SWIMMER SPOTLIGHT

More than 20 different swimmers joined The Cold Water Method during our first month, each bringing their own goals, challenges and achievements.

This period has not just been about participation, but progression. For many, it has been about first steps more than anything — people who had never set foot in a lake before discovering that, with the right respect, guidance, and education, open water is not something distant or extreme, but something accessible, natural, and deeply grounding.

Special mentions this month go to:

DOMINIC
At just 10 years old, Dominic has become our youngest swimmer and has shown fantastic confidence in open water.

BENEDICT
At 15 years old, Benedict produced an impressive 1km time of 16:13 and continues to develop into a strong and capable open water swimmer.

BRANDON
Brandon has made enormous progress throughout the month. During a pool session he completed his first 10k (marathon) swim, before going on to complete his first open water 5km swim in an outstanding time of 1 hour 19 minutes.

He has also been entered into this year’s North West and North East Regional Open, with big things to come as his open water journey continues to build momentum. With a strong competitive pool swimming background and rapidly growing open water experience, his trajectory is only moving in one direction.

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD

Alongside several completed 1km swims throughout the month and our first official 5km swim in the lake, the real achievement has not been the distances themselves, but the people behind them.

What stands out most is how many individuals have stepped forward for their very first experiences in open water — leaving comfort zones behind, taking on cold water for the first time, and discovering what they are capable of when guided properly and given the right environment.

Open water swimming asks for more than fitness. It asks for trust, patience, awareness, and a willingness to adapt to something completely natural, yet unfamiliar.

This month has shown that when those first steps are taken with respect and support, the water stops being something to fear and becomes something to learn from.

THE COLD WATER METHOD: AN AMERICAN EXPEDITION

The upcoming July expedition is now officially finalised.

The Cold Water Method will travel to the United States, to the border of New Jersey and New York States, for a landmark open water challenge on Greenwood Lake .“The State Line Swim.”

This body of water sits between two states, long admired for its scale, beauty, and unpredictability. In July, it becomes the stage for something never recorded before.

The Cold Water Method’s coach Aleks will attempt the first documented full circumference swim of Greenwood Lake, covering approximately 11.5 miles (18.5 km) of continuous open water.

This is not simply a swim. It is an endurance crossing of geography, weather, and mindset — a continuous loop around an entire living landscape.

Alongside the physical challenge, this swim will also serve a deeper purpose: raising awareness for paediatric heart health and supporting NYU Langone Hospital, highlighting the importance of early care, research, and treatment for children facing cardiac conditions.

The intention behind this project extends beyond one individual performance.

We hope this effort lays the foundation for a recurring ultra-distance open water challenge on Greenwood Lake, open to swimmers from all backgrounds and nations, creating a shared tradition built on endurance, respect, and connection to cold water.

Special thanks to the sponsors: The Cove Castle Restaurant, Greenwood Lake Marina, Great Gorge Golf Club, and Michalski-Ottens Law.

With additional gratitude to Bobby Pereira and Garrett Gardner for orchestrating and helping bring this expedition to life.

If successful, Greenwood Lake will not just be a route. It will become a ritual.

FIELD NOTES: NORTH WEST WATERS

The past month has seen The Cold Water Method travelling across some of the most beautiful cold-water locations in Northern England.

From hidden woodland plunge pools to powerful waterfalls, we have continued our search for wild swimming locations that offer both challenge and adventure.

During late April and May we visited:

• Stainforth Force
• Lumb Hole Falls
• Janet’s Foss
• Ashworth Waterfall
• Catrigg Force

Water temperatures ranged from a refreshing 16°C at some locations to a bracing 9°C at others. Every location offered something different, from gentle immersions to powerful waterfalls and deep plunge pools.

These places remind us that cold water is not something to conquer, but something to respect.

And respect must come first.

Cold water changes everything. It alters breath, judgement, strength and awareness in seconds. This month, more than 12 deaths have been reported in the news from cold/open water incidents where people underestimated its power or entered without proper preparation.

This is not said to create fear, but clarity.

Never go alone. Never assume conditions are safe. Never treat cold water casually. Even experienced swimmers can be caught out when respect slips into assumption.

Our philosophy is built on progression, not bravado. Acclimatisation, guidance, and awareness come before distance or challenge. Every swimmer must earn their way into deeper, colder and more exposed environments.

Looking ahead, we plan to introduce organised cold-water immersion trips to waterfall locations. These will focus on education first — teaching safe entry, controlled breathing, environmental awareness, and how to properly read natural water conditions.

Cold water offers something rare and powerful. But it demands respect in return.

GET INVOLVED

The Cold Water Method is still growing, and new swimmers, explorers, and supporters are always welcome.

We run group sessions every Thursday and Friday, alongside 1-to-1 coaching available every morning for those looking for more focused guidance, progression, or support with open water confidence and technique.

If you are interested in joining a session, experiencing open water for the first time, or simply learning more about cold water immersion in a safe and guided environment, please get in touch.

This is a community built on progression, respect for nature, and taking first steps — no matter where you start.

Images in this edition are courtesy of C&J Captures