffiths and Editor, Ella Foote are grateful for all Jonathan has done for swimming and for the magazine. Here we say thank you…

Winter swimming

As we move into November, cold water season

Floodplain meadows

SUSANNE MASTERS

WHILE YOU’RE AT THE WATER

LOOK OUT FOR LICHENS As leaves fall it’s

FELL FOODIE

Harrison Ward, better known as Fell Foodie, is an outdoor cook who loves to recreate restaurant-style meals on minimal equipment (usually a camp stove) in remote locations

Watch Read Listen

SWIMMING SCREENTIME

The Outdoors Fix

Making adventures outdoors a bigger part of your

JOHN KEOGH THE OOTSIDER

Tell us about your swim background I started

FEELING INVINCIBLE

LAUREN SHARP