What You Need to Know About Winter Swimming

One of the best things about owning a pool is that you can, in theory, swim whenever you want. However, most pools sit abandoned and unused during the winter months. They don’t have to though. If you don’t mind braving the cold and it’s not so cold in your area that water freezes, you could get in some winter swimming. Some people actually really enjoy this activity. If you’re willing to try it out, just follow these helpful tips for swimming success.

Start Early

If you start your cold water swimming in the dead of winter, it probably won’t last long. More than likely, you’ll experience the shockingly cold jolt of almost-frozen water and then never try it again. If you start your swimming earlier in the season, though, your body will have time to adjust, and you won’t find winter swimming to be such a shock. For best results, continue swimming from the end of the summer to fall and then from fall into winter. This gradual approach will make it a lot easier to keep swimming all year long.

Layer Up

The worst part of winter swimming isn’t the actual swimming. It’s coming out of the water afterward. To make this transition a little easier, bring along several layers of warm, cozy clothing. Place them right by the pool so you can put them on as soon as you’ve dried off. Many people actually love and look forward to that moment of going from dripping wet to warm and secure. You can think of it as a reward for your dedication to swimming!

Invest in a Wetsuit

The clothing you wear in the pool matters too. While you can stick to your normal bathing suit, most winter swimmers find wetsuits to be much more effective at keeping them warm. You can also add a swim cap for added warmth.

Swimming in the winter might seem like a crazy idea. But, it’s one that a lot of people have fallen in love with. If you own a pool, you might as well give it a try. Who knows? You might just find it as invigorating and wonderful as many others do.