Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
Open water swimming offers something for everyone. First and foremost, people of all ages are able to participate and enjoy the sport. Some young ones start as early as 6 or 7 years old, and there are also amazing men and women in their 90’s still swimming.
Both the Midmar Mile in South Africa and the RCP Tiburon Mile in California showcase this diversity of age. A prime example is the Woodhead family, who participated in the Tiburon Mile in 2011. Laura Woodhead swam alongside daughter Ella, who was 7 and the youngest swimmer to complete the swim, while her husband, Jeff, kayaked.
But the standard bearer of the generational allure of open water swimming is the Richards family in South Africa. Mally Richards not only has competed in 60 SPAR River Mile events, but his son Kevin has won the event 6 times, and his grandsons Marc (11) and Sean (14) also participate in Africa’s longest running open water swim.
Similarly, there is something for everyone ranging from the amateur fitness swimmer to the professional elite. Both of these, once again, are demonstrated in the Midmar Mile. Over the course of two days, the nearly 18,000 participants are separated into eight different heats by age and gender, but there is also a general competition for families where family members (husband, wife, mother, daughter, father, son) compete on the basis of their cumulative times.. This three-day event culminates in an elite competition, which is always a hard-fought race between several of the top international swimmers. However, every swimmer who crosses the finish line is treated like a winner, and is the reason it holds the Guinness World Record for most people in an open water swimming race.
The venues in which open water events take place vary immensely. Those swimmers who prefer more severe and harsh elements, such as strong currents and large waves, will likely enjoy ocean swimming. However, those who would rather more serene and tranquil conditions should probably choose races in lakes or dams. While the exact conditions of any body of water can never be predicted with complete accuracy, swimmers can make a decent educated guess based upon type of venue and season of the year.
The water temperature is also an extremely significant factor, and one that can vary greatly. There are those termed “ice swimmers” who find thrill in swimming in water below 5°C all the way down to freezing temperatures. There are also those who are happiest swimming in warm Caribbean waters, where temperatures may reach 90°F. However, these are the two extremes, and the majority of people prefer a water temperature somewhere in the middle of the two.
Open water swimmers cannot be simply “lumped” into one category. There are those who participate for fun, those who use it as a form of exercise, and a fortunate few who have the talent and commitment to do it for a living. In addition, everyone has their own preferences, including water conditions, water temperature, size of the race, and level of competition. Fortunately, the sport of open water provides opportunities for all different types of swims. Whatever you are looking for, it can most likely be found.
Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming