A New Icy Experience in the Water

Here’s a confession that might surprise some: I’ve never been winter swimming. Even though I live in the north and water is my element, the idea of stepping into an ice hole has always felt… distant. I get cold easily, especially in my fingers and toes, so I’ve never felt the urge to seek out freezing water. Maybe I’ve also been waiting for a friend to get excited and drag me along.

But today, I went. For the very first time.

I had booked a sauna slot, but I decided that before warming up, I wanted to toughen myself a little by going straight into the cold water. As I walked down the steps, I realized with surprise that the water was not nearly as cold as I had imagined. My breath did not catch, panic did not rise, and I was able to lower myself calmly until only my shoulders and head were above the surface. I repeated my own advice in my mind: go slowly and remember to breathe.

I had cycled to the sauna raft and my body was warm, almost sweaty. Maybe that is why the water felt refreshing rather than frightening. The most challenging part was the tingling in my toes and the icy, slippery steps. I did not dare let go of the railing, not yet. Maybe next time.

Why now?

Vedessä is collaborating with MunPiiri and WSWC2026, the Winter Swimming World Championships that will be held in Oulu in 2026. It is a big moment for our European Capital of Culture, and the excitement is contagious. With a little encouragement, I signed up for the world championship relay. There is no timing involved, "just" a 25-meter freestyle swim. We will see how it goes.

What is next?

I only have two weeks, but this first experience left me surprisingly motivated. I plan to visit several ice holes and cold pools before the relay.

On Sunday, I will head to the cold pool at Raatti swimming hall, where the water is around 10 degrees. It has always felt much colder to me than today’s ice hole, maybe because I have only ever dipped quickly there. This time, I want to enter calmly and take a slightly cooler shower beforehand to make the transition gentler.

Next week I will visit another winter swimming spot with a sauna. Later in the week, maybe just the ice hole on its own. I also heard that the official competition pool will open for testing next week. It would be exciting to try how far I can swim in the 25-meter lane before the event.

This was only the first step. Over the next weeks I will explore more cold waters, test the competition pool, and see how far courage and practice will take me. The Winter Swimming World Championships will bring a unique atmosphere to Oulu, and maybe I will find my own place in that current. Stay tuned, the story continues.