Four local swimmers swapped coastal sun for freezing inland water at last weekend’s South African Ice Swimming Championships.

Hosted at the Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Resort on Saturday, the event saw swimmers take on varying distances between 50m and 2km.

Salt Rock’s Joanna Dempsey was the fastest swimmer across 50 and 100 metres, while the trio of Jose de Charmoy, David Tate and Mike Pengelly all finished the 500-metre challenge.

“Ice swimming is a wonderful sport that is fast growing in popularity across the country,” said Dempsey.

“Events need to be held in water that is 10°C or less, with last weekend’s swim measured at around 8°C. The international standard is around 5°C – you basically can’t get colder than that unless you go to the arctic.”

All four swimmers are tidal pool regulars, with Dempsey training at Salt Rock and the other three swimming daily at Thompson’s Bay.

“The difference with the ice swim is that you’re facing the temperature as well as the fitness aspect,” said Dempsey.

“We all acclimatised our bodies by doing regular ice baths in the lead-up and it certainly made a difference for the swim.

“Such is the cold that you actually ‘warm’ yourself “After the swim you run your feet under a cold tap, because hot water would be too dramatic a temperature shift when your whole body temperature has dropped.”

Dempsey finished her 100m freestyle in 1.27:95 and 50m in 38:72, both good for first place overall and a slot in the South African team for the International Ice Swimming Championships in Italy next year.

De Charmoy finished as the fastest of the trio, completing an icy 500m swim in 12.01:73, good for fourth overall and top for the over-70s at that distance.

Tate and Pengelly finished in 16.26:71 and 16.37:84 respectively, claiming silver and bronze for the over-70s.

“I am constantly inspired by the three gentleman who not only finished the longer distance but also helped to raise R30 000 for the Underberg Giant’s Cup Animal Welfare charity in the area,” said Dempsey.

“Many dogs freeze to death during the Drakensberg winter and this charity helps to prevent that.”

Aside from ice swimming, Dempsey is also active in KwaZulu-Natal masters swimming.

Durban will play host to the SA Masters Championships next year and she is hoping to get more people registered for the KZN team.

If you are older than 18 and swim regularly, register your interest for masters swimming at kznmastersswimming@gmail.com

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