Open water swimming news

24 May 2013

We've just received this from Henley Swim. Sounds good.

"Henley Swim is pleased to announce a totally new competition – The Temple Island Sprints, which will feature as part of The blueseventy Henley Mile event on Sunday 14th July. This competition will feature a series of heats, semi-finals & finals over a 100m upstream course, set against the backdrop of the iconic Temple Island. Opposite the main event area, this setting will provide the perfect venue for friends and supporters to view and cheer on the competitors in some fast paced action.

The winner of each heat will go through to the next round, until there are four finalists, who will then go head to head in the final. Initial heat numbers will be confirmed on the day of the event, however, there will be a maximum of 4 rounds, including the final.

Details are to be confirmed, however, the first heats will be based on the entrant’s Henley Mile finishing time, with the slowest time heats taking place first, finishing with the final heat, with the fastest mile finishing times.

This competition will take place after the Henley Mile prize giving, and will be open to all Henley Mile entrants. If you have already entered the Henley Mile and would like to enter this competition, all you need to do is update the Activities Section of your registration form.

The competition is free for Henley Mile entrants. Anyone who would like to enter the Temple Island Sprints only will be able to enter on the day, depending on the number of places available, for a fee of £5."

See www.henleyswim.com for details.

22 May 2013

Launched yesterday, this new Neptune music player from FINIS ticks a number of boxes for swimmers. Firstly, and necessarily, it’s waterproof to 3m. Secondly, rather than having to plug buds into your ears the Neptune relies on ‘bone conduction’. The ‘speakers’ are pads that rest on your temple bone just in front of your ears, which means you could simultaneously wear ear plugs. Sound transmission underwater is better than above (and is in fact even better if you wear ear plugs). Thirdly, Neptune can be used in swimming pools, lakes and the ocean.

You do need to wear goggles as both the speakers and player clip to the strap. The wiring runs along the goggle strap and can be tucked under to prevent too much interference with swimming. For more serious training and faster swimming a swimming hat would help hold things in place.

Uploading music is easy as the Neptune can be plugged into a computer’s USB port and songs ‘drag and dropped’ onto it. Songs bought from iTunes need to be converted to MP3 format in iTunes but can then also be drag and dropped.

21 May 2013

Retired runner Iwan Thomas holds the British 400m record with a time of 44.36 seconds, which he did back in 1997. It takes him much longer to cover the same distance swimming. Like many runners, he struggles in the water. Nevertheless he’s excited to have signed up for the Great North and the Great Scottish Swims this year, and may even do all five events of the series.

It won’t be his first open water experience. He says he enjoyed swimming in rivers as a child and he’s done a couple of triathlons over sprint and Olympic distances. One of those nearly ended in disaster.

“I basically went off too fast for my ability. I thought I was doing quite well until a kayaker stopped me. I’d gone way off course and had swum into a bank of reeds,” he says.

He adds that it took him a while to master breathing. “I couldn’t understand why I was getting out of breath so quickly until someone pointed out that I should be breathing out under water.”

Picture (C) Dan Vernon Photography, www.danvernonphotography.com

It sounds like Thomas could benefit from some instruction and open water skills practice, including sighting. However he seems to be strangely reluctant to train. With his triathlon he, “just turned up and did it.” He plans to do pretty much the same thing for his swims.

“The great thing about these mass participation swims is that you don’t have to be a fantastic swimmer to take part. I love mass particpation events and the interaction with other swimmers, some of which I know will be really happy to beat an Olympian. I know I won’t be the fastest, but then I shouldn’t be the slowest either.”

While this doesn’t sound terribly competitive, Thomas will still be aiming to beat his own previous performance over the distance, and he would also like to improve through the season. Beyond that he doesn’t know where swimming will take him.

“Endurance isn’t my thing so I can’t imagine taking on anything like the English Channel,” he says. “However, I do enjoy challenges so I may do more triathlon.”

20 May 2013

Spice Girls singer Melanie C, also known as ‘Sporty Spice’, has signed up for Human Race’s Women Only Open Water Swim, which takes place on 7 July. She is tackling the 750m distance in preparation for a triathlon later in the year.

The swim, at Dorney Lake, is one of seven open water events hosted by Human Race this year. In its first running in 2012 the event proved popular and attracted over 100 swimmers. More are expected in 2013. As well as the 750m distance, swimmers can also do 1500m or 3km.

“The Human Race Women Only series is a fantastic celebration of women in sport. It allows ladies to compete in an environment which is encouraging and fun,” says the singer.

For more details see www.humanrace.co.uk

15 May 2013

Spanish swim travel and tourism company Culture Sport 365, working with Italian event organiser Bewater, has created a new swim series combining three beautiful sea swims in Spain, France and Italy. We caught up with Managing Director Aida Molina to find out more.

1.       Is it correct that in 2013 you have two events but in 2014 you will have three?

Yes, it is. Our intention is to have three events over the course of three consecutive weekends in 2014. For 2013 we've decided to focus only on the two events in Spain and Italy where we’re based in order to ensure the series is run to the highest standards.

2.       You call it ProSwim Series but I understand your main target audience are adult recreational swimmers. Is that correct?

Yes, we’ve designed the series for recreational swimmers, especially those with a taste for adventure, competition and achievement. For the Costa Brava event in particular we’re hoping to attract international swimmers along with their partners and families and we will make sure non-swimmers are equally looked after and have access to a range of cultural activities.

3.       Will you have ‘elite’ waves in these races?

Yes, we will have elite swimmers.

4.      Is the plan to offer visiting swimmers a tourism package that will encompass both swims?

For 2013 the idea was that the two races would be held on consecutive weekends but unfortunately we had to move the event dates. So the Swim the Costa Brava will now take place 21-22 Sept while Swim the island will be held 5-6 October. You are right, the ultimate aim is to promote the region and therefore to offer customised packages which include gastronomic and cultural activities as well as participation in the three events.

In the case of the Swim the Costa Brava event we have designed a long-weekend package offer that includes up to three nights stay. However it could be extended at the customer´s request. Transfers to both event venues can be arranged from Barcelona and Gerona.

5.       What can you offer swimmers that’s unique?

The possibility of taking part in the first European open water swimming championship and the opportunity to swim in two different locations in Mediterranean waters.

Our aim is that this should be an international championship not only aimed at local swimmers. This is what ProSwim challenge is about. We will take good care of international visitors and will have English speakers available to assist as necessary.

6.       Where can people find more information and enter?

www.swimthecostabrava.com

www.swimtheisland.com