If the best answer to almost any question is another question, then one possible answer to ‘Why are you doing this open water swim?’ may be ‘Why not?’
‘Why?’, ‘Why do you do ice swimming?’, ‘Why are you attempting the channel?’, ‘Why do you swim in the ocean?’ are questions that open water swimmers often face. The answers may be:
‘Why not?’
‘If not me, then who?’
‘If not now, then when?’
‘If not here, then where?’
If the follow-up questions are ‘Isn’t it cold?’, ‘Isn’t it far?’, ‘Isn’t it dangerous?’ or ‘Has it been done before?’, then perhaps those inquiries hold the answers themselves.
‘Yes, it is cold.’
‘Yes, it is far.’
‘Yes, it is dangerous.’
‘No, it has not been done before.’
…’and that is why I want to do it.’
When the questioner does not understand those answers and you do; when the questioner does not fathom your willingness to try and you understand the precautions and training necessary to prepare for a safe swim, then you know you have the DNA and mindset of an open water swimmer.
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.