Liepāja Gears Up for a World-Class Winter Swimming Event

  • 18.09.2025.

Registration is now open for the XVIII Latvian Open Winter Swimming Championship, which will be a significant event in the international winter swimming calendar as a stage of the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA) World Cup. Both Latvian and international winter swimming enthusiasts are invited to register and participate in this exciting competition, which will take place in Liepāja at Beberliņi Lake on November 21st and 22nd.

Organized by the Liepāja cycling and winter swimming club “VeloRonis”, with the support of the Liepāja municipality and in collaboration with the IWSA, the championship will gather winter swimmers from around the world to determine the strongest athletes in individual and team events. Beberliņi Lake, surrounded by a pine forest, has been a favorite gathering place for Liepāja’s winter swimmers for years, offering a unique microclimate with calm, almost windless conditions.

“On behalf of the Liepāja winter swimmers, we are truly delighted to invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable event—the XVIII Latvian Open Winter Swimming Championship. This year is particularly special as it has become a stage of the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA) World Cup,” says Inga Krivcova, head of “VeloRonis.” “It is a great honor and a unique opportunity to host the world’s best swimmers in Liepāja, at our beautiful Beberliņi Lake, which is an ideal place for winter swimming with its tranquil, pine-forest-surrounded, and almost windless conditions. The competition will take place on November 21st and 22nd, 2025, and we expect both fierce competition and shared moments of joy. For the first time, Liepāja will also be visited by the President of the IWSA, Mariia Yrjo Koskinen from Finland.”

To help participants prepare for this major event and build confidence, everyone interested is invited to participate in four group training sessions. The sessions will take place on Sundays at 1:00 PM at Beberliņi Lake, starting on October 26th, 2025. Each session will have a special theme and will feature special guests, including the Mamanet team “Liepājas vētras,” the running club BORN2WIN, and Dace Dieviņa, a representative of the “Libau Active” association, who is also a coach and nutritionist.

Online registration for the event is open on the http://veloronis.lv website until November 14th at 11:59 PM. On-site registration will also be possible at the “Līva Hotel” (November 20th and 21st, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM) and at Beberliņi Lake (November 21st and 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM).

This is a unique opportunity to participate in a world-class competition and test your abilities in various distances—from the 25m freestyle to endurance swims of 450m, as well as team relays. There are different age categories available, from 14 and younger (in certain distances) to 90 and older. For those who want to enjoy the joy of winter swimming without the pressure of competition, there are public-class swims without time control—”Young Seals,” “Seals,” and “Polar Bears,” with a minimum age of 8.

In addition to the competition, participants and guests are invited to experience the charm of Liepāja—the city of wind, music, and the sea. Guided tours will be organized to help discover the city’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

 

Key Information at a Glance

 

  • Name: XVIII Latvian Open Winter Swimming Championship, IWSA World Cup stage
  • Dates: November 21st, 22nd, 2025
  • Location: Beberliņi Lake, Lībiešu iela 8, Liepāja
  • Organizers: Liepāja cycling and winter swimming club “VeloRonis”
  • Group Trainings: Sundays at 1:00 PM at Beberliņi Lake, starting October 26th.
  • Registration: Open online at http://veloronis.lv until November 14th, 2025 at 11:59 PM. On-site registration is also possible (limited number of participants in each swim).

Photo: Liepāja State City Municipality photo