Dozens of young, proven pool swimming stars from across America are invited to the 2010 USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camp in Long Beach, California.

They will be instructed on the finer points of open water swimming and then thrown in with their more experienced competitors at the 2010 USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships.

They had some interesting perspectives on what they are going to try open water in this coming summer:

16-year-old Taylor Nanfria of Danville, California and the Crow Canyon Country Club (shown above), said, “I have competed in the RCP Tiburon Mile three times and improved each time with a sixth place finish in the women’s elite division in 2009. Distance is my thing. I have always done better in the longer events. I’m really excited..”

Vincent Donnelly of Tampa, Florida swimming for Purdue University (shown above) said, “I have always loved open water swimming. My club coach is big into the sport which in turn rubbed off on me. I am a long distance swimmer which helps me out a lot too. I have a vicious stroke which is suitable for open water swimming. I have competed in many of the past National Open Water 10K events down in Fort Myers, Florida.”

Joshua Wakeley of Atlantic City, New Jersey and Penn State University, said, “I believe that open water swims are a good way to train for distance events. It is a good experience to swim in such a different environment then the swimming pool, and I have enjoyed doing several open water 5K’s and one 10K in the past.”

19-year-old Caleb Veazey of Dallas, Texas and Arizona State University, very simply explained, “I am interested in not having to worry about turns.”

18-year-old Ryan Feeley of Rye, New York and the University of Michigan, explained, “My foray into open water occurred at Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships [in Guam]. I thought it would be the best time to try the 10K event. I managed to do all right. I swam my second 10K at Open Water Nationals in Ft. Myers, Florida. That race was completely different from the one I swam in Guam which makes open water interesting.”

“Each race is unique, not like a pool, where it might be a different pool, but it is still just a pool. In open water, each venue contains a completely different environment making every race exciting. I just like to compete in any kind of race, especially freestyle, over any distance. Open water is just my next step, a step out of the ordinary, towards more exciting and exceptional competition.”

18-year-old Haley Anderson of Granite Bay, California and USC where she is coached by the renowned Dave Salo and multi-time national open water swim team coach Catherine Vogt, said, “I have never really tried it. I never had real long open water competition. The max I have done is a mile open water. I thought it would be interesting to see how I do.

I have had some success with distance in the pool so might as well try open water.”

Columbia University graduate Lauren Anne Morford of Pennington, New Jersey and the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics said, “Training for and competing in open water races benefits my pool swimming and I have enjoyed gaining experience in a new competitive environment.”

17-year-old John Paul Gaylor Knoxville, Tennessee and the Pilot Aquatic Club said, “I have always wanted to give open water swimming a try. I seem to be able to hold strong paces for long distances, so I’m hoping I’ll be successful.”







19-year-old Nikki White of Austin, Texas and Indiana University, said, “I swam a 4-mile open water swim every year for four years when I was an age-group swimmer. I love having the freedom of open water.”







18-year-old Lynette Lim of Palm Springs, California and Piranha Swim Team said, “I seem to do better the longer the race is so I think that I might do reasonably well in open water. I have swum the 5K La Jolla Rough Water Swim and placed well.”






Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones