Chief Ice Officer, Arnold-Fanck-Str. (2026)

04/03/2026

Big congratulations to our newly certified Chief Ice Officer, Günther Lutterschmidt! ❄️💪

Based in Gramastetten in Upper Austria, near Linz and not far from Passau in the beautiful Mühlviertel region, Günther is deeply connected to his roots and the power of nature. And now he’s ready to share his passion with others.

Starting now, he’s offering cold plunge courses for both beginners and advanced participants. Whether you’re taking your very first step into cold water or looking to deepen your practice, Günther is excited to guide you and help you experience the incredible power of cold exposure.

He truly believes in the strength, clarity, and resilience that the cold can unlock. And he can’t wait to bring that energy to others.

Let’s give Günther a warm welcome (before the cold plunge 😉)!

24/02/2026

🔥 Congratulations to our newly certified CIO Instructor – Jana Wienhold! 🔥

Jana brings profound leadership expertise to the ice. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, including many years as a soldier in the German Armed Forces and in a major German IT corporation, she understands responsibility at the highest level.

Jana knows what it means to lead others.
And even more importantly: to lead herself.

❄️ Self-leadership under pressure
❄️ Clarity in stressful situations
❄️ Calmness when it matters most

As a former soldier, Jana carries a powerful mindset rooted in resilience, discipline, and mental strength. Cold plunging is not just an experience - it is a training ground for emotional regulation, focus, and staying clear when conditions get tough.

Through her platform Stabsgeflüster.de, Jana empowers leaders and individuals alike to stay grounded, strong, and composed — in the ice and in life. Her inspiration, knowledge, and authentic motivation truly make an impact.

Jana, we are amazed by your dedication and honored to have you in our instructor team. The ice just got stronger. ❄️💪

09/02/2026

❄️🚓 Freeze, Police! 🚓❄️

Last week, the Chief Ice Officer team got to chill with law enforcement - literally.

Accompanied by a local TV channel, we joined the Freiburg Police as they stepped into icy water and out of their comfort zones.

In their line of work, police officers deal daily with stress, pressure, and unpredictable situations. The job is demanding both physically and mentally. Taking care of health and resilience is essential — even if it means waking up the inner resistance and doing something uncomfortable.

Cold exposure is a powerful tool to strengthen the immune system and build mental resilience. The Freiburg team absolutely nailed the ice challenge — and had a lot of fun doing it.

What stood out most was their fitness level! The warm-up routines were handled with ease, and during the breathing exercises the group showed impressive focus, endurance, and resilience.

Big respect to these officers for the important work they do every day 👮‍♀️👮‍♂️❄️

30/01/2026

❄️ Congratulations, Chris Apostel! ❄️

We’re thrilled to welcome our newest certified Chief Ice Officer Instructor to the community! 🧊

Chris is an incredibly active participant and passionate cold plunger – whether it’s in his own pool during winter, in natural waters, or using mobile ice bath barrels. ❄️💪

Starting now, you can benefit from Chris’s knowledge and experience and book a course with him – individually or in a group. Locally, Chris is available throughout North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), based between Cologne and Düsseldorf, and also near the Ruhr area.

If you want to experience the power of cold with Chris, feel free to reach out to us – we’ll connect you with him.

Once again, congratulations, Chris, and we’re happy to have you as part of our international instructor community! 👏❄️

20/01/2026

Meet Constantin, the Co-founder of the Chief Ice Program ❄️

More than 20 years ago, he discovered the power of the cold — almost by accident.

While traveling through Finland with Anna, his wife-to-be who was born and raised there, he wanted the full Finnish experience: patting reindeers, cross-country skiing through endless forests, meeting Santa Claus — and of course, sauna followed by a cold plunge.

The first dip? Jumping in, screaming, staying only a few seconds. Not very controlled 😅
But the feeling afterwards was pure euphoria. So euphoric, in fact, that they did it three more times.

From that moment on, the cold had a permanent place in Constantin’s heart. It started with sauna and ice baths during holidays in Finland — but soon, that wasn’t enough. He began plunging wherever cold water was available: during hikes, in rivers, even in a rain barrel in the garden. People thought he was crazy.

Back home in southern Germany, he became known as the guy in short pants throughout the year, even when there was snow and ice. The comments never stopped — but neither did the benefits. Constantin's cold resistance grew, and so did the community around him.

Today, the global cold plunge community is growing faster than ever 🌍❄️ Maybe you are already part of it?

And if you’re ready to take your passion to the next level by becoming a certified cold plunge coach, look no further. Together with a team of world-renowned doctors, paramedics, and extreme athletes, the CIO program teaches you everything you need to know about safe and effective cold exposure.

The cold changed Constantin's life.
Maybe it’s time it changes yours.

12/01/2026

🌟 Big Congratulations to our new certified Chief Ice Trainer, Tina Weinberger! 🌟

We are excited to welcome Tina to our international community as a certified trainer. With her expertise and passion, she will be guiding individuals and groups across Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate (on request also Upper Bavaria), including cities like Böbrach, Bodenmais, Teisnach, Deggendorf, Viechtach, Cham, Bad Kötzting, Arnbruck, Zwiesel, Landau and Straubing.

💪 Tina's focus areas include:

✅ Mindset & Mental Training
✅ Courage & Confidence Building
✅ Breathwork & Relaxation
✅ Self-awareness & Resilience
✅ Mindfulness
✅ Team Building & Managerial Skills
✅ Burnout Prevention & Recovery
✅ Fitness & Performance Enhancement

📲 Online trainings are also available!

Tina’s trainings are basically for everyone, including:

❄️ All ages & genders
❄️ Women in or around menopause
❄️ People with diabetes
❄️ Individuals on the autism spectrum
❄️ People with anxiety disorders
❄️ People with various limitations (just ask!)

We can’t wait to see the positive impact Tina will make on our community 🎉

01/01/2026

What an amazing year 2025 ❄️

A huge thank you to our incredible international expert team who shared their knowledge, experience, and passion with our program participants:

🧠 Dr. Martje Sältz & Dr. Lutz Liese – for guiding us through the medical aspects of cold exposure
🚑 Lukas Leineweber – for teaching safety in cold plunging from a paramedic’s perspective
🧊 Elina Mäkinen – for showing the mindset needed to build true cold tolerance
🌬️ Budimir “Buda” Šobat – world record holder for longest breath hold, for revealing the power of breathwork
🏆 Lukasz Szpunar – world record holder for longest immersion in ice, for sharing the real challenges of cold exposure
🌿 Sebastian Kneipp Academy – for reminding us of the healing power of nature
🔥 Constantin Falcoianu – for passing on his experience in running professional, successful cold plunge trainings

And most of all: thank you to our participants from 10 different countries 🌍
Without you, this program would not exist 💙

It’s a privilege to accompany you on your journey to becoming cold plunge trainers — to teach you, learn from you, hear your personal stories, and watch you grow. We are incredibly proud when you step out into the world and run professional, safe, and impactful cold plunge trainings.

Happy New Year 2026 ✨
Let’s keep spreading the message and help more people discover the power of the cold ❄️🧊

18/12/2025

❄️ Congratulations to Louise Higgins on completing the Chief Ice Officer Program! ❄️

Louise is based in the East Midlands, UK (LE65) and has now added cold exposure therapy to her holistic therapy practice. She is a qualified Sports Massage Therapist and offers a range of holistic treatments from her home treatment room in North West Leicestershire.

Louise will be offering 1-to-1 cold exposure training sessions, with a focus on:

🧊 Inflammation reduction & recovery
🧠 Mental health management & mindset

Her cold plunge is typically set between 2–4°C, but sessions are fully tailored to the individual — from gentler temperatures for beginners to sub-zero ice baths for more experienced plungers.

📅 Bookings are now open for January 2026
📞 Get in touch with Louise on 07720 686934 to book or for more information.

Welcome to our international CIO instructor community, Louise! We're happy to have you ❄️💙

03/12/2025

It's needless to say that we at the Chief Ice Officer program are truly convinced of the health benefits of cold exposure! Also our medical experts on the trainer team are enthusiastic cold plungers ❄️💙

An increasing number of studies show that regular exposure to cold can trigger both physical and mental changes. Here’s an overview of key scientific findings that we discuss in detail in our blog:

🔵 Physical Effects

• Immune System & Susceptibility to Infections:
Regular ice bathing can activate mild immune responses. Some studies show small positive effects — but only with consistent, long-term practice. Other research suggests that cold exposure does not automatically protect against infections.

• Reduced Oxidative Stress & Higher Stress Tolerance:
Cold exposure can trigger adaptive mechanisms that increase the body’s ability to handle stress.

• Cardiovascular System:
For healthy individuals, winter swimming may support beneficial cardiovascular adaptations. For people with heart conditions, however, cold exposure can be risky.

• Circulation & Temperature Regulation:
Cold trains the blood vessels, improves temperature control, and can support circulation over time.

• Body Fat:
Cold activates brown adipose tissue — the type of fat that burns energy to keep the body warm. This is considered a promising factor for metabolism and disease prevention.

🟣 Mental & Psychological Effects

• Mental Strength:
Managing the body’s cold shock requires focus and control — effectively training mind and nervous system.

• Mood Enhancement:
Cold exposure boosts the release of adrenaline and endorphins, often leading to a natural post-ice-bath “high.”

• Support for Depressive Symptoms:
Early research indicates that regular cold exposure may help alleviate depressive symptoms.

🗣️ What Many Ice Bathers Report

More energy, better mood, higher stress resilience, clearer skin, improved sleep, and relief from migraines. As always: only practice cold exposure in good health, and listen to your body.

👉 Read our full in-depth blog article with all scientific studies here:

https://chieficeofficer.com/cold-plunge-health/

12/11/2025

❄️ Big congratulations to our newly certified Chief Ice Officer, Tanja Wolfsgruber! 🧊🎉

Tanja offers transformative leadership and team-building seminars for individuals, groups, and companies, and integrates ice bathing in her events. Every session includes breathwork and nature, with focus on mindset, emotional control, and resilience.

Tanja has a psychosocial approach which means she tailors her programs to individual needs, keeping the groups small (max 15 people) for maximum impact. 🌿💪

There are no boundaries when it comes to location — Tanja works wherever her clients are, in German or English, bringing her expertise to anyone ready to embrace challenges and grow stronger.

For more information, get in touch with Tanja: ✉️

We’re so proud to have you on board, Tanja! Here’s to helping people face life’s challenges with courage and clarity! ❄️✨

07/11/2025

We’re excited to share a personal experience from one of our participants who explored a breathing technique from our Chief Ice Officer program — designed to bring calm, focus, and safety during cold plunges:

"I first learned I.C.E. Breathing in the Breathwork Module and immediately wanted to try it. Even as an experienced cold plunger, I was surprised by how quickly it helped me find calm, focus, and strength. During ice baths, it prevented shallow, irregular breathing and made immersion smoother and more controlled.

A friend joined me to try it for the first time. She’s been cold plunging for years, jumping into the Alm Canal in Salzburg each winter, but has never used a structured technique. Due to her autism, she doesn’t feel cold the same way others do. Normally, she jumps in briefly, splashes, and gets out — never panicking or feeling pain.

She had also never held her breath intentionally and was a bit nervous. We practiced together, and she found the rhythm easy and calming. During the plunge, she said the breathing acted as a “steady anchor,” making the experience feel more mindful. A few days later, she even used it during stressful social situations and was amazed at how quickly it helped her regain composure, calm her nervous system, and stay focused.

This experience showed us that I.C.E. Breathing isn’t just for cold exposure — it’s simple, powerful, and effective in everyday stress. We’ve now added it to our personal toolkit for quick calm, focus, and inner strength."

29/10/2025

Planning to take the leap from cold plunges to ice swimming? 🧊❄️

We sat down with Austrian Ice Swimming World Champion Yasmine Pliessnig to get the inside scoop on ice swimming.

From the intense challenge of the Ice Mile – often called the “Mount Everest” of cold water swimming – to tips for beginners on safe distances, warming up, and avoiding hypothermia, Yasmine shares her expert insights.

If you're aiming for longer swims in open water, this interview covers everything from beginner progress to advanced techniques. 💦

Check out the full interview on our blog:
https://chieficeofficer.com/blog/everything-about-cold-water-swimming/
🏊‍♀️✨

Chief Ice Officer

04/03/2026

24/02/2026

09/02/2026

30/01/2026

20/01/2026

12/01/2026

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18/12/2025

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