The course at the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Championships is challenging, very challenging. Whoever wins these 5K, 10K and 25K races in Roberval will be aerobically superior, blazing fast, tactically intelligent swimmers – with a bit of luck.

The 2.5K-loop course starts off with a dive in front of thousands of spectators and takes a leg along the course passing two feeding stations.

While the course is not challenging in the traditional sense in terms of distance, water temperature or conditions, it is challenging in terms of buoy placement, minor currents, potential wind direction and the tangents between the turn buoys. Most challenging for the athletes and most exciting for the spectators is that fact that there is only 177 meters between the last sharply-angled turn buoy and the finish.

The finish – that starts today with the 10K women – is going to be spectacular.

The water temperature over night dropped significantly from a warm high of 75°F (24.4°C) to a cool 64°F (17.7°C) – which has certainly surprised the field. But open water swimming know to Expect the Unexpected.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones