For many people, swimming is a great sport and form of exercise. However, it can be so much more than that. For many, it’s just a great way to relax, passion, and an essential part of life. That feeling that you get when you float on top of the water and glide through it, the rhythm of your stroke, and the serene feeling that you get from being underwater are simply unparalleled.
With that being said, you might not always have access to a pool or a natural body of water. Maybe you don’t live near any public pools or maybe you just live in a cold climate and it’s currently wintertime.
Furthermore, although swimming is a great deal of fun, there are many other sports and forms of exercise out there that you might want to try. If you love swimming, then here we have nine other activities that might just satisfy your needs. Some of them are more similar to swimming than others, but they’re all related in one way or another.
1. Rowing
When it comes to being on the water, one of the best things you can do is rowing. Although it doesn’t involve you being in the water, you do glide on top of it, and with great speeds at that. You can row individually or as part of a team.
Furthermore, just like swimming, it’s also a fantastic form of exercise, as it requires a great deal of endurance, strength, and in some cases teamwork as well.
This is a very physically intense type of exercise that requires you to be in good shape, and if you’re not in good shape yet, you certainly will be after a few weeks of constant rowing.
2. Diving
If you’re looking for something that is as similar to swimming as humanly possible, something that has you submerged in the water, then diving is a great alternative or addition. Many would say that diving is a natural extension of swimming.
Now, you could take this in many ways, whether high diving or scuba diving. Of course, both are vastly different from each other, with high diving seeing you plummeting into a diving pool from great heights, while scuba diving has you diving below the surface of the water to great depths.
Whatever the case may be, both of them require control, precision, and an appreciation for both the complexity and danger of water.
3. Waterparks
If you absolutely love being in the water, but you don’t necessarily want to exercise, then a great idea is for you to visit a water park. Water parks are full of water slides, diving boards, lazy rivers, and canteens where you can rest to get some snacks.
If your goal is to relax and have fun with your friends and families, then going to a water park is by far your best option. It’s a whole lot of water-based fun without all of that pesky exercise.
4. Cross-Country Skiing
Okay, so here we are admittedly starting to move away from the water a little bit. However, cross-country skiing is somewhat related to swimming in the sense that it provides a full body workout that can be quite similar to swimming.
Moreover, cross-country skiing is also extremely rhythmic, just like swimming is as well. That gliding motion as you steadily work your legs, arms, and core in a coordinated effort, much like in swimming, and many of the same muscles are used in swimming as well.
If you’re a fan of the winter time, and you love being outdoors, then there’s simply nothing better than cross-country skiing.
5. Hiking
Hiking doesn’t really involve the water at all, but if you like being in Mother Nature, then it might be something for you. A big part of why so many people love swimming is because it helps them connect with nature, especially if they swim in natural bodies of water.
If this connection with Mother Nature is what you’re seeking, then going on a long and relaxing hike might be right for you.
What’s really neat is that just as there are different difficulties associated with swimming, so are there different difficulties associated with hiking. You can take a leisurely stroll down a simple hyping path or go on an intense mountain hike. Hiking is also a great way to build both leg and core strength.
6. Go For a Walk
If hiking through the woods and up a mountainside isn’t exactly your cup of tea, something else you could try is walking.
Although walking doesn’t provide you with the biggest cardiovascular or strength training benefits, it is a great way to clear your mind and to connect with Mother Nature.
What’s also really nice is that just like with swimming, you can move at your own pace, you can move where you want, and you can engage in a rhythmic motion that mimics swimming.
7. Climbing
It seems that we keep moving further and further away from the water, because here we’re talking about climbing, specifically rock climbing or mountain climbing.
If you are looking for a form of exercise that will challenge your endurance and strength to the maximum, then rock climbing or mountain climbing is certainly worth looking into.
Not only does this sport require a great deal of strength and endurance, but problem solving skills as well, as this sport often has climbers encountering various challenges.
Furthermore, unlike swimming, rock climbing will provide you with an unrivaled sense of rush and adrenaline that just can’t be beat.
8. Gymnastics
Although it doesn’t have that much to do with water, what gymnastics has in common with swimming is that it requires a great deal of strength, flexibility, and bodily control.
When it comes down to it, gymnastics is one of the most grueling sports out there, and it’s something that will most definitely train both your strength and endurance.
Just like with swimming, gymnastics is about understanding your body in space, mastering specific movements, and pushing your body past limits that you never thought possible.
9. Biking
If you’re missing that cardiovascular workout that you get from swimming, then biking or cycling is something you might want to try. What many people enjoy about cycling is that in terms of difficulty level, it’s just as adjustable or customizable as swimming.
You can go road biking, mountain biking, dirt biking, or even go to a local trick park. What’s nice about biking is that it also allows you to connect with Mother Nature, just like swimming in a natural body of water.
Final Thoughts
Like we said, some of the activities listed above are more similar to swimming than others, but what they all have in common is that they involve physical exercise. The fact that you get to connect with nature, master a new skill, and use up some energy, are all big benefits that come with all of the above activities.
If you don’t have access to a pool or it’s too cold to go swimming, then any of the above activities are fantastic ones to consider, especially if you are looking to diversify your athletic prowess and pursuits.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
