In my previous post, I wrote about rediscovering water in a new way, this time cold. My first experience with winter swimming was surprisingly ordinary. There was no euphoria, no rush, none of the amazing feelings people often describe. It was simply the same water I know so well, only colder. I had cycled hard to the sauna raft, so my body was already warm, and maybe that made the whole thing feel more technical than emotional. The only thing that really bothered me afterward was my toes. They refused to warm up no matter what I did.
But something about the experience stayed with me. I wanted to continue.
The Cold Pool and Its Surprises
Last week I went to the cold pool at the swimming hall, and that was a completely different experience. The water felt just as cold as I remembered, maybe even colder, because I had just finished training in the regular pool. The indoor air was warm, but the 10-degree water felt sharp and intense. I tried to breathe calmly, but a line formed next to the pool almost immediately. Our cold pool is clearly popular.
Surprisingly, I felt that being in the ice hole had been easier. Maybe the contrast between outdoor air and water softens the experience. Maybe the mind is in a different state. I am not sure yet.
Neoprene Gear Changed Everything
This week, my neoprene gloves and socks arrived. I decided to test them at a different winter swimming spot. The socks changed everything. When my feet were no longer freezing, my whole body felt calmer. The cold no longer felt like an attack but something I could manage.
Then I tried taking a few swimming strokes, and my hands felt frozen instantly. So I put on the gloves, went back into the water, and suddenly I could stay there for a couple of minutes. It felt like a small victory.
Warming Up and Listening to the Body
Staying in the cold for longer brought a new challenge. I wanted to warm up gradually, so I took a cool shower before going into the sauna. But even after sitting in the sauna for a long time, I could not shake the cold. It felt like it had settled under my skin. Only a very warm shower finally brought my body back to normal.
This is something I want to understand better. How do you warm up safely and steadily without triggering a stress reaction? In the 25-meter race, I will be in the water longer than just a couple of minutes, and movement adds its own layer. I want to understand how the body responds and how to support it.
Why I Am Practicing Winter Swimming Right Now
Some might wonder why I suddenly dove into winter swimming so intensely. The answer is simple. Next week Oulu will host the Winter Swimming World Championships. I was encouraged to join, and the idea felt both wild and exciting. I have never been a winter swimmer, let alone competed in cold water, but maybe that is exactly why this feels like the right moment to try something completely new.
It is also a chance to bring fresh content to my social media and blog. Swimming is my everyday life, my work, and my passion, but winter swimming is an area where I get to be a beginner again. That is surprisingly refreshing. When I teach swimming, I constantly meet people who are encountering water for the first time or returning to it after a long break. Now I get to feel the same things myself: uncertainty, curiosity, a little fear, and the sense that every moment in the water teaches something new.
Maybe that is why I want to document this journey. It reminds me of what it feels like to be at the beginning of learning and how important it is to listen to your body, take your time, and be gentle with yourself. I am curious to see what the World Championships will bring.
❄️ Winter Swimming World Championships in Oulu
The Winter Swimming World Championships 2026 will be held in Oulu from March 2 to March 8. The opening ceremony takes place on Monday at 18:00.
Location: Raatin ranta, where a 10 lane competition pool will be built into the open water.
What to expect:
- Fifteen different race distances across age groups
- The event is held every two years in different parts of the world
- The Championships return to Oulu after a 20 year break
- Organized by the International Winter Swimming Association
- Part of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture program
How this connects to me and the Vedessä brand:
It is also a chance to bring fresh content to my social media and blog. Swimming is my everyday life, my work, and my passion, but winter swimming is an area where I get to be a beginner again. That is surprisingly refreshing. When I teach swimming, I constantly meet people who are encountering water for the first time or returning to it after a long break. Now I get to feel the same things myself: uncertainty, curiosity, a little fear, and the sense that every moment in the water teaches something new.
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