CARTOONIST – MALCOLM LAVERTY (STAN)

PATRONS

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

• TRENDING •

TIDE SCHOOL APP William Thomson, sea safety educator,

Welcome to the September issue...

I am in awe of long-distance swimmers. It

View from the water

Simon Griffiths looks at what makes a long-distance swim?

Let me tell you a story

A story about Oona, she’s just 11 years old; she has faced many challenges and unseen fights in life. She uses a wheelchair full time.

BEYOND THE HORIZON

Rowan Clarke meets the modern day adventurers who are conquering the waves

SWIM PEOPLE

SWIMTERVIEW • ADAM BELL • ULTRA WOMEN SWIM HISTORY • THREE RIVERS

BREATHING HARD TO BREATHE EASY: My 13 Lake Challenge for Cystic Fibrosis

Adam has always felt at home in the

HOW AND WHY WOMEN ARE SURPASSING MEN IN ULTRA-ENDURANCE SWIMMING

New book, Ultra Women , explores how women are outperforming men in endurance sport, author Lily Canter tells us more.

THE MIDNIGHT WINDERMERE 50

To mark her 50th birthday, Ceri Smith decided to swim across England’s longest lake with 49 other swimmers, Sharon Davies included, here she shares their story

SWIMMING IN TIME

Swimming in rivers has been a deep human

THE ART OF ENDURANCE

Does swimming imitate art for Katie Pumphrey, or vice versa? Rowan Clarke finds out

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Cross-Channel swims have a lengthly history, and one Folkestone family has had a front row seat since the 1920s

FROM THE BANKS OF LAKE PICHOLA

Itching for a challenge, Jharna Kumawat approaches long distance swimming like a three-course meal

More water in Worcestershire!

We’re excited to share that open water swimming

Autumn is a great time to get into the water and join a local community

September is a great time of year for

COACH

WILD & RECREATION • POOL & TECHNIQUE • YOGA • CHALLENGE & ENDURANCE

WILD & RECREATION

Editor Ella Foote is also an open water swim coach, outdoor swim guide and teacher. This month, she encourages you to embrace the changing seasons.

TRAINING POOL & TECHNIQUE

Train to go the distance … in the pool!

CHALLENGE AND ENDURANCE

How to train for long swims

Carb loading: What, when, and how to fuel a big swim

Carb loading might sound complicated, but it’s actually

IT’S ALL IN THE HIPS

How working on hip mobility can improve your swimming

HEALTH

HEALTHY EATING • WHAT’S UP DOC • SEAWEED

Healthy meals

We are thrilled to be working with Chef and Food Writer, Claire Thomson and sharing healthy meals for longer swims from her new book, One Pan Beans . Each month Claire will share a recipe that will keep you full and satisfied for all kinds of swims. You can also follow Claire on Instagram, where she is known as @5oclockapron

What’s up, Doc?

LONG DISTANCE SWIMMING: WHY GOING LONG AND SLOW IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

DEEP DIVE

The power of seaweed

GEAR

TOWELS & ROBES • WATER SHOES • SHOULDER SEASON • KIT WE LOVE

TOWELS & ROBES

Whether you prefer a lightweight, quick-drying travel towel or a roomy robe for easy changing, here’s our pick of the best new towels for swimmers

WATER SHOES

Flexible neoprene socks, easy to pack pool shoes and easy on/off styles: our round-up of socks and shoes you can swim in

WHAT TO WEAR FOR SHOULDER SEASON SWIMMING

While sea temperatures remain pleasant well into autumn, inland water temperatures can take a noticeable drop from September onwards. Here are a few kit tips to help extend your open water season

TOW FLOATS

An innovative new belt system, recycled materials and a mesh pocket for easy to access items: choose your new tow float from these beauties

CARE FOR ZIPS

“Clean your zips!” say Ceri Belshaw and Rosanna Watson from Snowdonia Gear Repair, who have advice for looking after your wetsuit and change robe zips

KIT WE LOVE

YETI 6L LUNCH BAG, £80 Another brilliant piece

EVENT CHANNEL RELAY

Bluetit swimmers are now taking on the Channel in relay crossings. One swimmer, Ricky Holmes, shares his story and how he came to dive into the English Channel

TOUGH TRAINING, HIGH ANXIETY

Mental Health Swims Community Engagement Manager Sarah Groves will have attempted her epic Windermere swim by the time you read this, discover how tough training swims shaped her attempt

SWIMMING LAID BARE

What’s it like to take part in a swimming event with nothing but your bare skin? British Naturism ’s writer Dugie Eyton-Hughes reports

SWELTERING SUPER SWIMMERS

Jason Mann, a novelist and journalist who focuses on the sea and swimming in his writing, reports on the eight-mile Torbay Swim

Go Wild, Go West

Rebecca Hilton headed to Level Water’s Bantham Mini-Swoosh with her 12-year-old daughter – find out how they got on

Let’s swim!

UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS

EXPLORE

Image: Jo Tinsley WEEKENDINGS • LLYN PENINSULA •

Weekending PLAS WEUNYDD, ERYRI

Weekend escapes with a swimming opportunity – Ella Foote shares her experience of Plas Weunydd, Eryri (Snowdonia)

BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS & THE SEA

Jo Tinsley takes a wild swimming trip around the Llyn ˆ Peninsula where rugged hills tumble down to sheltered harbours and sandy beaches

WILD GUIDE: Wild Swimming in the West of Ireland

Daniel Start chooses his favourite wild swims from his new Wild Guide

SWIM LIFE

Image: Jo Tinsley ENVIRONMENT • SWIM SISTAS •

FLOATING WITHOUT FEAR

Actress, author and filmmaker Cat White has launched her most recent project, Swim Sistas, her first documentary that explores of women in water, weaving their stories into a celebration of joy, heritage and the power of simply being. Ella Foote finds out more.

Watch Read Listen

Things I love this month: Wild Swimmers Written

PEAK DRIP

There is nothing like a cup of something hot after a cool swim, but why settle for instant powder drinks when Peak Drip offers great coffee designed for the outdoors? Founders Daria Maglevanaia and Paul McGurk tell us more…

KATE MUIR

Author Kate Muir loves a cool dip at her local lido in London and writes about how swimming can help us in her new book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis

ENVIRONMENT

A glimmer of hope for Sussex kelp beds, a 50km mono fin record attempt to fight plastic pollution and news of clean waters in Europe. Jo Tinsley reports on the things that matter to us as swimmers