Chojnice, December 6th – 8th, 2013

On December 6th - 8th, 2013 at a beautiful Charzykowskie Lake near Chojnice , city – which is a member of the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) , the First Polish Open International Championships in extreme winter swimming took place. Championships were held at the Chojnice Sailing Club marina (the oldest sailing club in Poland).

Nearly 100 competitors from across the Polish affiliated Winter Swimming Clubs, as well as unaffiliated competitors took part in these championships. They represented nearly 20 cities in our country - Gdańsk , Sopot, Gdynia, Elblag, Mielno, Sępólno Krajeńskie, Gorzow Wielkopolski , Białogard, Wloclawek, and many others. It should be noted that many Polish Winter Swimming Clubs have been active for decades and new clubs are still being opened. 26 winter swimmers (of both sexes) from the UK, 3 winter swimmers from Kaliningrad and individual swimmers from Germany and Sweden also participated in the championships. Winter swimmers from the UK represented mainly South London Swimming Club.

The races featured two distances: 25m and 50m breaststroke, 25m and 50m freestyle and 4x25m relay, men and women separately, divided into different age groups. The youngest player representing Russia (Kaliningrad) was 20 years old, the oldest representative of Gdansk Tough Guy Club “Lech Mors” was 77 years. Championship were conducted by licensed swimming referees.

Opening of the Championships was performed by the Mayor of Chojnice. The white and red flag was hoisted on a mast. The Honorary Patronage was granted by the Marshal of the Senate of Poland

Mr. Bogdan Borusewicz to help promote this particular sport. The winners received commemorative medals and diplomas.

All participants expressed their appreciation for the excellent organization of the championships despite extreme weather conditions. On the day before the championships cyclone Xaver raged over the Northern Poland. Blowing snow caused significant traffic delays on the ground and in the air. There was also, fortunately only temporary, failures in the power supply. Through effective intervention of the relevant services electricity was restored and championship started without delay. The atmosphere of the championship can be observed on photographs and video footage on www.Chojnice24.pl.

The organizers: Centrum Park Chojnice and people associated in Gdansk Tough Guy Club "Lech Mors" under the guidance of the world champion in swimming in icy water Lech Bednarek (www.twardziellechmors.pl).

There is a new challenge for Polish winter swimmers - participation in the World Championships in Rovaniemi in Finland in March 2014. We have already started preparations for the II Polish Open International Championships in extreme winter swimming in December 2014. The organizers are counting on strong participation of winter swimmers representation from all over Europe, especially from the countries of the Baltic Sea. Our foreign guests said that the 2013 championships were one of the best organized competitions they have ever attended.

One of the frosted winter swimmers from Gdansk Tough Guy Club "Lech Mors", Jacek Starościak.

starosciak2012@wp.pl