The Perfect Life With Bumps
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
If you enjoy open water swimming, then participating in the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix race today and next week’s FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup race are great activities.
SPECIAL RACE DAY UPDATE (SATURDAY, 3/29/2014):
Race is going on in rough conditions. Feeding pontoon was changed due to the waves and surface chop. Coaches feed athletes as they stand in 2-foot waves near shore.
The events are held in the Ocean Maya Hotel in Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula along the Caribbean Sea.
The Ocean Maya Hotel is an absolutely fantastic beachfront resort with buffets open all day with international cuisine.
The athletes train anytime in the warm Caribbean Sea and in the fresh water pools and only have to roll out of their beds with a quick walk to either.
The athletes can relax in the hammocks or in their creatively-decorated rooms or anywhere on the resort grounds with their like-minded friends from around the world. Talking, laughing and reminiscing about open water, it is a great life to lead.
The Mexican Swimming Federation and the local organizers from nearby Cancun and Playa del Carmen go well out of their way to treat the athletes with warm-hearted hospitality.
But there is still a 9-mile race to be held.
It will not be easy. Not at all. It is going to be rough and tough.
The stiff ocean winds have kicked up some fierce turbulence and the sand has made the clear tropical waters as silty as a fast-moving river.
“You can be right behind someone and you cannot see them,” said American Lexie Kelly. “It is impossible to see the person in front of you in the water.”
Bumpy and lumpy only hints at the surface chop that the athletes will face in the 15 km race. Turbulent and turgid are closer to the reality in Playa del Carmen.
Which means there is going to be a lot of sighting and head-lifting in the FINA race this morning. If there is a proper definition of a rough water race, then the Playa del Carmen race in front of the Ocean Maya Resort fits.
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
SPECIAL RACE DAY UPDATE (SATURDAY, 3/29/2014):
Race is going on in rough conditions. Feeding pontoon was changed due to the waves and surface chop. Coaches feed athletes as they stand in 2-foot waves near shore.
The events are held in the Ocean Maya Hotel in Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula along the Caribbean Sea.
The Ocean Maya Hotel is an absolutely fantastic beachfront resort with buffets open all day with international cuisine.
The athletes train anytime in the warm Caribbean Sea and in the fresh water pools and only have to roll out of their beds with a quick walk to either.
The athletes can relax in the hammocks or in their creatively-decorated rooms or anywhere on the resort grounds with their like-minded friends from around the world. Talking, laughing and reminiscing about open water, it is a great life to lead.
The Mexican Swimming Federation and the local organizers from nearby Cancun and Playa del Carmen go well out of their way to treat the athletes with warm-hearted hospitality.
But there is still a 9-mile race to be held.
It will not be easy. Not at all. It is going to be rough and tough.
The stiff ocean winds have kicked up some fierce turbulence and the sand has made the clear tropical waters as silty as a fast-moving river.
“You can be right behind someone and you cannot see them,” said American Lexie Kelly. “It is impossible to see the person in front of you in the water.”
Bumpy and lumpy only hints at the surface chop that the athletes will face in the 15 km race. Turbulent and turgid are closer to the reality in Playa del Carmen.
Which means there is going to be a lot of sighting and head-lifting in the FINA race this morning. If there is a proper definition of a rough water race, then the Playa del Carmen race in front of the Ocean Maya Resort fits.
Copyright © 2014 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.
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