What is the Celtman? The Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon is a 3.4 km swim, 200 km bike, and 42 km run held in June in the Scottish Highlands. The swim is held in the cold Loch Shieldaig where jellyfish are expected.
What is the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon? The Norseman includes a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, and 42 km run in Norway. The swim leg starts from a ferry and is held in a fjord. The Eidfjord is surrounded by snow-clad mountains where the water in early August is usually in the 13-15°C range. Jonny Hisdal, PhD, professor of physiology, and a 13-time Norseman finisher, and Jørgen Melau, PhDcandidate in Cold Water Swimming and Norseman’s SafetyDirector write about cold water swimming here.
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.
