What makes open water swimming so special?
‘Hey, what makes open water swimming so special?’ You’ve been asked this question before. In fact, many times. But what do you answer? Or maybe you have a friend who is interested in open water swimming, but you can’t seem to convince him to go.
In this blog, we will have a broader look at what makes open water swimming special. A blog about that feeling that we have when we drive out to a lake or the sea for a swim. So, if you have a friend who is willing to try something new, let him try open water swimming because there is nothing else like it in the world.
What’s that one thing that makes open water swimming special?
That one thing nobody talks about but which makes open water swimming special is
that sense of peace that comes over you when you’re in the open water. There is something strange, and even contradictory when you think about it. A lake or sea is more challenging than the pool, it asks for greater skill set from the swimmer, and alertness and flexibility. But even so, there is something peaceful in getting out there.
There are swimmers who say that they associate the pool and swimming in the pool with exercise, improving techniques and doing sets of swims. They lose the joy of swimming in favour of training. But then when they get into the open water, they feel that swimming for the sake of swimming, that something about the way they enjoy the water is different, which creates a deeper sense of peace because they are in the moment, in the water with themselves. And do not forget the sights, the way the sun reflects on the water or other surroundings, make for a completely different swim than a few sets in the pool.
A sense of community
Open water swimming, one way or another, seems to invite the friendliest people around on the shore, to go for a swim. Open water swimming, while not being a team sport (depends if you swim in a relay team but that’s another story), remains one of those contradictory sports when you swim alone but together. While solo swims are definitely possible for experienced swimmers, it’s all around safer to swim in a group or to have a support group with you on the shore.
The reason for this, of course, is that the water of a lake of the sea is by no means stable. The weather conditions strongly influence the swim and make the same distance one day very hard and the next day extremely easy. If you’re interested in learning more about how the find influences the water, you can read our blog about how the wind affects the water for your open water swimming. You will also find some tips to make it easier to swim in windy weather.
But knowing about the unstable conditions of the water, of the need to always pay attention, is not the same as experiencing it. That’s why, for beginners and more experienced open water swimmers, a group is a fantastic way to swim in a safer way while also learning about how to swim in open water.
The extra challenge of the open water
It makes sense when you think about it, but one of the things that make open water swimming special is that strange feeling when you first realise that you have nothing to hang on to. There is no floor to stand on, no side to hang onto. You’re completely free in open water and that can be very scary when you first start. But when you’re used to it, after a few swims, it is what defines open water swimming.
Then the real challenges start to pop up. It might be the cold. Open water takes a while to warm up, and never really gets warm (depending on where you swim of course). You can’t underestimate the extra challenge cold water presents when you swim. It is not only physically challenging, the body has to acclimate bit by bit to colder water to be able to endure it, but mentally as well. You have to overcome the feeling of wanting to get out of the water and get into the mental habit of swimming.
You might also run into unexpected situations while swimming. Logs in the water because of a recent storm; a school of jellyfish passing by; losing sight of your boat while you’re in the middle of a swim. The real challenge of swimming in open water goes far beyond the physical skills you need. And that’s the beauty of it.
Once you start you will never stop and see the possibilities of swimming everywhere
With all this said, we should not forget one last point on what makes open water swimming special. It opens up possibilities. Lakes, seas, bodies of water. All of a sudden you see options for swimming everywhere. It is a way to travel the world, see new things, and experience the world from the view of the water. And that’s, in our opinion, what makes open water swimming really special.