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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
100K arctic swim without a wetsuit

 
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linhardt

Aug 28, 08 5:00

Post #1 of 6 (310 views)
100K arctic swim without a wetsuit Can't Post
Okay, so they are polar bears, but I was reading this doom-and-gloom global warming article
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26426382
and was intrigued by this statement "...Polar bears are powerful swimmers and have been recorded on swims of 100 miles but the ordeal can leave them exhausted and susceptible to drowning."
so I looked it up
http://www.seaworld.org/...s/pbadaptations.html

1. Polar bears are strong swimmers; they swim across bays or wide leads without hesitation. They can swim for several hours at a time over long distances. They've been tracked swimming continuously for 100 km (62 mi.) (Stirling, 1988).
2. A polar bear's front paws propel them through the water dog-paddle style. The hind feet and legs are held flat and are used as rudders.
3. A thick layer of blubber (fat), up to 11 cm (4.3 in.) thick, keeps the polar bear warm while swimming in cold water (Stirling, 1988).
4. Polar bears can obtain a swimming speed of 10 kph (6.2 mph) (Stirling, 1988).
5. The hair of a polar bear easily shakes free of water and any ice that may form after swimming.
6. A polar bear's nostrils close when under water.

Total amazing for a creature that I would not consider hydrodynamic, nor would I say does it appear to have a natural superior propulsion system.


tigerchik

Aug 28, 08 5:40

Post #2 of 6 (272 views)
Re: 100K arctic swim without a wetsuit [linhardt] [In reply to] Can't Post
Bowdoin College's mascot is the polar bear. Hee hee. They have a good swim team, too.

My school is Black Bears...
_________________________________________________________
"You should know what you stand for, not just what you're against."
-Speak


linhardt

Aug 28, 08 5:51

Post #3 of 6 (253 views)
Re: 100K arctic swim without a wetsuit [tigerchik] [In reply to] Can't Post
Black bears swim pretty well also.

Canada
http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related
Minnesota(boundary waters)
http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related


matti58

Aug 28, 08 6:24

Post #4 of 6 (216 views)
Re: 100K arctic swim without a wetsuit [linhardt] [In reply to] Can't Post
100k is ridiculous!


callidus

Aug 28, 08 6:34

Post #5 of 6 (198 views)
Re: 100K arctic swim without a wetsuit [linhardt] [In reply to] Can't Post
10km/hr! damn, that's like an 18sec 50m.



------------------------------------------------------------
"I was checking the, uh, s... specs on the end line for the rotary girder. I'm retarded." - tommy


AJB85199

Aug 28, 08 7:06

Post #6 of 6 (154 views)
Re: 100K arctic swim without a wetsuit [callidus] [In reply to] Can't Post
I guess this means if I run into a polar bear on a fishing trip to Alaska do not try to out swim him! Play dead?




Searching for a stroke...pure and easy....swimming so free like a breath rippling by.