The Most Annoying Part of Open Water Swimming: The Odyssey Community Answers
When it comes to the number of things people love about open water swimming and the things they hate, the former outweighs the latter, but there are things that annoy us and complicate the things we love.
Welcome to another “Ask the Community” post. The “Ask the Community” series features responses from the open water swimming community to questions, from what are you scared of in the water to how did you get started swimming in the open water?
In this edition of the Ask the Community series, we asked the community, What’s the most annoying part of open water swimming. Below are the responses we received on Facebook and Instagram.
“That guilty feeling of being unhappy that I can't swim because it rained when I also know that we need the rain.” - David S.
“Having to wash and hang dry my wetsuit and swim stuff, probably!” - Aaron W.
“In a race, people who don't know how to site.” - Suzette C.
“Jellyfish.” - Sigrid H.
“Currents.” - Lana C.
“Chop 💯! “ - Pilar C.
“Coming across trash when you’re swimming.” - @Scott T.
“Not being allowed to do it!” - Gary W.
“Getting in.” Susan B.
“Kelp in the mouth.” - Todd C.
“If it’s a race? The start.” - John D.
“Where to pee.” - Hisun Rim
“Chop.” - Shon Johnson
“Honestly, living in Miami there are water quality issues that need to be monitored when there is a spike the water is not safe to swim in.” - @cblythe1
“Jelly stings.” - @mrweskayak
“Sharks.” - @semerysnaps
“Weirdos lurking around the beach and leering at you when you get out, people who steal your towel and ratty gear, and people who leave trash all over the beach.” - @sabrina.flynn
“Fear of open water and cold water that is water temperature, and of course choppy water.” - @fitravelopgrapher
“Weird things touching your feet.” - @iron_brit
“For me it’s having to wash and hang dry my wetsuit and gear.” - @walzmusic
“The swimming bit. Gah!” - @justin_rich
“People’s stupid questions sometimes.” - @its.all.a.gift
“NOTHING.” - @tribine
“The ONLY annoying thing - low tide mucky squishy entrance and the dirt beard I get trying to avoid walking in it.” - @heidi_scharein
“I live in Australia and practice swimming in George’s River at Jew Fish Bay. The high/low tide time during the day sometimes does not suit my time for swimming. Few days I end up without swimming, and this is annoying.” - @fouadbdiab
“Chafing. And algae beards.” - @swimsintheswells
“Car keys stashed in your swim cap.” - @mike94040
“The bay water taste is often enough.” - @empricebox
“Jellyfish.” - @roro9615
“Cold water swims during the winter.” - @activej