Susan Simmons talked about cold water dippers on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, “There is a desire by many to go beyond the dip and challenge themselves to longer swim. I created a program called SwimGift where I provide free coaching through online workouts and weekly check-ins. By [this] August, we should have a number of new open water swimmers challenging themselves with 1 km, 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km swims. As part of this program, I have asked that each swimmer give back by raising funds for a charity of their choice. It is a pass-it-on-thing.
Throughout my swim career, I have been the beneficiary of the kindness, knowledge, expertise, and the time of so many people. It is my turn to give back.”
Weekly swim workouts for each of these distances are provided on Facebook with the hope that swims in Victoria, Nanaimo, Powell River, and other small communities throughout British Columbia.
For more information about SwimGift, visit here or email info@susansimmons.ca.
Photo above shows swimmers of The Great Big Swim organized by Simmons, Jasmine Kremer, and the Spirit Orcas in the Salish Sea.
Copyright © 2008 – 2022 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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.Latest posts by Steven Munatones
(see all)
