Winter swimming contest, Breclav, Czech Republic

The air temperature began to drop and the harsh frosts set in as predictions for the following week were as low as -15. But at lunchtime on Saturday the 19th of February in Breclav near the Easterly border with Austria theair remained somewhere above zero and the water officially 2.6c. There was some debate as 1.6c was mentioned and this coupled with the excuse for cancelling the 1000m due to not having enough boats to transport swimmers to the start wa enough to make some winter swimmers think that a straighter system could be found in Libya or Yemen. However, commentary on current affairs is for another time and place – generally Czech Winter swimming stays untainted by political problems and long may it continue as the excellent organisation is one of a myriad of factors that helps make it so enjoyable.

With no 1000m race, the organisers were faced with the task of 71 starters for the 750m. In a flowing river it was decided to start in 6 waves at intervals of 2 minutes. With start numbers well marked on both the shoulders and back, and enough experienced adjudicators in place the race went smoothly. The results seemed to reflect this as the fastest swimmers milan Stencl and denisa Haltmarova of PK Zabreh took first and second place in less than 7 minutes. Satisfying results as in a fast flowing river, the velocity of water can make a not insignificant difference to a swimmers performance when there are several heats taking place one after another. In just oover 7 minutes were the pair from Fides Brno Jan Vane and Lenka Pacakova. All 71 swimmers cmpleted the course, the slowest in 10minutes 56seconds.

The contest is called the Breclav beaver and evidence of this water loving and industrious mammal could be seen by the bank with trees looking like they were ready to fall at any minute. The culprits were nowhere to be seen though a comparison was made to Bob Pacl of Prostejov and the aforementioned beaver, presumably due to Bob’s incredible tenacity and love for the winter water.

Soon things came to a close and another potentially arduous contest had turned out to be tough and enjoyable but notas extreme as was anticipated. That has been this winter all over and the prospect of frost followed by thaw is continuing on into March. This winter has been mightily unpredictable but at least in central Europe we have been spared the onslaught mother nature has unleashed in the Pacific region. Oil runs modern life it seems and we can take this prescious commodity from the earth but we are not the boss as earthquakes and Tsunamis (& cold water) prove. Ironically the biggest problem in the east now involves a nuclear power station, pre empted by nature but actually man made.

If you haven’t already try cold water and connect with nature. Spring is a good time for novices to winter swimming as the water temperature rises. More on getting started with cold water swimming coming soon.