Courtesy of Bobby Brewer, Open Water Planet, South Padre Island, Texas.
After rebuilding from the devastating hurricane season of 2017, Bobby Brewer of Open Water Planet returns to South Padre Island, the Sandcastle Capital of the World, on April 28th-29th 2018.
In South Texas, the event includes the 500-750m Triton Sprint, the 1 km – 1 mile Triton One, and the 3 km – 5 km Triton Select.
Brewer explains, “Open Water Planet operates on the belief that everything in nature varies. No two swimmers are the same, no two locations are the same, so why should all courses and distances be the same? That just doesn’t make sense.
Official courses vary in length dependent upon the individual location’s water characteristics in addition to the expected weather patterns that might be in effect on race day. This is done to ensure the safest and most enjoyable races for our athletes. Athletes are advised to train for the longest distance listed in their category. When the course map is posted 60 days prior to the event, estimated distances will be announced.”
South Padre Island was included in the 20 Best Beaches in America by Men’s Journal:
Best Beach for Lobster: Lobster Cove, Maine
Best Beach for Oysters: Cahoon Hollow, Massachusetts
Best Beach for Learning to Swim: Crescent Beach, Rhode Island
Best Beach for Dog-Walking: Higbee Beach, New Jersey
Best Beach for Sports: Jockey’s Ridge State Park, North Carolina
Best Beach for Family: Hunting Island, South Carolina
Best Beach for Quietude: Long Point, Georgia
Best Beach for Pre-Gaming: Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
Best Beach for Shell Hunting: Sanibel Island, Florida
Best Beach for Learning to Surf: Grand Isle State Park, Louisiana
Best Beach for Birders: South Padre Island, Texas
Best Beach for 4x4s: Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Best Beach for Body Boarding: Coronado, California
Best Beach for Families: Cannon Beach, Oregon
Best Beach for Whales: Lime Kiln Point State Park, Washington
Best Beach for Seclusion: Salt Creek Recreation Area, Washington
Best Beach for Getting Naked: Wreck Beach, British Columbia
Best Beach for Snorkeling: Hulopoe Beach, Lanai, Hawaii
Best Beach for Luaus: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Best Beach for Big Breaks: Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
All of these coastal locations are good for open water swimming, but swimmers can travel to the far reaches of America for some additional specific training:
Best Beach for Swimming with Whales: Lime Kiln Point State Park, San Juan Island, Washington
Best Beach for Swimming with Seals: La Jolla Cove, San Diego, California
Best Beach for Cold Water Marathon Swimming: Aquatic Park, San Francisco, California
Best Beach for Still Warm Water Swimming: Ala Moana Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
Best Beach for Reservoir Swimming: Lake Powell, Utah-Arizona
Best Beach for Swimming with Dogs: Dog Beach at Huntington Beach, California
Best Beach for Unpredictability: Lake Michigan, Chicago, Michigan
Best Beach for Pondering Nature: Walden Pond, Concord, Massachusetts
Best Beach for Rough Water Swimming (West Coast): Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California
Best Beach for Rough Water Swimming (East Coast): Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina
Best Beach for Swimming along a Boardwalk: Atlantic City, Absecon Island, New Jersey
Best Beach for Swimming and Big-wave Surfing: Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii
Best Beach for Swimming and Clubbing: South Beach, Miami, Florida
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