The sea is rough, the waves are pounding along the coast, the swells are bouncing against the rocky shore.
What is a swimmer to do? What would you do? Are you a risk-taker or are you risk-averse?
Do you take a chance, wait for a lull in the surf, and then touch or scamper up the rocky shore? Or do you swim further and find a safer location to land on the soft sand? Safety and self-confidence will dictate your decision, but do you go for it, trusting in your skills as a waterman (or water woman)? Or do you look for a stretch of soft sand in order to walk safely ashore?
Photo shows David Yudovin in one of his pioneering swims.
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.