Organisers of next month's Big Chill Swim on Windermere say the event's attracting swimmers from all over the globe.
More than 1,000 participants have signed up to take part at Low Wood Bay on Windermere over the weekend of the 5th to the 7th of February.
Competitive swimmers are flying in from as far afield as Australia, the USA, Mexico, Russia, and several Scandinavian and Eastern European countries.
As a result of the swim’s fourfold growth in the last four years, Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina will also play host to the World Open Water Swimming Association awards for the first time. United Nations Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh, will speak and present the awards as guest of honour at the gala awards dinner.
Ben Berry from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues says: “The success of the Chillswim is having a hugely beneficial effect on local tourism at a time of year when visitor numbers are generally relatively lower.
“The speed of growth and popularity of the event has been the catalyst to securing the awards ceremony at Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina and there is no doubt that the local hospitality industry will get a welcome boost from the higher numbers of participants coming here to compete. It’s a fabulous achievement for Chillswim’s organisers.”
Chillswim director Colin Hill adds: “We have seen a dramatic rise in competitors since the event started in 2013, about 250 swimmers back then to over a thousand this year. And it’s even more gratifying to see swimmers from all over the UK and Ireland joined by so many international contenders, all of which has helped us secure World Cup status.
“With the stunning Langdale Pikes as a backdrop, I can’t think of a better or more scenic venue for an exciting weekend of highly competitive swimming. We hope that local people will flock to the shores of Lake Windermere to support the event and cheer the swimmers on throughout the weekend.”
