The French ski resort of Samoëns, located in the valley below Flaine in the huge Grand Massif ski area, is positioning itself as the place to ski if you also like ice swimming.
After hosting the French Ice Swimming Championships in 2022, and then the World Championships in 2023, Samoëns is in talks to host the French Championships again this winter, from 12 to 15 January. No fewer than 542 participants threw themselves into the icy waters of Lac au Dames last time, and no less than 17 world records were set at the last World Championships.
It’s not just for athletes either. This winter Samoëns is setting the challenge for all of its guests to go from (very) hot to (very) cold. A traditional Scandinavian technique the idea is you get hot with 5 to 15 minutes of relaxation in the hot steam of the sauna, then head straight out to immerse yourself in cold water with a temperature of around -5 degrees for a short swim. This proves should be repeated 2 or 3 times during a session lasting no more than 15 minutes in total.
“The benefits of swimming in cold water on physical and mental health are numerous: improved blood circulation, boost to the immune system, reduced stress, intense feeling of well-being and so on,” a Samoëns spokesperson said.
The resort is offering “Introduction to swimming in icy waters” sessions for 15€ for 1h/pers.
Image credit Olga Ryngert
