As the popularity of open water swimming continues to grow, so do the number of people ‘pushing the boundaries’ at the extremes of distance and temperature. We spoke to some leading experts on cold water swimming and gained some advice about the effects it has on the body, how to look out for signs of hypothermia and a few general pointers if you’re contemplating taking on an ice mile or cold-water swim. An ice mile is one of swimming’s most extreme challenges. For an attempt to be successfully classified by the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA), rules state that swimmers must wear nothing more than a standard swimming costume, goggles and one swim hat to complete an unassisted mile swim in water that is 5 degrees Celsius or lower. For these reasons, ice swimming is not only extreme, but also dangerous. Nevertheless, those brave enough to successfully complete an ice mile claim their right to wear the uniform of a very exclusive club of extreme swimmers, the coveted ice mile Red Jacket.
If you’re thinking about taking on an ice mile or are keen to swim in sub-5-degree water, here is some advice from our panel of experts on cold water swimming