We've Heard They Can Fly - Did You Know They Can Swim?

Not only can reindeer fly, BUT did you know they can swim ? Santa’s reindeer may not have taken lessons at British Swim School, but they have an advantage that humans do not.

The fur of a reindeer consists of hairs that are hollow. This means that a reindeer’s coat traps air making the reindeer buoyant. (Remember Archimedes’ principle?) As a result they are excellent swimmers – and fast ! Reindeer can swim up to 6 miles an hour. The fastest speed adults can maintain is 4 miles per hour. They are also strong swimmers, able to swim across rough, raging rivers and icy expanses of ocean.

The ability to swim helps reindeer when they travel the tremendous distances they do when they migrate. Reindeer that migrate go farther than any other migrating terrestrial mammal with some travelling over 3,100 miles per year.

Also, did you know that a reindeer’s feet change shape between summer and winter, and their eyes change from a golden color in summer to a deep blue in winter? Reindeer are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light.

We at British Swim School can’t teach you how to shrink your feet (though we know you can switch from sandals in summer to boots in winter). Nor will we teach you how to change the color of your eyes. However, even though you don’t have a coat of fur with hollow hairs, we can teach you how to float and, when you are ready, we can teach you how to swim using four different strokes. That is something reindeer CAN’T do ! They may be able to do “reindeer- freestyle” but they can’t do backstroke, breast stroke or butterfly !! Then, as you progress, we can teach you how to swim fast and teach you how to build up your endurance.

British Swim School St. Louis offers premium water survival and swimming lessons for infants, toddlers, children and adults, starting at just 3 months old. We proudly serve the St. Louis communities of Afton, Ballwin, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Clayton, Concord, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Dardenne Prairie, Eureka, Fenton, High Ridge, Howell Island, Kirkwood, Ladue, Lake St. Louis, Manchester, Maplewood, Maryland Heights, New Town, Olivette, Overland, Richmond Heights, St. Charles, Orchard Farm, St. Paul, St. Peters, Sunset Hills, Town and Country, Valley Park, Webster Groves, Weldon Springs, and Wildwood. Call 314-312-1878 to enroll or find a class online.