Making Waves in Greenland
On Thursday of 8th week in Michealmas term, I set off for colder climes - Greenland to be precise - with one other Oxford chap (Kelly Thornber, Balliol) and two Tabs, to do a charity swim of the distance of the English Channel to raise money for a girl, Terri, who had suffered 90 per cent burns in a house fire in Ipswich.
Such a sad story (and thank you to those people who sponsored me so generously), but such a surreal location, that (being the keen swimmer I am) I couldn't afford to miss out on this opportunity. We were originally going to fly to Timbuktu in Mali but it turned out that there is no swimming pool and we agreed it would be a little tasteless to take one with us (yes, there's a place in Switzerland that sells 'flat-pack pools') - given that Timbuktu's in the desert, and so on. Greenland seemed to be an equally eccentric destination.
Anyway, Kangerlussuaq in the Arctic Circle (our first port of call after spending the night in Copenhagen) was a refreshing, if freezing, change of scene from the Dreaming Spires. Nuuk (Godthab), a short flight away and the capital of Greenland, was, however, our final resting place and, indeed, the destination for the swim.
Only opened in the Autumn of 2003, Malik is the only swimming pool in Greenland. At the cost of $30m it is very pleasant and, I have to say, quite futuristic. With the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and an iceberg-ridden sea, we dipped our toes into the 27 degree water and began the swim. Local Inuits joined us as well as our South African host and a few Danes who were living there. During the swim we were interviewed by the national radio and television. They were also going to write the event up in the national press and (wait for it) the in-flight magazine for Air Greenland. I'm sure Oxford's name is made now over there!
Regarding the swim itself, we easily made the 35km target, the width of the English Channel, managing to clock up a total of 71.6km. I can report that Oxford thrashed Cambridge in terms of distances: Oxford swam 13km vs. Cambridge's 8km. I have to say, though, that it was not a contest as such: the Varsity snowballing proved far more competitive.
After a day or two at leisure in Nuuk and after enjoying more free food and accommodation we flew back to England on the Monday, leaving behind in its polar obscurity the world's largest island. 'Swim for Terri' donations can be made by writing a cheque made payable to 'The Terri Calvesbert Appeal' and delivered to Anthony Curl, Lincoln College.
22nd Jan 2004