Although I’ve been travelling to Norway throughout the year for a long time now, this is the first time I’ve spend the whole winter here. And it has really settled in with a vengeance. It’s cold even by Norwegian standards with the air temperature running between -4 and -10˚C and the wind chill hitting -18-20˚C for over 3 weeks now – and with more of the same forecasted
A couple of weeks ago it was quite wind-still. This meant that we had to break the ice to get into the sea. The temperature in the water was 0.8˚C.
By last weekend, the north-easterly wind had been blowing for a few days, clearing the ice where we swim but bringing the water temperature down to a new record low (at least for me) of 0.5˚C.
I’ve been super-interested to note, however, that it really hasn’t felt nearly as bad as I thought it would. I think this is down to the fact that I’ve developed a really good routine over the 17 years since my first winter. Some of this has been based on proper research. Other parts on my observations and personal experience over the years.
I’ve found the most important thing is to go into the water warm. I remember, one winter day, cycling down to the swimming club in Brighton inadequately dressed, thinking that it was so cold in the water that it didn’t matter if I was cold when I got in. How wrong I was! It was a thoroughly unpleasant experience (though still better than not swimming once I’d warmed up) and one that I was determined not to repeat.
There Are Two Things To Consider – Generating Heat & Keeping Heat
Back home in Brighton I usually cycle to my swim. It turns out that this is the best thing to do according to research. Warming up actively – in other words, generating heat from the inside out through exercise – means you cool slower than if you warm up passively in front of a heater. The latter option actually means you cool down quicker than if you hadn’t warmed up at all. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that on the odd occasion when I’ve had to drive to my swim, I find it colder when I enter the water and I get colder quicker once I'm in. In Norway, I jog through the woods with my miniature Schnauzer, Lego.
Keeping hold of that heat is important. On the bike, I use multiple layers – starting with an updated version of the string vest from a Norwegian company, Brynje. In terms of thermodynamics, the string vest is actually a brilliant solution. Air is a fantastic insulator so, if you can keep a still layer of air next to the skin – as you can with a string vest covered with a close-fitting mid-layer – you can really keep the heat in.