Frost, Snow,ice….and swimming in -1.8c water

The hardy of Spartak prerov breaking the ice - water 0c

Just over two weeks ago somehow the mercury had risen to 17c and the autumn seemed eternal, yet now we have around 20cm of snow and air temperatures as low as -17c. We were swimming in almost tepid 8c water and now the water will certainly be below 4c until spring. Quite normal for winter and of course there is the distinct possibility of the pre christmas rise in temperature although who would bet against a long and hard winter with no let up from the minus readings?

Such severe weather in the past week including a blizzard on Wednesday led to many bodies of water freezing over including the laguna pond at Prerov where just 4 weeks ago the 8c water was enjoyed by many, jackets weren’t needed let alone changing rooms. As you can see from the photo above this location is now more reminiscent of  the arctic circle than a town in the Czech Republic. Although cold weather, frost, snow and ice is meat and drink for winter swimmers on this occassion it led to the unfortunate cancellation of the weekend’s competition at Plzen. It was simply impossible for the organisers to cut a sufficient hole in the ice and in the end after two hours of toil they cut a small pool 10m by 4m. According to the rules the contest had to be cancelled as an area at least 50m in length is needed. However, the hardy of local cold water swimming club KSO Plzen still managed to take a dip as members of the public looked on in astonishment.

Pavel Trebichavsky braves the -1.8c "flowing ice cream" of the river Metuji

But, perhaps the most interesting story of the weekend was that at Nachod in the Metuji river, the temperature was measured by digital thermometer at just -1.8c. Still water freezes at zero but when water is flowing it is a different mattter and can get down to -2 or 3. Salt water can be colder still before freezing. A small group of hardy swimmers from the clubs SK Nachod and SK Hradec Kralove braved the partially frozen river and swum for a few minutes in the ice cold water. Experienced winter swimmer and English channel hopeful Pavel Trebichavsky stated that ” it wasn’t water but flowing ice cream!” For the members of 1.PKO Praha it was just another day at the office as although there was plenty of snow and freezing air the water in the large, free flowing Vltava was remaining stable at 3.8c – 4.1c.

Next weekend, hopefully battle for the Czech cup of winter swimming will resume at Chocen and if it does there is sure to be ice, snow and freezing water. In the meantime the weather and conditions are there to be enjoyed, be it in the cold water or out of it.

Winter swimmers enjoying the 4c Vltava river.