With much of the UK experiencing icy conditions and temperatures below freezing, now is the perfect time to talk about ice swimming. We caught up with Ram Barkai, Chairman and Founder of International Ice Swimming Association (IISA), to learn more about this extreme sport. And make no mistake: ice swimming is an extreme sport.
What Is Ice Swimming?
To be precise we will use the official IISA definition. IISA defines ice swimming as:
Swimming in water temperatures of 5.0°C / 41.0°F or lower, unassisted, wearing one standard swimming costume, one pair of goggles, and one standard silicone swim cap.
That means:
❌ No wetsuit
❌ No gloves
❌ No boots or footwear
So while many of us may currently be swimming in very cold water, if you’re following this set of standards congratulations, you’re ice swimming! And this week across the UK, the Dippy Tribe is very much doing just that.
The Ice Mile
Completing an Ice Mile is no small achievement and definitely not something you can attempt on a whim. An Ice Mile consists of:
- One mile (1,609.3 metres)
- Swum in water below 5°C
- Under full IISA rules and safety regulations
We asked Ram how long an Ice Mile typically takes to complete:
“For most swimmers, an Ice Mile will take between 20 and 45 minutes.”
This is not a challenge for beginners. IISA — along with coaches and swim organisations worldwide — strongly recommends building up gradually and completing shorter cold-water swims before attempting an Ice Mile.
Types of IISA Ice Swims
IISA promotes two main categories of ice swimming:
1. Adventure Swims
These are individual swims and personal challenges, including the Ice Mile.
To attempt an official Ice Mile, swimmers must:
- Register with IISA
- Follow strict safety and integrity regulations
- Swim under the country of their citizenship
Successful swims are officially recognised and entered into the IISA record books.
2. Competition Swims
IISA hosts competitive events throughout the year, with officially recorded results.
- Distances of 1,000m and below are allowed.
- Longer distances and more extreme challenges are also available for experienced swimmers looking to push beyond the Ice Mile.
More Information & Events
IISA has 7,000 members in 206 countries, with 638 ice miles completed.
To find out how to become a member, to take part in events, become an ice mile swimmer then visit:
www.internationaliceswimmingassociation.com
The next major IISA event takes place in February 2026, running over four days. The 2nd European Open Ice Swimming Championship will be held in Lake Molveno, Italy.
Ice Swimming: More Than Just the Cold
Ice swimming is an extreme sport with significant physical and mental benefits, guided by the IISA motto: “Safety and Integrity in the Ice.”
The “Ice Smile”
As Ram Barkai (photographed above) explains:
"There's a reason we call it the 'ice smile' in our unique sport of ice swimming.
The moment you leave the water, something changes. The cold triggers a powerful physiological response, a surge of endorphins, adrenaline and dopamine released as your body reacts to extreme cold exposure.
Blood flow shifts, breathing steadies, what follows is often an uncontrollable smile. Not because it was easy, but because you did something genuinely demanding.
Ice swimming strips everything back. There’s no distraction, no room to overthink. For those minutes in water at 5 °C or below, you are completely present. That focus, combined with the body’s natural chemical response to cold, creates a feeling of clarity, calm and achievement that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
The “ice smile” is shared. You see it on the faces of swimmers from all over the world: different ages, countries and backgrounds. It’s a sign of respect for the challenge, for the conditions, and for each other.
And for this, I am proud."
Dippy Swim Co would like to wish everyone attempting an Ice Mile or taking part in an IISA event in 2026 the very best of luck — and huge congratulations for being brave enough to give it a go.
A special shout-out to the IISA Great Britain entrants. ❄️💪