All posts tagged: swimming

Form Smart Swim 2 LT Goggles Include Innovative Form Correction

Form Smart Swim 2 LT Goggles Include Innovative Form Correction

If you’re planning to use these goggles for open-water swims, your data is pared back. You can see how much distance you’ve covered or view metrics like stroke rate. You can capture more accurate distance tracking and see data like pacing if you already own an Apple Watch or a Garmin watch. That will send the information from the watch to the heads-up display. One open-water feature you’re free to access is SwimStraight. This was previously hidden behind Form’s Premium subscription. It lets you use the built-in compass sensor to swim in a straight line. It works really well once you’ve performed the awkward calibration dance to set up the compass first. Photograph: Michael Sawh That premium subscription mainly gives you access to Form’s suite of training and workout features. That subscription cost starts at $9.99 a month with the option to pay $99 up front for a year’s access. This gives you the added ability to create custom workouts or select from preset ones to add structure to your swimming time. There’s also HeadCoach, …

German Swimming Pool Bans Visitors Who Can’t Speak German, Citing Safety Concerns

German Swimming Pool Bans Visitors Who Can’t Speak German, Citing Safety Concerns

Via Remix News, A public swimming pool in Germany has introduced strict new admission rules barring entry to anyone who cannot speak German, with management insisting the policy is essential to guarantee the safety of guests. The Heidebad natural swimming pool in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, now requires visitors to demonstrate German language skills before being allowed in. Managing Director Mathias Nobel defended the rule publicly, explaining that he is responsible for the safety of thousands of swimmers and will not compromise when it comes to protecting children and families. The facility says that emergency alerts, water-depth warnings, and direct verbal instructions from lifeguards have repeatedly been ignored or misunderstood because of language barriers. In one recent emergency, Nobel, while acting as a lifeguard, had to pull a young child out of deep water due to a language barrier. To reduce these risks, staff will now deny entry to any guest if they determine that essential safety communication cannot be reliably established, according to German media outlet MDR. Pool management acknowledges that the rule has triggered considerable backlash, …

A £350 swimming pool fee ruined our easyJet holiday | Consumer rights

A £350 swimming pool fee ruined our easyJet holiday | Consumer rights

My partner and I paid £2,150 for a week’s all-inclusive break in Marrakech with easyJet Holidays. We chose the Jaal Riad Resort Hotel because of its pool and spa. When we arrived, we were told that use of the heated pool cost £24 a person an hour, the Jacuzzi £24 for 20 minutes, and the hammam was £16 for 20 minutes. Nowhere were these extra fees listed when booking. EasyJet Holidays rejected my complaint and referred me to a line buried at the bottom of the list of facilities that said charges may apply. We were planning on using the pool regularly but could not afford it. If we had known, we would have booked elsewhere. DP, Cambridgeshire Hidden charges can hugely inflate the cost of holidays. Resort fees are the most pernicious – some hotels charge up to £50 a person a day for facilities whether or not they are used. Then there’s the daily tourist tax levied via the accommodation provider during the stay in some countries, and ancillary fees for upgraded wifi …

Wild swimming should be embraced, not condemned | Swimming

Wild swimming should be embraced, not condemned | Swimming

I’m not among those offended by young people seeking relief in cool local waterways in hot weather (The row at Hampstead Heath is about far more than a few thoughtless swimmers in a heatwave, 3 June). Nor do I find the growing trend for wild swimming irritating in any way. The author of Waterlog – my erstwhile English teacher and friend, the late Roger Deakin – did more than most to popularise wild swimming. His view was that if you saw a sign that said “No swimming”, it was as likely as not that locals had been swimming there habitually – and possibly for centuries. He also suggested that in an age of encroaching sanitised living and “health and safety”, river authorities and landowners alike were wont to put up “No swimming” signs to absolve themselves from the burden of responsibility or the expense of providing accessible lifebuoys. Roger once remarked, possibly playfully, that the presence of a prominent lifebuoy post was clear evidence of an attractive swim site, rather than any imminent danger per …

Can freshwater swimming really leave you with stalactites in your ears?

Can freshwater swimming really leave you with stalactites in your ears?

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Cold water swimming has surged in popularity in recent years, with countless people sharing videos of themselves plunging into local ponds and lakes online, praising the activity’s many health benefits. However, comedian Harry Enfield has recently spoken about some adverse effects he has personally experienced. The 65-year-old comedy actor told Ed Gamble and James Acaster on their Off Menu podcast that his regular swims in North London’s Highgate Ponds have led to hearing issues. “I’m deaf, partially deaf and because I swim in Highgate Ponds, I’ve got stalactites in my ears,” Enfield said. He now uses hearing aids to help with the hearing loss. “They’ve got tiny little hearing aids you can get now and apparently they’re very good. They cost a fortune, but …

How freshwater swimming could affect your hearing

How freshwater swimming could affect your hearing

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Cold water swimming has surged in popularity in recent years, with countless people sharing videos of themselves plunging into local ponds and lakes online, praising the activity’s many health benefits. However, comedian Harry Enfield has recently spoken about some adverse effects he has personally experienced. The 65-year-old comedy actor told Ed Gamble and James Acaster on their Off Menu podcast that his regular swims in North London’s Highgate Ponds have led to hearing issues. “I’m deaf, partially deaf and because I swim in Highgate Ponds, I’ve got stalactites in my ears,” Enfield said. He now uses hearing aids to help with the hearing loss. “They’ve got tiny little hearing aids you can get now and apparently they’re very good. They cost a fortune, but …

Can freshwater swimming lead to hearing loss?

Can freshwater swimming lead to hearing loss?

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Cold water swimming has surged in popularity in recent years, with countless people sharing videos of themselves plunging into their local ponds and lakes online, while praising the activity’s many health benefits. However, comedian Harry Enfield has recently spoken about some of the adverse effects that he has personally experienced. The 65-year-old comedy actor told Ed Gamble and James Acaster on their Off Menu podcast that he regular swims in Highgate Ponds in North London, but has now developed hearing issues as a result. Speaking on the pod, Enfield said: “I’m deaf, partially deaf and because I swim in Highgate Ponds, I’ve got stalactites in my ears.” (Ian West/PA) He went on to say that he now has hearing aids to help with the hearing loss. “They’ve got tiny little hearing aids you can get now and apparently they’re very good. …

What’s the safest swimsuit color? Skip blue and black.

What’s the safest swimsuit color? Skip blue and black.

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. A pleasant swim at the beach or pool can quickly turn deadly. Every year, over 4,000 people die from unintentional drowning across the United States.  Swim safety experts say drowning is highly preventable. They recommend learning basic swimming skills, designating “water watchers” to keep an eye on children in the water, and avoiding swimming alone or under the influence. But what if your outfit could stop you from drowning? Swim safety experts say wearing the right color on your next beach day is a good way to stay visible and out of harm’s way—especially for inexperienced swimmers and kids. So what are the safest swimsuit colors? Lisa Zarda, Executive Director of the U.S. Swim School Association, says people wearing bright, neon colors are …

Water safety experts warn of dangers of outdoor swimming as heatwave grips UK | Extreme heat

Water safety experts warn of dangers of outdoor swimming as heatwave grips UK | Extreme heat

Water safety experts have warned about the dangers of outdoor swimming after a spike in drownings as people try to escape soaring temperatures by cooling off in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of water. In recent days, emergency services have reported at least seven deaths because of water-related incidents, with six involving young people, as Britain’s heatwave sends crowds of people to the seaside and other swimming spots. On Wednesday, Cheshire Constabulary said they had recovered a body after searching for a 17-year-old boy who was last seen in the water at Pick Mere, a lake in Northwich. Earlier this week, a teenage girl and four boys died in separate incidents in Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire. And on Monday, a man in his 60s died after suffering cardiac arrest having entered the water at Tregirls Beach near Padstow, in Cornwall, to help two relatives who had got into trouble. Dr Heather Massey, an associate professor in extreme environments and physiology at the University of Portsmouth, urged parents to ensure children visited supervised swimming …

Queen Camilla’s private heatwave-ready swimming pool – 0.4 miles from London home

Queen Camilla’s private heatwave-ready swimming pool – 0.4 miles from London home

Temperatures are on the up this weekend, with many of us looking for some cool relief by visiting our local swimming pools and lidos. If Queen Camilla and King Charles find themselves in need of a dip while at their London mainstay home, they are in luck. Clarence House is situated just 0.4 miles from Buckingham Palace, where the royal couple have access to a private swimming pool. The pool has long been a favourite spot for the royal family.  The private pool at Buckingham Palace © GC ImagesThe palace features a private swimming pool It was originally commissioned in 1938 by Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, who wanted to ensure the privacy of his daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, who had been having swimming lessons at the Bath Club. Later, Sophie Winkleman, the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor and former Peep Show actress, confirmed the Buckingham Palace pool was very much still in use in an interview with Tatler. Sophie detailed how the late Queen Elizabeth II insisted she use the pool to recover …