Winter swimmers from Sogn in Finland

RELAY TEAM: This happy bunch came 5th in the international relay in Imatra, from left Sarah Jane Hails, Bernt Skogsrud, Terje Eggum and Sønnøve Cirotzki.

GOOD CHEER: Omar Fosse Refsdal, Marit Fjøsne and Øydis Bøthun, cheered on the Norwegian team here represented by Simone Stibbe and Sønnøve Cirotzki, in the freestyle relay race on the opening night

ICE POOL: The Finns had prepared a professional arena at Imatra, 5 kilometres from the Russian border.

IMATRA: Winter swimmers from Sogn Fjord Swimming Club participated in the Finnish Winter Swimming Championships, 6-8th February 2009. They returned home, rosy cheeked and smiling, and moreover, with useful experience and performances under their swimming costumes.

The fjord swimmers from Norway undertook a thirteen hour journey involving two flights and a train ride to arrive at a spa resort in the Finnish woods, 5 kilometres from the Russian border. In the icy Vuoksi river, with its source in Russia, the eight representatives from Sogn Fjord Swimming Club swam successfully in both the individual and team relay events of the Finnish Winter Swimming Championships.

The club's freestyle relay tream came 6th on the opening night of the championships in Imatra. &We had difficulty sticking to our lane, due to it being evening and the water dark, but it was a lot of fun,& said first time winter championship swimmer, Sønnøve Cirotzki.

The following day, on Saturday, Sønnøve, Bernt Skogsrud, Simone Stibbe and Sarah Jane Hails all did well in the individual competition series, completing their 25 metre swims in zero degree water well under 25 seconds. Øydis Bøthun, Terje Eggum and the same Skogsrud were proud as punch when they were awarded prizes for best foreign competitors in their respective classes. Omar Fosse Refsdal and Marit Fjøsne also made a sterling effort in the water and supporting their teammates from the spectator stands. On the last day of the championships, Sunday, the club's team in the breaststroke relay race came in at an impressive 5th place in spite of tough competition from Finland, Latvia and England.

Winter swimming is a field of expertise for the Finns, and they certainly know how to organise a winter swimming championship. The Norwegian team were mightily impressed by the well organised event, which managed to host over 1000 competitors. Winter swimming is good for both body and soul, the hundreds of smiling faces around the poolside was evidence to that.

Attending the winter swimming championships in Imatra was the organiser of next year's world championships to be held in Bled, Slovenia in January 2010, Tim Farcnik from SI Sport. He enjoyed the event and returned home with many tips from the Finns to ensure that the next championship will be an even greater success than this one.

Link to Finnish Championship 2009 web site: http://www.imatrantalviuimarit.fi/finnish_championships_2009_in_en/

Link to Winter Swimming World Championships 2010, Slovenia: http://www.2010winterswimming.com/