The 2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference will have a number of speakers who have faced this question innumerable times from their families, friends and fans: why?

Why do you swim? Why aren’t your afraid? Why do you have to do this?

The speakers have already answered that question in their heart repeatedly with another question: why not?

Why not me? Why not this swim? Why not now?

So the Why becomes a Why Not.

The Global Open Water Swimming Conference on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California is not a “How To…” learning experience. There are plenty of clinics and coaches around the world where you can be told and taught the “how-to” of the sport. No, this is a conference where luminaries of the sport – of all speeds and ages – will inspire the attendees “to want to”, to feel the need to do the sport.

If we assume open water swimming, especially at the longer end of channel swimming and marathon swimming or the competitive niches, is 80% mental, then this is the conference for you. Learn how others faced adversities. Listen how people from around the world deal with obstacles. The speakers will illuminate their world where the why’s become why not’s and the how-to’s become need-to’s.

For more information on this weekend’s extravaganza, click here.

Photo from Stage 1 of the 8 Bridges of the Hudson River Swim in New York.

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source