There is no longer an indoor swimming pool in the Tegernsee Valley.
In summer, the Rottacher Warmbad is a lifeline.
But the swimming training of the rescue organizations must end with the bathing season.
Tegernseer Tal
- The bathing season is over, the Rottacher Warmbad has a winter break.
For the water rescuers around the lake it means the loss of the lifeline after the closure of the Wiesseer Badepark.
"We can no longer offer swimming training," says Hans Mielke.
For a long time he was head of the 560 member strong Wiesseer Wasserwacht, in the spring he handed over the chairmanship to his son Thomas in order to lead a newly founded association himself.
Indoor swimming pools in the area are fully booked
The water rescue team tried hard to get training time in the indoor pools in Bad Tölz and Holzkirchen. "But everything is full, you can't get any more space," sighs Mielke. Not only do the training courses fall flat, but also the courses for the little ones. There is still a streak of hope. “Maybe we can offer a kindergarten course in a hotel in Wiesse,” reports Mielke. Whether that will be possible depends on the pandemic situation.
During the summer, the water rescuers trained around the lake in the Rottacher Warmbad. "We are very grateful for that," says Mielke. Children between the ages of six and 14 did their laps in the pool. The Wiesseer Wasserwacht has been training with the elderly in the lake for around five years, with neoprene suits and in the company of a motorboat. “Almost under real conditions,” explains Mielke. This promotes the motivation of the young people, but does not suit the younger ones. And certainly not for swimming lessons. “They're burning under our nails,” says the water watchman. It's about learning to swim and ensuring that the "Bambinis" don't forget what they have just learned over the winter. Mielke emphasizes that he cares less about the club than about the children.
In good years, up to 120 children took part in swimming training in the bathing park.
Now the water watch is missing the water.
The old bathing park has not even been demolished yet, and the inauguration of a new building is not expected before 2025.
Construction site is being renovated
On top of that, the Wiesseer Verein temporarily loses its home on the lake.
As reported, the listed building site, the watchtower station, has to be extensively renovated.
That should take three to five years.
While there are plans to build a makeshift home on the bank, it won't be the same.
The situation is about to exist, says Mielke.
The Wasserwacht board tries to maintain the feeling of unity with group offers.
As the head of the development association, Mielke solicits support, and does so successfully.
Just recently, the Tegernsee power station donated a four-digit amount.
A donation brochure will be distributed soon.
The money goes into the interior work of the building aristocracy.
The building belongs to the community, but the water rescue service is doing its best to help with the renovation.
"Set up the air dome above the warm bath"
The DLRG Tegernsee, with 420 members, trained there until the Wiesse bathing park was closed. Fortunately, the local group has also been offering training courses "for ages" in the indoor swimming pool in Holzkirchen, reports chairman Andreas-Bernd Lange. That doesn't fill the gap. “It's hard to get the Tegernsee children to Holzkirchen,” explains Lange. The way is long, the training time demands a lot from the parents: The children have to be in Holzkirchen shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturdays. The DLRG is allowed to use the pool for one hour. "The situation is very difficult," says Lange. His suggestion: turn the Rottacher Warmbad into an indoor pool. “Maybe you can build an air dome over the warm bath,” was his idea. He himself doubts the realization: "It's probably too difficult with the approval and the sponsors."
DLRG Gmund puts out feelers in the neighboring district
The DLRG Gmund is still fighting to organize training times for the winter.
Spokeswoman Caroline Amann reports that there are discussions with baths in the Bad Tölz / Wolfratshausen district: "It is so important that the kiddies learn to swim."
25 to 30 children came to training in the Rottacher Warmbad.
Now it's a matter of not letting the swimming go under.
That is why the DLRG Gmund Radius pulled far, as Amann reports.
The chances of being accepted are not bad: "But getting there is a problem."
