This year, ice swimmer and coach Gerald Daringer (48, Austria, IISA bio here, @daringer.gerald, @aqua_n_ice) completed an Ice Zero Mile in 0.37°C water – and then did a Polar Ice Mile in Longyearbyen, Svalbard in Norway in May in 3.4°C water in 26 minutes 6 seconds.

He explained, “It is the brutal cold that paralyzes your whole body, your muscles, and even your consciousness. It is the power of nature that shows you how mighty reality can be — a reality in which your body struggles to survive. It is your thoughts that you learn to control in order to experience things with your body and mind that seem impossible. A long-held dream of swimming in the polar ice sea came true for me.”

Ice Swimming Camps

Now, Daringer has established a series of ice swimming training camps, called AQUA and ICE. He continues to organize training camps, assist in Ice Mile attempts, do keynote speaking engagements, provide 1-on-1 coaching in both the ice and pool. His next camp will be held in Latvia between February 10th – 15th. The February Latvia camp is open to anyone, including those with no prior ice swimming experience:

• experienced ice and open water swimmers
• pool swimmers curious about cold water
• athletes looking to strengthen mental control
• professionals seeking better stress management
• individuals searching for a meaningful physical and mental challenge

He explains the phenomenon of ice swimming, “When water temperatures drop close to freezing, excuses disappear. Your breathing becomes intentional and your focus sharpens. In these moments, I believe real learning begins.

I use cold water and ice swimming not only as an extreme athletic endeavor, but also as a precise tool for self-experience, stress regulation, and performance development. Our work bridges the realms of open water swimming, psychology, physiology, and mindset training. I make these opportunities accessible not only to experienced ice swimmers, but also to curious beginners and people seeking a meaningful challenge in a safe, guided, and deeply intentional environment.

Why?

Because cold water creates an immediate and honest feedback loop. The body reacts within seconds: your heart rate immediately increases, your breathing quickly accelerates, and your nervous system quickly shifts into survival mode. Unlike controlled indoor settings, cold water cannot be negotiated with.”

“Ice swimming is not the goal. It is the medium. The real work happens in the nervous system and in how we choose to respond. This is how and why I teach the camp participants various aspects that they can apply in their lives and in various situations at work, in sports, or in personal relationships:

• regulate breathing under stress
• stay mentally clear during intense physical sensations
• recognize and manage automatic stress reactions
• remain calm, focused, and decisive under pressure

At the camp, participants don’t just talk about resilience or focus — they feel it, train it, and understand it in real time.

The symbolic moment is where and when the ice turns into water. This transformation plays a central role: resistance softening, fear becoming awareness, stress turning into clarity. This transition is where many participants report their most powerful insights.”

The Latvia camp encompasses the spectrum of swimming in water colder than 10°C. Campers learn the full gamut of the sport in naturally cold water environments.

• cold water acclimatization
• safe exposure protocols
• swimming technique refinement
• efficient movement in cold conditions
• entry and exit strategies
• breathing control and pacing

By the end of the camp, Daringer expects the swimmers to improved their resilience, increase their self-confidence, enhance their focus and presence of mind with a better understanding of their expanded personal limits and improved cold water swimming skills. They discuss and learn about cold shock, hypothermia, and cardiovascular strain.

For more information on the following camp dates, visit www.gerald-daringer.at or @aqua_n_ice.

• Camp Latvia/Jurmala: February 12th -15th 2026
• Camp Latvia/Jurmala: April 1st – 5th 2026

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