Come to Stockholm in 2018

STOCKHOLM is widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, built where lake meets sea, on fourteen island, with eight centuries of history and culture to choose from. #Stockholm is a ground breaking, welcoming and innovative trendsetter.

EuroPride 2018 - Stockholm, together with Gothenburg, will host Europride 2018. Two cities, one country – for a united Europe open to the world. Stockholm held Europride 1998 and 2008. We now have the opportunity to celebrate 20 years in Sweden, while simultaneously carrying out the 25th EuroPride event.

ÖTILLÖ (meaning island to island in Swedish) is the original and the world’s longest swimrun race, renowned as one of the toughest one-day races in the world. At the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship competitors alternate trail running and open water swimming for a total of 75 km in the beautiful Stockholm archipelago, passing over and between 26 islands. www.otillo.se

Stockholm Marathon 40 years - Stockholm has a long tradition of arranging running events, and on Saturday 2 June 2018 the ASICS Stockholm Marathon will take place for the 40th consecutive year. www.stockholmmarathon.se

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Breaking the ice in Denmark

THE Winter swimmers, the "Icebreakers" (Isbryderne), hosts the yearly Skagen Winter Swimming Festival, which next year takes place the 25th-28th of January 2018. The event is organized in cooperation with the local Tourist Board Turisthus Nord.

The Skagen Winter Swimming Festival welcomes all true Vikings and guarantees ice cold sea dips, hot drinks, a close encounter with the unique nature of Skagen and a varied program.

Each morning starts of course with a morning sea swim for all participants at "Sønderstrand" near "Grenen".

The Winter Weather in Skagen is raw and gritty, and the winter swimmers therefore put their courage to the test when they meet the ice cold wind and waves. But the atmosphere is fantastic and invigorating! After the cold swim hot soup is served by Jacob's Café.

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Picture Credit: visitdenmark.co.uk

Swim with Whales in Tonga

THE biggest-ever whale swim season in Tonga – both in numbers of whales and travellers – has been chronicled in two compelling, new, short videos produced for Majestic Whale Encounters that capture the beauty and power of swimming with the gentle humpbacks in the kingdom’s tropical lagoons. The inspiring and moving clips – both under four minutes long and now available for viewing on www.majesticwhaleencounters.com.au

Following a bumper whale swim season in Tonga for Majestic Whale Encounters, with more whales than ever and bookings for the Australian eco operator up 15 per cent on last year, Majestic Whale Encounters will offer eight eight-night whale swim tours in Tonga in 2018.

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Sports Tourism Boost for US Virgin Islands

THE United States Virgin Islands is now an approved destination to host National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams and, in addition to hosting basketball, volleyball and swimming events, the Territory can facilitate the participation of soccer, lacrosse and other NCAA-sponsored sports during the summer months.

Governor Kenneth E. Mapp said the new designation represented a huge boost for sports tourism opportunities in the Territory.

The Paradise Jam Summer Tours, which allow visiting teams to experience the natural beauty of the USVI while playing competitive out-of-season games against international opponents, will feature basketball games on St. Thomas, and for the first time, on St. Croix.

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Tour the Galapagos Islands on a stand up paddleboard

SAN CRISTOBEL based Galakiwi Adventures has launched the most in-depth #SUP tour of the #Galapagos Archipelago.

Tim Cooney, said "We've had SUPs in our office in the Galapagos for many years, but felt it was finally time to offer them on our public tours. This new tour is all about enjoying the beautiful water in the Galapagos. We have packed this trip full of SUP, snorkel, swim and kayak options."

This 10-day Galapagos SUP tour includes some activity on the water almost every day. It is suitable for people with any level of SUP experience, as each SUP activity can be substituted for kayaking.

Visiting Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal, this SUP tour is set to launch in January 2017, with departures every other week. Details about the new Galapagos tour are available on their website at www.galakiwi.com. To kick things off, Galakiwi is also offering a free day tour to Espanola Island for early bookers.

Picture  Credit: www.galakiwi.com

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Aqua Park makes a splash

CORNWALL'S first giant inflatable Aqua Park has welcomed its 15,000th guest since opening in April. 

The floating #AquaPark at Retallack Resort and Spa near #Padstow has been bounced on, slid down and conquered by thousands of groups, birthday parties, and businesses.

The course, which can take up to 65 people at once and is designed for adrenaline junkies aged seven and over, features a giant trampoline, climbing walls, slides, a 'blast bag', and a challenging balance beam.

Amy Keyter, marketing director at the resort, said: ‘The numbers have gone way beyond our expectations. The sessions have been jam packed with individuals and especially groups, businesses have really taken to it as a fun way of having some team bonding away from the office.’

Prices for the Aqua Park are £15 per person for one hour with discounts available for group bookings including birthday parties, hen weekends, and corporate team building days. Guests over 65 pay £6.50.

During the summer holidays, the Aqua Park will be open every day, with hourly sessions running from 10am to 7pm.


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Picture Credit: 26767541@N00/28369687533">The Swimmer</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com

ABTA urges families to Swim Safe this summer

AS FAMILIES get ready to head away for their summer holidays, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is urging them to Swim Safe.

According to statistics published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, 30 children under ten years old have drowned in holiday swimming pools abroad over a six-year period, with more than half of these victims under four years old. Last year, ABTA was made aware of 19 fatal drownings abroad of UK holidaymakers, 7 in swimming pools and 12 in the sea.

Families are urged to take care and always follow pool and beach rules and signs, check the pool lay-out to know where the deep and shallow ends are, and never leave children unsupervised. 

ABTA’s top tips for swimming safety:

• Brush up on your swimming skills before you go away 
• If you’ve got kids, get in the water with them 
• Always follow pool rules and local signs 
• Check the pool layout 
• Check warning flags and signage on the beach 
• Beware of dangerous currents 
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth 
• Don’t dive or jump from rocks, piers, breakwaters, or poolside furniture
• Never swim alone; buddy up’ with others in your party 
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol 
• Know how and where to get help if you see someone in difficulty 

Even if you swim regularly in a pool, remember that open water can be very different; cold water reduces significantly the distance that you can swim, even for strong swimmers

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British adventurer prepares for Channel Islands triathlon

ENDURANCE athlete and adventurer #LauraKennington will circumnavigate three of the #ChannelIslands in June in her own Channel Islands Triathlon, supported by VisitGuernsey. 

The 29-year-old British athlete will swim around Sark, kayak around Guernsey, and cycle around Jersey over three days in a challenge never before attempted.

Laura aims to inspire and encourage others to take on their own adventures, and to showcase Guernsey as a leading adventure sports destination.

Laura’s toughest challenge to date will begin on June 11 with the five-mile swim around the island of Sark, just off Guernsey’s east coast. The Channel Islands have one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, and water temperatures in June expected to be around 12C/53.6F.

After circumnavigating Sark, Laura will kayak 28 miles non-stop around Guernsey on June 12, followed by a 45-mile cycle ride around Jersey on June 13.

www.lauraexplorer.com
www.visitguernsey.com

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Swimming with pigs in the Bahamas

THE BAHAMAS is the ‘Official Home’ of swimming pigs, according to the local tourist board – although, it’s not immediately apparent how many rivals the #destination has for the prestigious title. 

Visitors embrace the unique porcine swimming opportunity, greeting the pigs on the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay, affectionately called ‘Pig Beach’.

Chris O’Toole takes a dip with local tour operator, Coastline Adventures …

‘I’ll admit it wasn’t top of my priority list. Indeed, before touching down in The Bahamas’ capital of Nassau I wasn’t even aware swimming with pigs was possible, let alone desirable.

But having been told by both Joy Jibrilu, director general at the #Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and Bahamas minister of tourism Obediah Wilchcombe, that it was the done thing, I thought I’d better give it a go.

Tour operator Coastline Adventures provided the opportunity, offering half- or full-day tours from the island of Exuma.

Boarding with captain Bob Smith, he answers the question on everybody’s lips by explaining that some years ago a pig farmer saw the need to put a few pigs on Big Majors Cay for breeding purposes.

Other local legends suggest the pigs were dropped off by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them or that there was a shipwreck nearby and the pigs swam to safety.

However it was that they came to be, they are now the highlight of local tourism.

Approaching on board a luxurious yacht they came into view, splashing about in the crystal clear waters. Though feral, they are exceptionally friendly, with more running from under the shade of the almond trees to greet visitors they hope will bring them treats. The pigs frolic freely on the sandy beaches, and after basking in the sun for hours, they swim in the surf. They are also fed by the crews of passing yachts and vessels.

Approximately 20 pigs and piglets survive on Big Major Cay, partly because the island has three freshwater springs, and partly due to the generosity of visiting islanders and tourists.

Dipping into the water, it’s certainly a surreal experience, with the larger pigs swimming past at great speed. Some even attempt to board the boat.

But once the initial commotion dies down, the experience becomes calming and even therapeutic. The pigs splash past in pursuit of bread offered by tourists, while the visitors try to grab selfies in the surf.

Back on the boat, it’s time for complementary rum and fruit Punch! ’

http://coastlineadventuresexuma.com

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Carmarthenshire Launches Travellers’ Triathlons

HOLIDAYMAKERS in search of a fitness challenge have a new way to combine the two thanks to Carmarthenshire in West #Wales, which has launched a series of #Travellers’ #Triathlons across the county.

The self-guided routes make it possible for visitors to incorporate fitness into their break while giving them a unique way to discover the scenery the county has to offer.

The collection comprises three suggested routes (The Pendine Path, The Coastal Challenge, and The Riverside Route) for visitors to explore, true to a triathlon, by bike, on foot, or by water.

Details of the routes – for all fitness levels – can be found at www.discovercarmarthenshire.com/active/triathlon.html

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14683455@N00/4813709584">Gullane Beach Triathlon_0123</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Rough seas off Spain claim third British victim

A THIRD Briton has reportedly drowned off the Spanish coast. The man, believed to be 48, is said to have drowned in Salou on Tuesday while a swimming warning flag was in place.

His death comes days after two women from Birmingham were swept away in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: ‘We can confirm the death of a British national in Salou.’

A Lloret de Mar police spokesman said there were red flag swimming warnings because of the rough conditions.

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Take a dip on Aruba

#ARUBA is making a splash with its natural pool voted among the world's best. 

In a global TripAdvisor poll, the island’s conchi – the local word in the Dutch Caribbean island for its shell-shaped natural pool – was voted one of the 12 best locations in the world for #naturalswimming.

The pool is at the base of shore cliffs within the #ArikokNationalPark. Visitors reach it by crossing rocky ravines on foot or horseback.

www.aruba.com

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Picture Credit: www.aruba.com

Get beach smart!

BECAUSE many sea rescues involve young swimmers and bodyboarders, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has produced a safety pack to help keep children safe when they’re out having fun in the surf.

The Get Beach Smart for summer pack – which can be downloaded from www.beachsmart.org.uk – includes tips for parents, a wave guide for the children, and stickers that can be attached to bodyboards and beach bags.

#RNLI lifeguards went to the aid of more than 7,900 children on Britain’s beaches last year, and this year will have lifeguards on 220 beaches.

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Picture Credit: www.beachsmart.org.uk

Glasses for swimmers!

PEOPLE who have to wear glasses when they swim have a problem, especially if they like swimming underwater. Swimming goggles don’t fit comfortably over glasses. But after years of research and development by optical expert Bob Forgan, there is a watersport mask – Aquaviz – for swimmers with vision problems.

Aquaviz is a 'snap in' insert, containing the wearer's prescription lenses (including bi-focals and varifocals) that fits in to specially-designed watertight goggles. The insert has been designed to sit the same distance away from eyes as most regular glasses.

As well as being the first goggles to incorporate the user's prescription lenses, the Aquaviz mask sits around the eyes, so they are said to be comfortable.

Cost: £39.95 plus postage and packaging.

www.aquaviz.com

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English beaches 'at risk' of failing new water quality standards

THE Environment Agency has warned that a record number of #England'sbeaches are at risk of failing to meet European Union (EU) water quality standards this year.

It suggests new EU regulations will make it harder for beaches to attain the top ‘excellent’ rating.

More than 99% of English beaches passed last year's tests, but this is forecast to drop by 6%, with the water at 25 beaches possibly classed as ‘poor’.

Among those at risk are beaches in Margate, Ilfracombe, Blackpool, Lancing, Lyme Regis, and Fleetwood.

The Environment Agency will take water samples from 400 locations across England each week until the end of September.

Sites will have to display signs at all bathing areas by the end of the summer showing if the standards have been passed and whether or not people should swim.


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