HAVE YOUR SAY
OPEN WATER SURFING Our favourite OWS sites on the web…
WRITE IN… LETTER OF THE MONTH
I did my fi rst offi cial open water swim here, in Australia, in November 2008 at the age of 55. Since this time I have completed 19, including Alcatraz and Loch Ness and the 3.6km Busselton Jet y Swim in Western Australia. I have always been a water person because due to a car accident, running and cycling are not an option – but the move from the pool to open water was a challenge.
For our Christmas get together this year I challenged my family to a 1.5km surf swim at Bilgola Beach, to the north of Sydney. This is where as a family we learned to swim, plus my brothers were also lifesavers there.
Besides myself (now 58) there was my brother, 62, my 68-year-old sister, a nephew, 25, as well as 400 other keen swimmers. Despite rain the day before, race day saw perfect weather – even if there was a big swell running in the surf and lots of bluebot les.
We all fi nished in one piece, although the surf conditions did make this tough. There was a great BBQ to follow at the surf club – famously known for its bar made out of half a surf oat. My nephew was a lit le put out that I beat him by 12 seconds, and as a result he and his dad are swimming again at another event in two weeks time. I think they now get why I have become such a keen open water swimmer – and I may have created a few more fans! Maybe this could become our annual get together. Marion Slat ery
Got something to say about open water swimming? Tell us and you could WIN a Pool-Mate Pro watch worth £129.99!
OceanFit oceanfi
t.com.au
Andre Slade is an Australian swim coach who recently set up an ocean swimming business called OceanFit. He now has a website, which is a great educational resource for ocean swimmers, from how-to videos on the danger of sharks to ocean safety programmes for children. Best bit: It’s not just about swim training, but enjoying a way of life.
US Masters Swimming
usms.org
CONTEMPLATION,
NOT COMPETITION I am rather concerned that H2Open Magazine is a bit 'race obsessed’, as every swim seems to be advertised as a race. I would almost certainly come last in any swim that was classed as a 'race'. In fact, at the Byron Swim last year I did. I'm pret y sure I was the ‘last’ in, even though many people didn’t even complete the course. So where does this leave me in terms of determining how good an open water swimmer I am? The truth is, I have no interest at all in
fi nding how I compare to my peer group or age group or whatever – I just like to swim. I think you as a publication might usefully emphasise that some events are not exclusively 'races', that they are suitable for people who just want to complete a challenge, or to enjoy a swim without having
a bunch of cyclists and runners bouncing over them to get to the front of the swim Tri-atheletes. I hate them.
Swimming is not only about competition, but also contemplation. John Aikman
Thanks for keeping us on our toes, John. We do our best to cater for everyone who loves open water swimming, whether it’s racing, long-distance challenges or fi nding the best places for a quiet dip.
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
The Editor, H2Open, 20 Burnell Avenue, Richmond, TW10 7YE, United Kingdom Email:
info@h2openmagazine.com or go to our website:
h2openmagazine.com
Freshwater Swimmer
freshwaterswimmer.com This is the blog of Evan Morrison, a marathon swimmer from California who is also a director of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association. It's a mix of swimming and product advice, race tips, anecdotes, events diary and a handy global seawater temperature guide. Best bit: Links to all the best books on marathon swimming.
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This is a national organization providing organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Over 700 clubs throughout the US are affi liated to it; there are over 250 articles writ en by members, covering every conceivable aspect of pool and open water swimming. Best bit: Its in-depth information.
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