The OWS Family
The open water swimming world has an intriguing collection of acronyms with common goals and missions, based on OWS (open water swimming). This commonality of purpose and common linguistic usage has helped the sport identify itself as veterans of the sport remember the days when the sport was simultaneously referred to as rough water swimming, long-distance swimming, marathon swimming, ultra-marathon swimming, ocean swimming and cold water swimming.The OWS family includes JIOWSA (Japan International Open Water Swimming Association), NEKOWSA (Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association), GLOWS (Great Lakes Open Water Swimming Series), CIOWS (Central Illinois Open Water Swim), United States Open Water Swimming Association (USOWSA), Dubai Open Water Swimming Sports Association (DOWSSA), Vancouver Open Water Swimming Association (VOWSA), International Open Water Swimming Association (IOWSA), World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) and Staged Open Water Swimming Association (SOWSA) – and will undoubtedly continue to grow in the future.
John Traynor announced that CIOWS will join the GLOWS Series with its 1.2- and 2.4-mile swims this August.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
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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