Swimmers Have Their Cake And Eat It Too
Sponsored by KAATSU Global, Huntington Beach, California.
Donuts continue to be a post-swim treat in Southern California in the same way cake is an open water swimming favorite in the UK.
From the Slow Swimming events to the Sandycove Friday Cake Mornings, cake is a great post-swim carbohydrate load.
Stuart Hamilton explains the Slow Swimming experience, “The ideal Slow Swimming event takes place in idyllic surroundings, doesn’t start too early in the morning. 10 O’clock is early enough for anyone to be doing some exercise, encourages swimmers to take their time and enjoy the experience, has a reasonable amount of cake involved at some stage, and ends with a picnic for friends and family.“
The 4 waves in the Slow Swimming events are creatively defined:
* Wave One: Seriously Need More Cake (known as Serious) for swimmers who race
* Wave Two: Relaxed ’cause we know where the cake is hidden (known as Relaxed) for swimmers who hold a steady pace without a rush
* Wave Three: Enjoying the Journey (known as Enjoying it) for swimmers who scull along, maybe with a bit of paddling, smiling and chatting
* Wave Four: Pooh Sticks for people who want to enjoy the scenery and float along using floaty things and stick out the occasional hand or foot to paddle
Damien Granier talks about the concept of cake on the south coast of Ireland, “Cake is an essential part of the whole ritual of open water swimming. Not only does it allows for recovery post-swim, with a variety of healthy and healthier options, but it is the vehicle for our social engagement, it is an essential enabler of this community feeling that is quite unique.
As someone used to say, a lot of big decisions are taken at the table…there might not be big decisions, but there certainly is friendship reinforcement, communication, craic and advice sharing, etc. happening on the seaside during those mornings.”
For more information about the Slow Swimming, email stuart@SlowSwimming.co.uk or visit here.
Copyright © 2008 – 2020 by World Open Water Swimming Association