Winter swimming in Helsinki 17.3.2011

Swimming in the sea is really the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of what to do in Finland during the winter, but because it's possible, I had to give it a try. It's just -1 Celsius degrees anyway, almost summer time.

In Helsinki there are 15 organized places available (in two of these there isn't even a sauna available). The place names are links so you're able to get more info by pressing them.

Furuvik
Katajanokka

Marjaniemi

Munkkiniemi

Ouritsaari

Pikkukoski

Rajasaari

Rastila

Ryssänkärki

Salmi

Seurasaari

Soutustadion

Tuorinniemi

Uunisaari

Vaskiniemi

It's actually such a culture for the worthy and hardcore that in most places (14 out of 15) you have to pay a membership fee to be able to enjoy swimming in a freezing hole in the ice. This fee is everything between 30€ and 150€ per season.

The only place where you can try it out in recreational and spontaneous madness matters is Rastila Camping area. There's nothing more obvious than paying 6,50€ to get the privilege of throwing yourself in a hole in the ice and enjoy a public sauna in the middle of the winter, right?

Rastila sauna - can also be rented for private occasions

After sitting in the sauna for 15 minutes with other beloved Helsinki residents it was time to pull on some socks, take a towel and walk out in the sub-zero (celsius) weather towards the dark hole in the sea about 50 meters away. So what do you do when you're there? You surrender to your adrenaline, shut down all your instincts of self-defense and walk in and enjoy the about 3 degree water. It's crazy, still at the same time so refreshing. After pulling a few swims you get up again, freeze for a while, until the air doesn't feel that cold anymore and climb back into the sauna. The air is literally colder than the sea so when you're covered in above zero degree water, it's really nice. Repeat according to what your body tells you.

Jumping around in this environment in only shorts and taking a swim is e-p-i-c.

But alas! We weren't the only first timers. We witnessed Erasmus students from Malaga, Spain who were absorbing everything from the Finnish culture trying winter swimming out as well. That's definitely something they can brag about to their friends, considering it's about 20 degrees Celsius there at the moment.

Anyway, three times swimming and an hour later of new experiences it was time to go home and sleep like a baby. How did it feel then? Like something you've never done before but certainly will in the future!

Moreover if you don't have a car you still get there very easily by metro. The sauna is about 300 meters from the Rastila metro station. What are you waiting for? All you non-Finns who reads this, when you pay me a visit in the winter, you're going to try and in-joy this epicness of epicnessness! I did forget my swimming shorts there so I have to re-visit Rastila tonight.