Ice swimming

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Ice swimming is swimming in a body of water with a frozen crust of ice, which requires cutting a hole in the ice. Stairs must be attached as a safety precaution. This may also be simulated by a pool of water at 0 °C, the temperature at which water freezes. Ice swimming is possible because the freezing of water releases heat, so that the water does not refreeze instantly.

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[edit] Health benefits and risks

Advocates of ice swimming say that it makes one feel fresh all day, improves circulation, and even that it helps build resistance to diseases related to the cold, like the flu. Some find ice swimming also to relieve symptoms of arthritis, and many report it to have a strong anti-depressant effect. They recommend swimming regularly (at least 2-3 times a week) for these effects.

It is common to have a sauna near such a swimming hole, and to cycle from the sauna into the water and back. It can be a shock to the body to dip into freezing water directly from a sauna. It is safer to pause when moving from the sauna to the cold water, and would-be ice swimmers should take care to check with their doctor if they have heart conditions or other ailments that might make them particularly susceptible to this type of shock.

There are no rules for how long one should stay in the water. "Heavy users" can swim in the water for several minutes. Health benefits may be derived from as little as 20 seconds in the water. Many people visit the water twice; some take just a shorter dip. On the other hand, diving under the ice is extremely hazardous and shouldn't be done in any circumstances.

Part of the shock when done in combination with sauna is due to extreme changes of blood circulation. The sauna causes blood to rise to the surface of one's body while avanto (Finnish for a hole in the ice) causes the blood to rush towards one's heart and inside of one's body.

Many Nordic people take a dip in the sea as their morning wake-up ritual without taking a sauna.

[edit] Maintaining the hole in the ice

One way that the hole is maintained in the frozen sea is with a pump that forces the water to circulate under the hole preventing ice from forming.

Most swimming places also use a specific "carpet". It is heated inside and spread along the steps, keeping the place safer to step on.

[edit] Recent interest

Ice swimming has recently become more popular in Finland. There is an Avantouinti Society, and swimming holes are also maintained by other groups such as the Finnish skiing association (Suomen Latu). The Finnish Sauna Society maintains an avanto hole for sauna goers.

Helsinki has several places for avantouinti, with dressing-rooms and sometimes with saunas.


[edit] National traditions

[edit] Finland

In Finland the ice swimming tradition has been connected with the sauna tradition. Unlike dousing, it is not seen as an ascetic or religious ritual, but a way to cool off rapidly after staying in a sauna and as a stress relief.

[edit] China

In Harbin, northern China, many ice swim in the Songhua River. It has grown in popularity since late 1940 as a winter ritual and now as an estimated 200,000 registered swimmers. The river hole is estimated to be 25m by 10m. [7]

[edit] Russia

Ice swimming is part of dousing rituals.

[edit] North America

The members of Canadian and American "polar bear clubs" go outdoor bathing or swimming in the middle of winter. In some areas it is unusual or ceremonial enough to attract press coverage.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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