1. Develop a Sense of Adventure – further develop a deeper sense of adventure by swimming with marine life, waves and currents.
2. Give Yourself a Physical Challenge – test yourself to see how far or how fast or how straight you can swim in turbulent open water conditions.
3. Develop a 21st Century Mindset – old business models and the comforts of the 20th century are building replaced by innovative thinking and quick responses to dynamic conditions. Prepare for and replicate these unexpected dryland situation in the open water.
4. Pioneering Exploration – do something somewhere in the 70% water-covered Planet Earth that no one else has ever done in human history. There are innumerable unprecedented opportunities.
5. Collaborative Friendship – help someone achieve their own open water swimming goals by paddling, escorting or supporting them.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.