Open Water Is Nature’s Biggest Swimming Pool
The Milk & Co Queensland Ocean Swim Series had close to 2,500 swimmers participate in its races during the 2013 season.Writer Ellie Gleeson explains her reasons why ocean swimming is Australia’s new “it” sport:
“It’s free. Well, some competitive events have an entry fee but this is usually small.
What I mean is – it’s free to train: there are no gym fees, no personal trainer fees, no contract fees.
It’s just you and the wide blue expanse of water spreading out to the horizon. It is nature’s biggest swimming pool.”It’s SO. GOOD. FOR. YOU. Cross-Fit eat your heart out. This fitness fad is here to stay. Swimming is one of the best exercises you can gift your body – at any age and at any fitness level.
It provides incredible cardiovascular benefits, strengthening, conditioning, toning, not to mention the amazing (and legal!) endorphin rush afterwards. Ocean swimming is the gift your body deserves.
I could easily add to this list and make it a top 10 – there are that many fabulous things to say about ocean swimming: famous people do it. You can combine an event with a great mini-break in one of Queensland’s top beach locations, it’s a sport for the whole family.
Most importantly, ocean swimming is a sport of participation. It’s pure, and simple, and so Aussie. At the start line of any event in this Series, you’ll see kids, parents, office workers, professional athletes, couch potatoes who want to be professional athletes, teenagers, retirees…the only thing that matters is not who you are but whether you can throw on a coloured cap and launch yourself into the waves and try.
There are no barriers in ocean swimming and that’s what John Guise and his team emphasise at all of their events: just get out there and have fun.
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming
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.
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