Dear fellow swimmers

One of the most common questions we get asked at Outdoor Swimmer is, "Do I need a wetsuit?" Outdoor swimming can be fun, spontaneous and done with very little kit. If you find a swim spot remote enough, you might not need any swimwear! But, for longer, more adventurous swims or events, a wetsuit is an excellent piece of kit. 

As Zoggs launch a brand-new range of wetsuits, we are thrilled to be working with the brand on a five-part wetsuit guide video series which aims to help swimmers decide how to choose a wetsuit, put one on correctly and care for it so it lasts for many years. We hope you enjoy this first part – an introduction to wetsuits – and stay tuned for the next four parts, which will be released in The Dip over the coming weeks. 
 

Also in The Dip this week, we review period swimwear, invite participants to join a cold water study into treating depression and ask "How hard is it to swim the Channel as part of relay" with tips from someone who has done it.  Plus, don’t forget to scroll down to read our tip of the week – should we all be 'swimming downhill'?

(Sponsored content)

DO I NEED A WETSUIT FOR OPEN WATER?

In our new five-part video series, made in partnership with Zoggs, we’re going to be tackling issues and questions that all outdoor swimmers have – and one of the most common questions we get asked at Outdoor Swimmer is, "Do I need a wetsuit?"

This week we kick off with an introduction to wetsuits, covering what a wetsuit is, how it works and why we might need one. Plus, we help you identify what kind of suit you might need based on the type of swimming you do. 

With huge thanks to our sponsor Zoggs, photographer Roger Taylor, Bruno Teves Visuals for filming and the team at Quay Swim for hosting us!
 

GEAR

Period swimwear: does it actually work?

Does period swimwear actually work, and can you trust it? We speak to an expert and put three swimsuits to the test.

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ENVIRONMENT

Outdoor Swimming and the #Sewagescandal – how bad is It?

You can keep outdoor swimming despite the flood of bad news, says Simon Griffiths. Plus tips for staying safe and avoiding getting ill when swimming in rivers. 

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OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

How can I avoid cramp when swimming in deep water?

British freestyle swimmer and open water coach Cassie Pattern has advice for avoiding cramps when swimming in open water. (Premium content)

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(Sponsored content)

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APRIL 2024 - THE TRAVEL ISSUE

• Something to declare! We celebrate 21 years of swimming holidays and find out how they can bring you more joy than ever before. 
• Explore Split in Croatia, Guernsey, Exmoor and North Devon, Loch Linnhe in Scotland – plus, our pick of thermal pools around the world. 
• On test: open water and prescription goggles, period swimwear. 
• Mercedes Gleitze’s historic 1927 Gibraltar Strait crossing.

WIN GREAT PRIZES

WIN a 3-day swim retreat for you and a friend (worth £800)

This fantastic prize from Somerset Swim Retreats includes a 3-day swim retreat for two people, with breakfast and dinners, unlimited access to the natural swimming pond, wood-fired sauna and jacuzzi, plus guided sea swims with qualified coaches.

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WIN a Deakin & Blue bundle

To celebrate the launch of Deakin & Blue’s beautiful new Deadstock collection, we are offering readers a chance to win a fantastic prize bundle comprising a £100 D&B gift voucher, Keep It Dry Bag and D&B Tote.

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WIN a Keswick Mountain Festival X Aquasphere bundle

Win an Aquasphere Racer V3 wetsuit, Kayenne Pro goggles, two Keswick Mountain Festival tickets and a night’s B&B for two at Lane Head Farm Country Guest House with this fantastic prize bundle.

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EVENTS COMING SOON 

THE COOL MILE (1 mile)
6 April | Tal y Llyn, North Wales
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SWIMATHON 2024 (400m to 30.9km)
26-28 April | various location
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KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL (750m, 1.5km, 3.6km)
17-19 May | Derwentwater, Lake District
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ULTRASWIM 33.3 #3 CROATIA (33.3km over 4 days)
17-20 May | Stari Grad, Croatia
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GAELFORCE GREAT RIVER SWIM (5.8km, 3.1km, 800m)

18 May | Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Ireland
Find out more...  

GREATER MANCHESTER SWIM! (500m, 1 mile, 3 miles)

18 May | Dock 9, Salford Quays
Find out more... 

BEST Fest 2024 (7 swims over 7 days: 5k, 1.9/3.8k, 1.5k, 2.5k, 3k, 7/10k and 4x500m)
25 May | Colonia Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Spain
Find out more...  

Great North Swim (250m, half male, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5km, 10km)

7-9 June | Windermere, Lake District
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24-hr Swim Relays (24hr challenge)

8 June | Shepperton

15 June | Clevedon

22 June | Bedford
Find out more... 

Browse our full list of events. To promote your event here, please email [email protected]. 

TIP OF THE WEEK: TRY SWIMMING DOWNHILL

One of our Online Editors, Abi, was training at her local pool recently when a swimmer in the next lane suggested she try to imagine herself swimming downhill. What did they mean by this and was it good advice?

A common difficulty when swimming front crawl is for the legs to sink. This creates unnecessary drag. Ideally, you should be almost flat in the water with the top of your head, your hips and your heels just touching the surface. If your head and shoulders are too high, this tends to push your legs down. The idea of 'swimming downhill' is that you press your chest into the water, which should help bring your legs up.

It’s worth experimenting with this but there may be other reasons why your legs sink including poor kick action, holding too much air in your lungs and an underdeveloped catch. As a drill, try gently kicking on your front with your arms by your side while pressing down with your chest (but don’t submerge your head). Try it with your lungs full, half full and empty. This should help you develop a better sense of your body position. Read more about body position in our Winter Freestyle Refresher (premium content). 

 

Simon Griffiths

Founder & Publisher, Outdoor Swimmer 
 

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