Andreas Westerberg has been winter swimming before and stresses the importance of calm breathing in the water.
Three reporters and an outsider - they will make up Norran's team in the Winter Swim 2024.
Putting together a team was easier said than done, but in the end, it will be Lovisa Gustavsson, Victor Svenfelt, the one writing this article (Johanna Sandgren), and Erik Gödecke, representing the newspaper during the competition weekend.
Half of us had never swum or bathed outdoors in the winter before. That's why we decided to train - a short and intense session - with a dip in Falkträsket.
– I am definitely more scared than excited, says Lovisa Gustavsson as she gets ready.
So why are you doing this?
– To impress a guy... and a bit for Norran's sake. We have to be there and represent our paper!
Johanna Sandgren's first winter swim ever can be summarized as a rollercoaster ride.
Despite having cold feet, both before and after the dip, Lovisa Gustavsson plans to participate in the Winter Swim.
Andreas Westerberg, Norran's political editor, has already twice participated in the Winter Swim. As a result, he now bears the title of "Winter Swim Coach".
– Take a deep breath before you jump in, he advises.
Both Lovisa and I managed to dip ourselves in the water and stay in for a minute.
Afterwards, Lovisa doesn't seem to have changed her mind about winter swimming.
– It feels painful. It hurts to the core, and I can't bend my fingers.
Nevertheless, she says she will take part in the competition.
Johanna swam first, resulting in a frozen swimsuit.
Back in the editorial car, the whole gang was satisfied and happy. From left: reporters Lovisa Gustavsson and Johanna Sandgren, and Andreas Westerberg, political editor at Norran.