Anne Radovic | Destination Granville Land and Sea

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Anne

Anne, a corporate coach, settled in Granville in 2020 after travelling the world. She covers the wild côté of Granville and the sea. A sportswoman since childhood, she has been fascinated by the Tour du Roc and is keen to take on this mythical challenge. With her goal set, she bought herself a wetsuit in time for the winter of 2021 and set out to train at sea without waiting for spring. She realised that she hadn’t learnt the sensations of swimming in a wetsuit, so she turned to Dr Guillaume Barucq’s advice on the benefits of cold water baths.

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Anne is won over!

It’s decided, she’ll be swimming every day at Plat Gousset, and in a swimming costume! Little by little, a group is forming: some stop by November, while others continue to get into the water every day. Very curious, Anne is looking into the phenomenon of the afterdrop, i.e. the drop in body temperature after getting out of the water. She gradually increased the duration of her immersions and found that her internal temperature dropped to 32°C, a threshold where the risk of malaise is statistically high, but she felt fine. To gain a better understanding, she is expanding her knowledge of swimming in very cold water and taking part in an open water swimming course before swimming the 5km Tour du Roc in 2022.

In autumn 2022, Anne joined the Granvillais swimming club EVG, which gave her a renewed taste for competition. She set herself the challenge of repeating the Tour du Roc, finishing in 2h04 in 2023 in a jersey, with waves of over 1m80, and in 1h41 in 2024 in a wetsuit. Today, she is a member of three swimming clubs: open water, classic swimming and water polo. Anne has taken part in the French Cold Water Swimming Championships in 2022 and 2024, as well as the World Championships in Samoa in 2023. Water is her passion, she feels at home in it and wants to share her knowledge. To do this, she decided to take first aid training. For eight months, she trained with the SNSM in first aid and water rescue techniques, gaining 6 diplomas. 2024 marked her first experience as a rescue swimmer. As part of the team, she is responsible for beach surveillance from the lifeguard stations at Plat Gousset, Donville-les-Bains and Chausey. She took advantage of her three weeks on the island to swim around the archipelago, a memorable experience in harmony with the sea and nature.

Daily bath

The desire to share the benefits of swimming in cold water is strong, but aware of the safety rules that the practice requires, the association « Au bain Quotidien » was created in 2023. The aim is to provide information on the practice, safety rules, create links between enthusiasts and also encourage those who are curious to take the plunge. Today, the association, whose membership costs 20 euros a year, has 35 members, aged 21 to 65, of all swimming abilities.

Once in the water

The body feels détend,the température is maintained, and the famous phrase from swimmers « once you’re in, it’s good » takes on its full meaning. Swimmers feel relaxed, the heart rate has calmed down, and very quickly feel a sense of well-being. The benefits are numerous: cold water boosts the immune system, strengthens the cardiovascular system, develops mental strength and soothes stress and anxiety. When it comes to getting out of the water, Anne says that everyone has their own little ritual. Warming up is a moment of collective euphoria, often punctuated by laughter. Anne shares with us the different techniques for getting the water in and out, even though everyone has their own little ritual.

For water entry

Wet your face.
Take long exhalations to regulate your heart rate.
Enter the water quickly up to your shoulders.
Stay in the water for 1 minute per degree, at least when you are going under.

Out of the water

Dry off immediately.
Cover up quickly with several layers, a hat, warm gloves and socks.
Drink a hot (but not boiling).
Avoid hot showers to respect reheating stages.

Safety

The association encourages testing, but asks for a medical form, pointing out that this practice is said to be “extreme” and that the cardiovascular risks are real for people with medical conditions. Hypothermia is not the main risk. Safety instructions must be followed:

An orange or pink cap to ensure you are visible and to protect your head from the cold.
An open water swimming buoy for swimming out to sea and resting if you need to.
Don’t go swimming alone.
Know the swimming area well and take account of tide times.

Sharing

When Anne isn’t swimming at Plat Gousset, she loves the greenery and tranquillity of the Lude Valley. Thanks to the association, Anne wants to share her knowledge of well-being and the benefits of cold water and support people who want to get into the water, convinced that the sea accompanies and transmits energy to people in transition.

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