Portishead Popsicle 2024 - festive cold water swimming gala

If you fancy a festive swimming challenge, a bit of friendly competition and a good excuse to soak in a hot tub, drink mulled wine and eat mince-pies then this is the event for you. In the past water temperatures for Portishead Popsicle have been as low as four degrees celsius - who knows what the weather will bring us this year? Although it's a safe bet that it won't bring us warm!

The Popsicle is a cold water swimming gala where the emphasis is on putting the fun in fundraising. All profits from the event will help to support this community run open air pool, and we actively welcome swimmers who want to take on this challenge to raise funds for causes close to their own hearts.

We are offering the following events to swimmers over the age of 14:

133m relay

4 swimmers each swimming one length of the pool. In this event there is no differentiation between teams where some wear wetsuits and some don't, and there is no gender requirement for the teams. Teams seeking sponsorship to fundraise for charities or organisations close to their hearts are very welcome, and we'll ensure your charity gets a mention. Extra points will be awarded for teams swimming in imaginative head-gear. In past years we've had some wonderfully extravagant fancy-dress outfits amongst our relay teams; competition for 'best fancy dress' is fierce. Speed-demons also welcome, as gold, silver and bronze are awarded on times.

133m event (4 lengths)

Freestyle; results will be posted for male, female, wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers, but you are welcome to swim just for fun too.

333m event (10 lengths)

Freestyle; results will be posted for male, female, wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers, but you are welcome to swim just for fun too.

66.6m fly event (2 lengths)

Butterfly; results will be posted for male, female, wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers, but you are welcome to swim just for fun too.

Individual Medley (4 lengths)

1 length each of butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke and front crawl to be swum in that order; results will be posted for male, female, wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers, but you are welcome to swim just for fun too

The Grand National (2 lengths)

You must gallantly ride your trusty inflatable unicorn steed for two lengths, if you become unseated during the race you'll need to remount to finish. Extravagant headwear welcome and as we cannot supply the unicorns you must bring your own steed. There are no gender or wetsuit / skins divisions for this race - as long as you wear something we don't mind what it is. Last year we had a lot of self-identifying unicons. That's OK - we believe strongly in equal rights for all inflatable creatures. And people. Obviously.

Fast & Furious (and freezing)

Team event - teams of 4 swimmers will have 15 minutes to swim as many lengths as possible relay style. The team that clocks up the most lengths in 15 minutes takes the crown; it's that simple. The freezing part? All 4 of you must stay in the water at all times. If one of your team has had enough before the 15 minutes is up then it's one out, all out and your length total will be recorded at that point. As with all our races if a volunteer or staff member judges a swimmer to be struggling then you'll be asked to get out. These teams must be mixed gender, and no more than two team members can wear wetsuits. It is VITAL that every member of your team trains properly for this event and is acclimatised enough to spend this amount of time in the water. If you are a casual winter dipper, this is not the event for you.

There will be hot tubs available for a warming soak after your swim, mulled wine and other hot drinks are available as are a variety of hot and cold snacks. Spectators are very welcome, free of charge, and they'll have a great view of your swim from our terraces.

There will also be a lane available for spur of the moment dippers and swimmers, who can simply arrive and pay on the day. These swimmers should note, however, that swimmers who have entered the gala will be prioritised for use of the hot-tubs if they become over-crowded.

ENTRIES CLOSE ON 2nd DECEMBER, but please note that in past years most events have sold out quite quickly so early booking is advisable.

REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN FROM 0830 TO 1030 ON THE DAY, PLEASE ARRIVE IN PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR SWIM AND CERTAINLY NO LATER THAN 1030 - IF YOU MISS REGISTRATION YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SWIM. RELAY / FAST, FURIOUS & FREEZING TEAM CAPTAINS SHOULD NOTE THAT THEY CANNOT REGISTER THEIR TEAM MATES, ALL SWIMMERS MUST REGISTER THEMSELVES. THE FIRST RACE WILL START AT 0930 AND A FULL SCHEDULE OF RACES, START TIMES AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE START PROCEDURE WILL BE EMAILED TO ALL REGISTERED SWIMMERS ON 9th DECEMBER.

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

Swimmers must be over 14 years of age, there is no upper age limit.

Do I need to be fit to do this event?

You do not need to be very athletically fit, but you must be able to confidently swim the distance you are entering. If you have any underlying medical condition including, but not limited to, any heart condition, low / high/ erratic blood pressure, any respiratory condition or if you are pregnant you should seek medical advice before taking up cold water swimming; you should not swim if you have a fever or chest infection on the day, or if you have experienced diarrhoea / vomiting within the preceding 48 hours. You need to ensure you are properly fuelled on the day, so please don't skip breakfast, and we strongly advise you not to drink alcohol the night before the event. You will be required to submit a medical form when you register. No medical form, no swim. We will send you that in advance and it will speed up registration massively if you can print it off, fill it out and bring it with you. We will have some spare on the day for people who have no access to a printer. If you will need to fill it out on the day please allow extra time for registration.

There are risks associated with cold water swimming; these include increased risk of cramp, initial hyperventilation, weakness in the limbs and reduced coordination. These risks are, however, reduced if you do regular training (see below) prior to the event to ensure that you are acclimatised to cold water. By entering this event you are committing to train properly for this event. Any risks will also be reduced by respecting the judgement of our lifeguards and volunteers, and acting on their requests without question. While we take every reasonable step to minimise and manage risk, it cannot be entirely eradicated in an event such as this. We rely on you taking responsibility for your own training, and cooperating with us on the day, to help us manage the risks involved.

Do I need to have cold water swimming experience?

Yes, although the 4 length relay event in particular is suitable for people who are new to cold water swimming this winter. You MUST, however, train to make sure that you are used to getting into cold water and know what it feels like to swim in cold water. The longer the event you have entered the more training you will need to do to acclimatise yourself. If you are new to the sport it is not too late to start that process, but please don't delay as water temperatures are already starting to fall. Portishead Open Air Pool is open for cold water swimming every Saturday and Sunday morning between the beginning of November and the event and you will be made very welcome. If you are new just mention that to a volunteer or staff member and they will be able to ensure you have some advice and support. You can also join the Portishead Open Air Pool Cold Water Swimmers group on facebook for support. To start your training before the end of October, please consider using Clevedon Marine Lake - it is already cold enough there to make a useful start. Be aware that there are no lifeguards, changing or catering facilities at the lake; please take a hot drink and plenty of warm clothes for after your swim. The Salthouse pub always makes swimmers very welcome, and we recommend them for post-swim warm up and refreshments.

What safety cover is there?

The event will be fullly life-guarded and our life-guards have received cold water specific training. All of our timekeepers are experienced cold water swimmers. Our lifeguards and timekeepers will not hesitate to ask a swimmer to leave the water if they are concerned. In entering this event you agree to respect their judgment and comply with their requests without question. There is first aid support on-site, and we will have a warm room available to safely re-warm anybody that we believe needs it. Again, swimmers should respect the organisers' judgement regarding re-warming as people who are very cold can experience impaired judgement. There is step access, with a handrail, at the shallow end, where the events start and finish, but two of the four relay / fast, furious (and freezing) swimmers will need to exit the pool via a ladder at the deep end unless they wish to swim back to the shallow end. Please bear that in mind when choosing your team running order.

Can I wear a wetsuit?

Wetsuits are welcome in all events, but not compulsory. You may swim against non-wetsuit swimmers in the same heat, but we will list results separately in all events but the 4 length relay.

Will I get a medal?

If you win your category you will get a delicious, hand-decorated, festive biscuit medal made for us by Heaven On The Hill - a super local cafe / bakery. Silver and Bronze positions will get a chocolate orange adorned with a hand-knitted festive hat. Our edible prizes are HIGHLY sought after! If you are fundraising for a charity we will be happy to provide a certificate to show what you have achieved. Just ask. We will also be delighted to give you and your fundraising page a shout out on our social media - please email [email protected] to ask.

Can I just come and pay to use the hot-tub?

No. The hot tub is prioritised for those who have entered the gala. If it is not very busy we may allow casual swimmers to have a soak when they leave the water. You will not be able to use the tubs if you have not swum.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Portishead Open Air Pool is accessible by public transport, and there is plenty of free parking in the area (BS20 7HD). See www.portisheadopenairpool.org.uk for details.

What can/can't I bring to the event?

You are welcome to bring your own food and drink, although our cafe and tuck shop will both be open serving hot and cold food and drinks, but please DON'T bring any glass or ceramics on site. You can also bring camping chairs if you prefer that to sitting on the terraces. There is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy yourself. If it is raining you may wish to bring an umbrella as we have limited undercover space.

We were very disappointed to discover that some swimmers had brought a bottle of alcohol on site in 2018. This is unacceptable and if we discover this we are likely to ask you to leave. Alcohol being consumed in an uncontrolled manner, at a cold water event, puts both swimmers and staff at risk. PLEASE only treat yourself to a mulled wine from the tuck shop after your swim and once any after-drop has passed. The volunteers there may well question you if they are concerned about whether they should be serving you mulled wine.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

You can email [email protected]

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

No. We do not allow transfer of tickets because that helps to ensure that all swimmers know exactly what they are committing to. This year relay / fast, furious & freezing team members will need to sign up for their own individual ticket. The team captain will book and pay for the team, and the team members will sign up for the free slots. This eases communication burdens on me and the team captains and it ensures I can be confident that all team members have the safety and event information. The team captain will, however, need to send an email to [email protected] telling me who is on their team. TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD NOT REGISTER VIA THE FREE SLOTS UNTIL THE CAPTAIN HAS BOUGHT THE TEAM SLOT. IF TEAM MEMBERS CHANGE, THE TEAM MEMBER LEAVING WILL NEED TO CANCEL THEIR TICKET SO THEIR REPLACEMENT CAN REGISTER.

Can I update my registration information?

If there are significant changes you can email [email protected], but it is likely that we will be able to deal with most issues on the day.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, if you prefer you can show your booking confirmation on your phone, at the registration desk. When entries close you will also be emailed a link to a medical form. You should try hard to fill that in before the event and bring it with you but there will be spares available on the day.

What is the refund policy?

We regret that refunds cannot be given under any circumstances should you be unable to swim on the day. However, if the event or any races are cancelled in its entirety, by us, we will refund your entry fees less the payment handling fee.

The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?

No. We want to know that all swimmers know what they have committed to, and for that reason we ask people to register themselves and not others. If there is a particular reason why you want to register somebody else please email [email protected]. The only exception to this is the team event where the captain registers the team and then provides the details of their teammates and team name.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Portishead Open Air Pool, Esplanade Road, Portishead, United Kingdom