HISTORY

Everything began with the idea to prolong at least a bit the swimming season at the lake. This idea came from Jasiu Segiet. Since the spring 2000 had come very early we swam regularly in actually since the beginning of may all through whole summer. Then we use to run together with Jasiu Segiet to the lake and swam there in spite of a little bit worse weather. After that in the october the first official swimming took place in which took part actively Mirek, Peter and Jasiu Segiet. With the video camera accompanied us Kokos, Jasiu and Bogusia. Entertainment was great. In oktober and november accompanied me one time respectively Jasiu and Piter. After that I started to swimm alone every weekend whole atumn which ended very soon and in the beginning of the december I had to head the first chalange. The temperature fell to around miner 6 Celsius (and at the lake this is always several grades less) and very strong wind blew. As if it couldn't be worse, when we arrived at the lake it turned up that the lake is frozen. I didn't know what to do. I decided though to swimm and I did it. Ever since I have swam in many various circumstances, also in lower temperature, but in my memmory this incident remained as a reall chalange for ever because the circumstances were in fact extrem because of the wind.The problem how to dig the whole in ice we solve in fallowing way: at first we dig the whole with hammer and chisel so that the water didn't penetrate the whole and only than we used axe to saw the remaining layer (this way we avoid splashing the cold water while striking with hammer and chisel). This patern has endured the test of time and we use it till today. The whole period of the winter 2000/2001 with two exeptions because of objective hindrances, I sweem every weekend usually in saturday in the ice whole and than when the ice melted till the summer in the lake. This was the first year whichenabled me to aquire experience needed.

The Next year I swam regularly again every week and usually in saturdays. Th ecuriosity can be fact that because of very strong winter we had to penetrate the ice of more than 0,5 m thickness. Such a work lasted about 1,5 h.

Till today I sweem regularly both in summer as well as in winter. What is interesting about it? Unforgetable are sweemings in winter at night, or during sun set, in full sun, in frost, in the morning as well as during rain or when snow is melting, in the wind, snow flurry, and when you can't get to the spot because of the snow drifts. I will not mention swimming in summer.

On this occasion I would like to advice all interested to dig the whole in ice with hammer and chisel until it is very thin but not to crack it, and only than to use axe. Besides before getting into water warm up properly. In my pseudo carier I also got in to the water without warming up or with unsuficient warming up, but in this case you could lose temperature of your body to quickly, and the cold of various kinds can fallow. In water when its not frozen I spend up to 6 minutes, when its frozen usually 1 to 2 minutes. Rarely longer, because the body can move to much and lose temperature quicker. Besides the run and rolling in the snow belong to the proper program of every event.

Mirek