Admin December 30, 2009, 11:11 pm h.
Yes its snow and the water is 4c
Yes there was a big event that took place in the Vltava river near the National Theatre in Prague last Saturday the 26th of December.
But the picture on the left is from our final training session of the year at Branik – a hazy scene, yes there is snow visibility is low but conditions were perfect for swimming in cold water at the tranquil snow lined Branik a few kilometres south of the city centre, opposite the dramatic Barrandov cliffs, they aren’t white as in Dover but they add to the drama and beauty of the location.
Many people have commentated, documented and photographed the fantastic action at the 63rd running of the Memorial Alfreda Nikodem. I can only agree that it was a tremendous spectacle and the 750m was a really tough examination of the winter swimmer. Incredible conditions, including wind , a low sun shining at the swimmers in the home straight on both circuits, a reasonable current and 4c water. Take all this into account plus the number of competitors and the tight nature of the 375m course and you may start to realize it wasn’t easy. But thats winter swimming for you – exhilarating, exciting & extreme !
Below are links to some video reports :-
Otužilci na Vltavě – ČT4 Sport, 28.12.2009
TV zpráva – Události ČT1, 26.12.2009
Reportáž – ČT24, 26.12.
And here are some more shots from beautiful Branik, our last training session of the year, only a handful of otuzily winter swimmers attended.
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Yes its snow and the water is 4c
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3 Otuzily winter swimmers
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A beautiful winter scene
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To the water !
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Yes, there is a river in the background
Admin December 30, 2009, 11:48 am h.
To the water !
An invitation to join the young otuzilci winter swimmers of the northern Moravian town Mohelnice on Christmas eve was too good to miss, especially when the invitation comes from a good looking girl !
So after a fun filled night long initiation into this small community, which had little to do with sport so I wont report it here, the sun rose seemingly just as I had fallen asleep and it was time for the main event and a trip to the local lake.
Around 15 winter swimmers gathered but for the true Otuzilci this wasnt so extreme with the air temperature well above zero and water somewhere around 6c at my estimation.
But, witness winter swimming and its difficulties, for most of these young men they only do this once a year and the pain was visible on their faces as they entered the water. but soon everyone was smiling again as flasks of Slivovice the local plum brandy were passed round. Maybe they were also smiling in relief at the knowledge that it will be another year before any more cold water swimming !
A thoroughly enjoyable time was had in Mohelnice and the location was a beauty, the water in the lake was extremely clean and calm. Hopefully there will be more visits to this small Moravian town with the social scene possibly eclipsing the swimming !
Admin December 24, 2009, 11:36 pm h.
The border by the River Dye
Yes, last Saturday the 19th of December around 30 otuzilci hardy winter swimmers descended on a location near the border town of Breclav in the Czech Republic.
The river Dye flows from Czech Republic through to Austria and the aim was for the winter swimmers to swim through the one country across the border and into the next, made possible by the Schengen agreement.
20 years ago the borders were opened after the end of the socialist reign and this swim was made as a mark of respect to those daredevils who used this river as a means of escape from East to West.
A spectacular setting and a really nice event, the air was minus 8 and the water plus 1, max distance was 900m, yes it was tough but we were fortunate enough not to have to worry about border guards.
Go to “how to use this site” on the top right to access the dropdown menu find “reports” and full story is there…..
Admin December 16, 2009, 9:35 pm h.
The Finish & in the distance - the start. River Morava, Olomouc
A fast flowing river and a much slower moving man (but he is 96 years old) were 2 of the key ingredients in the mix for Saturdays traditional pre Christmas meeting of winter swimmers in Olomouc, Czech Republic, the highlights a race over 750m and the aforementioned 96 year old Dr Vladimir (Lada) Nicek taking a dip in the cold waters.
The weather turned truly wintry over night in central Europe and the swimmers were in stark contrast to the spectators.
Air- minus (-) 1.5
Water – plus (+) 4.5c
Go to “how to use this site” on the top right to access the dropdown menu find “reports” and full story is there…..
Admin December 14, 2009, 2:47 pm h.
Lada enters the water
Yes its true this man is Dr Ladislav (Lada) Nicek a 96 year old man from Olomouc,in Moravia, Czech Republic. He is the organiser of the traditional December meeting of winter swimmers in Olomouc, with the highlight (aside from Lada himself taking the waters) a 750m contest along the Morava River. He was born in 1913 and has been cold water swimmingfor mst of his long life.
More about the contest in the next few days but as you can see from the photos age is no barrier to enjoying winter swimming. Lada swum as always unaided for around 50m in the 4.5c water. Entry and exit to the water is via a steep bank and the nonagenarian Lada needed less assistance than some of those much youger than him !
96 and still a winter swimmer !
Admin December 12, 2009, 9:56 pm h.
Saved by a woman - the lovely Dana !
- Attack imminent !
Yes here we are close to the town of Humpolec in the Vysocina district of the Czech Republic, home to the brewery of the excellent Bernard beer.
The air temperature was -1c and after an afternoon of winter swimming we couldn’t help but break up the journey with that favourite winter passtime – no not skiing, but a snowball fight !
Lets hope this fantastic winter weather continues into the festive season and we enjoy a wonderful white Christmas here in Central Europe. In fact, seasons greetings and Merry Christmas to all people on our earth.
Olda takes a break from the battle !
Admin December 9, 2009, 9:41 pm h.
Chocen - a truly fantastic setting for winter swimming
Exciting,exhilarating and extreme, these words can be seen above to describe this site and these 3 adjectives are perfect to describe last Saturday’s winter swimming contest in Chocen, Czech Republic.
A small and peaceful country town with a dramatic setting, fairytale-like, typical of the Czech Republic. It really was a great competition,enjoyable for various reasons, not least the chance of swimming in cold water.
maximum distance was 750m
Air – 2c
Water – 4.5c
Go to “how to use this site” on the top right to access the dropdown menu find “reports” and full story is there…..
Admin December 4, 2009, 10:21 am h.
Look closely - a great winter swimming scene
Saturday the 28th of November saw around 100 winter swimmers make their way to the Bohemian city of Plzen and the Bolevecky lake for a range of contests from 100m through to 1000m.
AIR – 8c
WATER – 5.3c
Winter hasn’t fully set in yet but this was still a great afternoon for cold water swimming.
Go to the drop down menu on the top right to read the full report and see the photos….
