FEATURES

In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.

Getting disabled kids swimming

Ian Thwaites, Managing Director of Level Water, a charity that helps teach disabled children to swim, says learning to swim…
Why I should date swimmers

I try to write regular blogs for H2Open, but I didn’t think I would have anything to say this month because a…
From beginner to Windermere swimmer…

The Lake District is a beautiful spot. A National Park. The home of Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak, of endless…
Enter the mental tell…

Do you have a mental tell when you’re really tired? Mine is looking down into the river, lake, ocean or…
What do you struggle most with when you swim?

Swimming coach Chris Malpass shares his top tips on sighting technique and breathing while swimming.
Durley Sea Swims

Open water swimming, especially the big swims like the English Channel, fosters a family of like-minded people. I completed my…
Fear of failure

I was on the swim team in high school. After trying several times, I finally made the team in grade…
The evolution of an open water swimmer

Open water swimming has undeniably expanded over the past 10 years due in most parts to the introduction of affordable…
Dealing with lane etiquette and lane rage

A few weeks back Pauline Squire, bravely in our opinion, posted a comment on the Outdoor Swimming Society’s Facebook page…
Nothing Great is Easy – in swimming or in business

Patrick Smith reflects on how his English Channel relay crossing route has parallels in the world of businessThe English Channel…
How an open water swimming club changed my life

Kate Madigan found joining an open water swimming club enabled her to achieve her swimming ambitions, and boosted her social…
I’ll be back

Ed Williams explains why he’s determined to have another crack at the North ChannelOn 2 September I was 18 miles…
How to use a wetsuit to become a non-wetsuit swimmer

At our H2Open Day recently the water temperature was a little over 12 degrees Centigrade. Some people swam in full wetsuits…
Richard Branson talks about The Swim

If you didn’t know already, Richard Branson and Ronan Keating announced earlier this year their intention to swim the Irish…
Sarah’s swim training – step 3

Week three of the Swim for Tri Learn Front Crawl class (http://bit.ly/muH5V6) and I am making progress. After two weeks…
Summer madness

Back in February when we launched H2Open we thought it would be fun to produce a special summer issue on…
Karen Throsby’s Catalina swim

Many thanks to Beth Barnes who featured in our July issue on the I love open water swimming page for…
Speedo Unforgettable Swims

Earlier this year Speedo launched a website atwww.unforgettableswims.com for people to share their favourite swimming memories. Interestingly, although perhaps unsurprisingly, many…
The English Channel

Next issue is our English Channel special. We look at why this particular crossing has become the must-do swim for…
Thank the volunteers

As a relatively competent and confident swimmer I don’t usually pay too much attention to the rescue boat volunteers at…
WOWSA Nomination

When someone else singles you out for praise, and then makes a video about your achievements, it’s difficult to know…
Is the UK at risk of an inter-generational swimming crisis? – And what can be done about it?

We are at risk of condemning a generation of school children to missing out on the delights and benefits of…
A swim well executed – another way to think about swimming goals

Swim coach Dan Abel (Fit & Abel) took part in the April 2014 running of the State King of the Bays swim,…
Great Salford Swim

It was the British Gas Great Salford Swim on Sunday (15th May) so we sent along our editor to make sure…
Sarah’s swim training – step 2

I’m walking the length of a pool, face in the water blowing bubbles, with one arm outstretched in front of…