The Community Answers: “What Led You to Try OWS?”
In our Ask the Community series, we’ve been asking open water swimmers a series of questions, from “What scares you in the open water?” to “How long have you swam in the open water?” We asked the open water swimming community, “What led you to try open water swimming?”
“When I moved to a smallish island in the Caribbean, I soon realized I'd go stir-crazy if I didn't get off of it regularly. Fortunately there was a distance swimming group that did between one and three miles from point to point around the island every Saturday morning.” -- Robin S.
“My love for natural water and a need to change up my swimming!!🌹🏊♀️😎💦” -- Lisa D.
“I was a sprinter in high school and in college so going into my senecio year of college I knew I was going to continue to swim but wanted new events to compete in. So I decided to try distance events in open water. I did a 2.4 mile open water race in a lake and loved it! It got me shape for my senior year and I kept on training after I graduated for more races. I then did the big shoulders 5k race and really enjoyed that challenge. With just a speedo and 62 degree lake temps it was an addicting challenge I enjoy racing every year.” -- Christopher S.
“My masters team in SoCal loves the beaches and what else do you do but go to open water races! They got me hooked in 2016!” -- Linda S.
“Because it scared me! Still does but now in a healthy way.” -- Michael T.
“Was looking for a new challenge after I turned 40...my good friend bill Sullivan and Mark Wainwright introduced me to the open water.” — John D.
“Started doing Triathlon’s.” — Jeany H
“It's the real deal. Everything else is just practice.” — Chad M
“Living in Miami, FL, and falling in love with the ocean.” -- cblythe1
“Reading Lynn Cox’s “Swimming to Antarctica” as a child!” -- kaceynotcasey
“I bought the book because your recommendation. Excited to read it.” -- scardenasjr
“For me, “true” OWS was swimming in the ocean (via the SF Bay). I grew up afraid of the water after nearly drowning as a small child. After learning to swim as an adult and finishing my first triathlon season (swimming in lakes), I know I had to try the ocean. I did, and I was hooked. I completed my first Alcatraz crossing one year later. I will *always* be proud of that moment.” -- jddelacruz
“I was a competitive pool swimmer from a very early age on… a swimming friend encouraged me to try lake swimming one summer, and I was hooked. It opened up a whole new world for me. My husband could be my pilot, as he’s a kayaker, and I could wim as far as I wanted. 🧜♀️💗” -- carlyb_a_swimmer
“Freedom. Water. Nature.” -- tribine
“My love for water. I love a good pool but it’s so restricting. As a kid, I would jump off the boat and try to swim down to touch the bottom of the lake. You know, just for fun. My mother says I have always been a water baby.” -- scardenasjr
“When I did my first sharkfest Alcatraz swim with the Alameda gators.” -- baum.spencer