Curriculum Offerings Of Open Water Swimming University

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

“As the World Open Water Swimming Association swimmers and coaches certification program transitions to a more comprehensive offering, it hopes to inspire and educate swimmers, triathletes, coaches and support crew about the details, challenges and joys of open water swimming,” explained Steven Munatones.

It will have the following curriculum offerings among many other courses:

Hydration and Fueling In Channel Swimming: The central purpose of Hydration and Fueling In Channel Swimming is to introduce students to a wide range of hydration and fueling possibilities that can enhance their swimming capabilities in training and before, during and after competitions, solo swims and relays. The course is intended to prepare students to become better prepared for maximal performance in all kinds of conditions and situations. Students will also be introduced to feeding equipment and tools as well as commercial and homemade hydration and fueling options. Students will be asked to create their own feeding equipment and to prepare two types of plans: one for a channel swim and one for a major competition.

Texts include Wind, Waves, and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming by Conrad Wennerberg, Open Water Swimming by Steven Munatones, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes by Monique Ryan, and Open Water Swimming Manual: An Expert’s Survival Guide For Triathletes And Open Water Swimmers by Lynne Cox, Conquest of the English Channel by Thomas Hetzel, and Alone On A Wide Wide Sea by Bob McCormack.

Streamlining In Dynamic Conditions: The central purpose of Streamlining In Dynamic Conditions is to introduce students to the optimal means to stay streamlined in both tranquil and turbulent conditions in a variety of bodies of water (oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers). The course is intended to prepare students to become better prepared for maximal performance in all kinds of conditions and situations. Students will also be introduced to different training methodologies, training menus, and training philosophies for competitive swimmers, triathletes and solo swimmers. Students will be asked to create stroke analytics for two types of athletes: beginner swimmers and advanced triathletes.

Texts include Open Water Swimming: A Complete Guide for Distance Swimmers and Triathletes by Dr. Penny Lee Dean, The Science of Swimming Faster by Scott Riewald, Ph.D. and Scott Rodeo, M.D., Open Water Swimming by Steven Munatones, and Triathlon Swimming Made Easy – The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming by Terry Laughlin, and Modern Long Distance Swimming by Gerald Forsberg.

Drafting and Positioning in Competitive Environments: The central purpose of Drafting and Positioning in Competitive Environments is to introduce students to the optimal means to draft, position, deal with physicality, surge and sprint during open water swimming races. Competitive tactics, techniques and strategies will be taught for athletes of every ability and background. The course is intended to prepare students to become better prepared for maximal performance in various kinds of competitive conditions and situations. Students will be asked to create analyze the tactics and strategies of athletes during POW (Pool Open Water) and international competitions.

Texts include Wind, Waves, and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming by Conrad Wennerberg, Open Water Swimming by Steven Munatones, and Auf der Erfolgswelle schwimmen: Was junge Menschen wissen müssen, um erfolgreich zu werden (Float on the Wave of Success: What Young People Need to Know For Success) by Thomas Lurz, together with the educational video Tactics & Techniques of Elite Open Water Swimmers by Marc Randall and Steven Munatones.

The History of Open Water Swimming: The central purpose of The History of Open Water Swimming is to introduce students to mankind’s interactions with open bodies of water throughout the ages from prehistoric times to the present. The course is intended to describe how mankind has faced the dynamics of the open water in competition and in war, including both intentional actions and unintentional incidents. Lifesaving organizations, pioneering solo swims, and international competitions will be highlighted throughout the course. Students will be asked to write a biography of one historical figure in the sport.

Texts include It’s Cold in the Channel by Sam Rockett, The Great Swim by Gavin Mortimer and America’s Girl: The Incredible Story of How Swimmer Gertrude Ederle Changed the Nation by Tim Dahlberg, and The Crossing: The curious story of the first man to swim the English Channel by Kathy Watson.

The Development of Open Water Swimming in Contemporary Times: The central purpose of The Development of Open Water Swimming in Contemporary Times is to introduce students to the background of how Olympic marathon swimming, ice swimming, stage swimming, mass participation events have developed in the 21st century. The course is intended to describe the personalities who helped develop the rules and the organization of the world’s most renowned events and how traditions shaped these developments. Students will be asked to create their event with rules, safety guidelines and logistical plans.

Texts include Wind, Waves, and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming by Conrad Wennerberg and Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer by Lynne Cox.

Unprecedented Feats in the Open Water: The central purpose of Unprecedented Feats in the Open Water is to introduce students to great solo swims in history from Captain Matthew Webb’s first crossing of the English Channel in 1875 to Lynne Cox‘s swim across the Bering Strait in 1987. The course is intended to explore the reasons why these swims were attempted and the circumstances of their initial attempts and subsequent successes. Students will be asked to plan their own pioneering swim in both fresh water and salt water.

Texts include History of Open-Water Marathon Swimming by Captain Tim Johnson and Swim to Glory: The Story of Marilyn Bell and the Lakeshore Swimming Club by Ron McAllister, 21 Yaks and a Speedo by Lewis Pugh, Young Woman and the Sea by Glenn Stout, and Take It to the Limit by Julie Ridge.

Why? Reasons to Seek Adventure in The Open Water: The central purpose of Why? Reasons to Seek Adventure in The Open Water is to introduce students to the psychology of seeking unprecedented swims in the open water. The course is intended to delve into the motivations of swimmers who first crossed various bodies of water from the Cook Strait and Molokai Channel to the Strait of Gibraltar and the North Channel. Students will be asked to create and present the results of a survey asking contemporary swimmers why these wish to cross one of the Oceans Seven channels.

Texts include BlueMind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do by Wallace J Nichols, The Day The Whale Came by Lynne Cox, Nothing Great is Easy by Des Renford with Ian Heads, Ice Breaker: The Freezing Story of Lynne Cox by John Diconsiglio, SWIM: Why We Love The Water by Lynne Sherr, and With Each Stroke, The Endless Blue by Antonio Argüelles and Nora Toledano.

Female Greatness in the Open Water: The central purpose of Female Greatness in the Open Water is to introduce students to renowned female open water swimmers in history from Olympian Gertrude Ederle and pioneering Mercedes Gleitze to professional marathon swimmer Shelley Taylor-Smith and Olympic champion Larisa Ilchenko. The course is intended to explore the reasons why these women became motivated to challenge themselves in the open water with a special emphasis on Australian women from Annette Kellerman, Penny Palfrey and Chloë McCardel. Students will be asked to write a fictional account of one woman’s attempt to do an unprecedented channel crossing.

Texts include Swim to Glory: The Story of Marilyn Bell and the Lakeshore Swimming Club by Ron McAllister, Marilyn Bell: The Heart-Stopping Tale of Marilyn’s Record-Breaking Swim by Patrick Tivy, and Dangerous When Wet: The Shelley Taylor-Smith Story by Shelley Taylor-Smith and Ian Cockerill, and Sage Island by Samantha Warwick.

Safety Considerations in the Open Water: The central purpose of Safety Considerations in the Open Water is to introduce students to the types of safety equipment used in open water swimming competitions and events including marine vessels and communication devices. The course is intended to teach students how to plan for and execute a safe race in both tranquil and turbulent conditions. Students will learn what to do in cases of emergencies and how to react when races must be modified, postponed or cancelled. Students will be asked to write a safety plan for the Waikiki Roughwater Swim on Oahu, Hawaii and the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Texts include Open Water Swimming Manual: An Expert’s Survival Guide For Triathletes And Open Water Swimmers by Lynne Cox, Ultra Swimming by Claudia B. Manley and Wild Swim by Kate Rew, together with the educational video Tactics & Techniques of Elite Open Water Swimmers by Marc Randall and Steven Munatones.

Governing Bodies and Rules in the Open Water: The central purpose of Governing Bodies and Rules in the Open Water is to introduce students to how and why governing bodies, federations and associations are established and function. The course is intended to describe how the contemporary organizations such as the Channel Swimming Association, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation, and FINA function and are structured. Students will discuss and debate a wide variety of issues facing myriad governing bodies. Students will be asked to create the by-laws and rules of a new governing body of their choice.

Texts include Captain Webb and 100 years of Channel Swimming by Margaret A. Jarvis, Open Water Swimming by Steven Munatones, and Fair Sport – The History of Sport at the Canadian National Exhibition, 1879-1977 Inclusive by A.W. “Bill” Leveridge.

The Dangers and Beauty of Marine Life: The central purpose of The Dangers and Beauty of Marine Life is to introduce students to the wide variety of marine life that are encountered by open water swimmers and triathletes in both fresh water and salt water, from sharks and jellyfish to whales and dolphins. The course is intended to teach how best to interact with each type of marine life and what to do in emergencies. Students will be asked to create a photography exhibition and video presentation of at least one type of marine life and its interaction with swimmers.

Texts include Grayson by Lynne Cox, The Man Who Swam the Amazon – 3274 Miles on the World’s Deadliest River by Matthew Mohlke, The Day The Whale Came by Lynne Cox, SWIM: Why We Love The Water by Lynne Sherr, and Open Water Swimming in South Africa by Tony Sellmeyer.

Training for a Channel Swim: The central purpose of Training for a Channel Swim is to introduce students to various training menus and regimens in order to successfully complete a channel crossing, marathon swim, or an open water swim of any length. The course is intended to describe training in a pool and the open water as well as various kinds of dryland training and nutritional plans. Students will be asked to prepare a year-long training plan for a beginner swimmer and a veteran swimmer to cross the Catalina Channel and Lake Ontario.

Texts include How To Swim A Marathon by Dr. Penny Lee Dean, Modern Long Distance Swimming by Gerald Forsberg, Long Distance Swimming by Gerald Forsberg, Open Water Swimming: A Completed Guide for Distance Swimmers and Triathletes by Penny Lee Dean, and The Crossing: The Curious Story of the First Man to Swim the English Channel by Kathy Watson, and It’s Cold in the Channel by Sam Rockett.

Literature of the Open Water: The central purpose of Literature of the Open Water is to introduce fictional and non-fictional publications that focus on open water swimming to students. The course is intended to provide a wide range of concepts, thoughts and perspectives of open water swimmers for inspiration and motivation. Students will be asked to write their own short stories based on actual or imaginary swims in open bodies of water.

Texts include Grayson by Lynne Cox, Nine Ways to Cross a River, Midstream Reflections on Swimming and Getting There from Here by Akiko Busch, Haunts of the Black Masseur, The Swimmer as a Hero by Charles Sprawson, Conquest of the English Channel by Thomas Hetzel, Two Faces of the English Channel, The Untold Story by Paul Jagasich, Other Shores by Diana Nyad, and BlueMind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do by Wallace J Nichols.

Oceans Seven: The central purpose of Oceans Seven is to introduce students to seven renowned channel swims around the world that have attracted swimmers and adventurers to challenge themselves mentally, logistically and physically. The course is intended to present the difficulties and joys in preparing for a wide variety of obstacles in the open water. Students will be asked to present a comparison and ranking of all the seven channels and to defend their opinions in the presence of veteran channel swimmers.

Texts include Young Woman and the Sea – How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout, Nadando El Estrecho, Sus Orígenes Y Su Historia (Swimming the Strait, Its Origin and History) by Montserrat Tresserras Dou and Conquering the English Channel by George H. Pumphrey, Dover Solo by Marcia Cleveland, and Long Distance Swimming by Gerald Forsberg.

Students in all courses will also be asked to view the following films as optional credit:

*Agua (Santa Fe, Argentina)
*Winter Swimming (Prague, Czech Republic)
*Defeating Oceans Seven (Tsugaru Channel, Japan)
*Driven (Santa Barbara, California)
*Welcome (English Channel)
*On A Clear Day (Port of Dover, Kent, England and Glasgow, Loch Monzie, River Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland)
*The Other Shore (Straits of Florida)
*Two Swimmers (English Channel)
*How To Swim From Cuba To Florida (Cuba, Straits of Florida)
*Jaws (fictional Amity Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts)
*Open Water (Great Barrier Reef)
*Cast Away (possibly Monuriki, Fiji)
*The Big Blue (Santorini Island in Greece, St. Croix, Taormina in Italy, etc.)
*All Is Lost (filmed in Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico)
*Living Is Winning (Lake Placid, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

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