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First Prague Cold-Water Swimming Club

The oldest and largest cold-water swimming club in the Czech Republic

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16th Braník Ice — 7th Ladislav Nicek Memorial, 3 February 2018

Braník Ice is one of the competitions organised by our club. Although it receives rather less publicity than the better-known Christmas Alfred Nikodem Memorial, it is at least as demanding as a sporting challenge.

This year’s mild winter gave us a pleasant day with occasional sunshine. To the slight disappointment of those hoping to earn a performance grade and enjoy truly icy water, its temperature rose to 4.4°C — four tenths of a degree above the winter swimming rules’ threshold for ice water. The air was a comfortable 4.3°C, with no sign of snow or ice. Long-term statistics suggest that this happens at Braník Ice no more than twice a decade.

Read more…

Dana Zýková ·

I. PKO Cold-Water Swimmers’ Baptism — Prague-Braník, 7 January 2018

Updated 15 January 2018 with a Czech Radio Plus report.

Newcomers and longstanding I. PKO members gathered for this year’s cold-water swimmers’ baptism on the traditional first Sunday of the new year, at the less traditional but convenient afternoon time of 15:30. Attendance was excellent: 48 new and fairly new members were baptised as cold-water swimmers for the first time. An uncounted number of experienced members came to support them and renew their own baptism, many for the umpteenth time. The media took an interest too: Czech Radio reporter Tereza Šťastná came to the changing rooms and later the riverbank to ask some of those present a few questions. Read more…

Alfred Nikodem Memorial 2017

Updated 31 December 2017 (further media coverage), 30 December (video reports) and 28 December (Jaroslav Kroš’s photo gallery, final results and press coverage).

On St Stephen’s Day, 26 December 2017, the traditional Alfred Nikodem Memorial took place for the 71st time. Organised by our club, it was held beside Prague’s National Theatre. This year the Vltava was 4.5°C and the air −1°C before the competition, but sunshine smiled on swimmers and spectators alike. Read more…

Information for unaffiliated swimmers — Alfred Nikodem Memorial 2017

The Alfred Nikodem Memorial takes place, as traditionally, on 26 December at 11:00 at the southern tip of Slovanský Island. We are delighted that you are interested in joining its 71st edition.

The event is open to swimmers who are not registered with the Czech Swimming Federation, provided they meet these conditions: Read more…

Introducing young people to cold-water swimming

On Saturday 16 December 2017, we will once again hold our event called “Children, meet cold water…”.

We will welcome children from schools in Prague 1, introduce our club’s activities and explain the benefits of regular adaptation to cold.

The event is open to anyone interested in cold-water swimming for children and young people. You will see an ordinary training session, including how experienced swimmers, newcomers and younger members prepare. Details are in the information leaflet. Read more…

The Northernmost Ice Mile

Our I. PKO Praha members Leszek Naziemiec, Lukasz Tkacz, Marek Grzywa, Kinga Korin, Mariusz Lebioda and Artur Kubica successfully took to the cold Norwegian waters. It was a successful expedition, and the Ice Mile completions listed below are particularly significant sporting achievements.

Below is our account, translated from an article published by the International Ice Swimming Association: North Most Ice Mile record. Read more…

The autumn time trial

This autumn’s work party had a particularly energetic, get-things-done spirit. Coordinator Vladimír Čadil especially appreciated the strong turnout and everyone’s hard work. We restored the clubhouse to its former glory and prepared firewood for the coming season. Read more…

The spring time trial

On 23 June 2017 we held our traditional Vltava time trial. We call this event our “triple event”, because it consists of a work party, a race and a campfire. The work party put the swimmers in good spirits and loosened them up — a rather distinctive warm-up. And, as everyone knows, warming up is always useful in sport, so ideally every competitor should join the work party. Read more…