Got my second issue of H2Open Magazine this week and read it cover to cover. This magazine is just full of great articles and ads for swims that will make you wish you lived in the UK. In this post I'll review a couple of the feature articles and regular columns. I'll start first with an overall impression of the magazine.
As usual, I implore you to subscribe. It really is worth the money. When you fill out the subscriber form, choose Sir or Lady for the salutation, and you get your magazine quicker. (Just joking.) Seriously, the magazine is in large (A4?) European format, so it'll sit higher in a magazine rack and pretty much dominate all other weak-kneed magazines, like your girly house magazines or your over-compensating Maxim. Great photos throughout. It is not considered a "regular" but they always (out of 2 magazines, can I say "always"?) have a Warm Up photo on around page 6 that spreads over two pages. I don't know where they get these beautiful pictures, but if they were inserted into the magazine like a centerfold (which I've never seen because I only read the articles), then I'd hang them up at work.
This issue could use some proof-reading as I've found some spelling errors. And not the joking 'errors' like misspelling favor or color. Real misspellings. (Sorry Simon, I can't turn this function off in my brain; been proofing too long.) And I am glad to see that they might possibly have taken one of my recommendations and added a P next to the page number and article title on page 3. I had initially told Simon that I stupidly thought the number next to each author's picture was the author's age, and I was very complementary to a young-looking woman who was supposedly in her 50's. Doh!
OK, on to some features. The issue's main theme this month is wetsuits. So I'll start with The Big Debate: Wetsuits. This is a short, one-page feature, with Lynne Cox and Richard Stannard debating the pros and cons of wetsuits. As expected, Lynne comes out not in favor of them. She is not unsympathetic to those who would use them, she simply feels "disconnected from the water" and "restricted" wearing one. On the other hand, Richard comes out in favor of them, pointing out that they are really two different sports, wetsuit OW swimming and non-wetsuit OW swimming. He also points out that wetsuits are great for beginners and could attract more people to the sport. In all, it was a friendly debate, and I doubt either side won. I really think it is a personal choice, at least whenever the water isn't so cold that the organizers dictate a choice!
The second feature I'll review is the article on the Vansbrosimningen. (This is one of the articles with spelling errors. Is it Vansbrosimningen or Vanbrosimningen?) I've wanted to do this swim for a couple years and almost registered for it last year, until I learned it would not be easy to arrange with respect to transportation. My Swedish colleague last year told me about the swim, really about the party weekend, and how most people camp at Vansbro because it is easier, more fun, and cheaper. Plus, trying to find a hotel in such a small city (2,000!) would be difficult. Anyway, the swim sounds wonderful, especially considering the varied lengths you could swim all weekend. The magazine's feature has some great photos from last year's event. It pretty much makes me want to try and figure out the logistics of getting there. A helpful addition to the article is a side-bar entitled "Five More...European Summer Swims."
OK, I said I'd cover some regulars, so here goes. Again, Top Spots is on my tops. With a pending UK holiday in June, I am particularly interested in these swimming spots. I simply have to read these articles with google maps handy, as I'm not up to snuff on UK geography. This month, Kate Rew, author of Wild Swim and one of the founders of the Outdoor Swimming Society (I think), picked the best of reader recommendations: Aveton Gifford Estuary in Devon. This regular could use a map for us Yanks and a picture of the location in addition to the picture of the reader who recommended the spot. The best part of this regular is the additional three 'top spots' that either Kate chooses or readers send in. Again, I have no idea where any of these places are, but if they end up anywhere near our holiday locations, I'll be swimming in them.
The second regular I'll review is a new addition to H2Open, Charity Swims. These stories are very heart-warming and can give you ideas for your next swim. Of course my favorite, whoops, I mean, favourite, this month is Fit For Heroes. They don't say much about the charity, but they tell you about a swim that Simon Hearnshaw is organizing to raise money for, one supposes, Brit veterans. I will always support this. If you want to find out more, or even help swim the event and raise money, email alexhearnshaw2@hotmail.com.
That concludes this installment. I will continue the review of H2Open magazine's April/May issue tomorrow. Now go subscribe!
