The Joy of Open Water

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:11:23 GMT

nice post jonathan. every day is unique outside the box (pool). Thanks, this was my best attempt to bridge the open water divide, as a pool swimmer... My experience in open water has been very limited, two thumbs out. (Popov style)

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:51:38 GMT

humility = not being on the top of the food chain. Or humility=nearly becoming chum in the propellers of a ferry boat that drives right through the race... Remember that last year at Quassaquag? We were watching in horror from the beach, and were relieved that nobody got hurt.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:40:43 GMT

OW challenges your swimming much more than pool swimming. Pretty much a pool is a pool with some variables but large variables change by the stroke in OW. Plus, it's fun to kick and elbow people. Sure, when you've got a spare tire like that for cushion. :rolleyes:

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:19:01 GMT

I despise the choppy waves everytime I come up for a breath, the fact that I always move off-course and have to swim extra to get back in line, the abbrasive nature of the salt water on skin, and the murky water with who-knows-what swimming beneath. As I said before, I do sometimes wish I could enjoy it more. I view it as an obstacle - something I have to fight and get through to finsih a race. you can't fight it; it will always win. surrender........is the path to joy.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:16:31 GMT

The joys of open water swimming. Lake Ontario, fridgid water, Lamper eels, the little lakes althrough Ontario little ribbon blood suckers. The Humber River, pollution, lamper eels, blood suckers. The Oceans the Sharks the jelly fish. In Mexico the crocodiles that slip out of the lagoons and ply the beaches. Aleandria harbour the raw sewage, little brown lumps of ectacy. It is so wonderful to experience. humility = not being on the top of the food chain.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:12:20 GMT

J where did you find that little place to swim that sounds so good. If it was in the shuswap watchout for the boats they do not respect swimmers. The joys of open water swimming. Lake Ontario, fridgid water, Lamper eels, the little lakes althrough Ontario little ribbon blood suckers. The Humber River, pollution, lamper eels, blood suckers. The Oceans the Sharks the jelly fish, the rip tides that take you where they want to take you. In Mexico the crocodiles that slip out of the lagoons and ply the beaches. Alexandria harbour the raw sewage, little brown lumps of ectacy. It is so wonderful to experience.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:49:59 GMT

nice post jonathan. last week i saw some small fish in a lake i frequent. lake minnewaska. this shouldn't sound like anything to write home about, but.....this lake has been considered "dead" (too acidic for fish) for generations. in the 20-something years i have been swimming there i have never seen anything other than frogs, snakes, salamanders, etc in the lake. even the park naturalists don't seem to know anything about what species, or how they got there. every day is unique outside the box (pool).

RE: The Joy of Open Water

aquageek — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:33:53 GMT

OW challenges your swimming much more than pool swimming. Pretty much a pool is a pool with some variables but large variables change by the stroke in OW. Plus, it's fun to kick and elbow people.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

SLOmmafan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:15:17 GMT

I certainly wish I could share in that joy. I've grown up in a pool, and to me that is the only place where actual swimming can take place (outside of playing in a lake, surfing at the ocean, etc). The past two summers I have done a 2 mile ocean swim in Newport Beach, CA. Both times I have placed high (top 50 out of 300), and actually improved my time. I like the challenge of it, but everything about swimming in the ocean really makes me mad. I despise the choppy waves everytime I come up for a breath, the fact that I always move off-course and have to swim extra to get back in line, the abbrasive nature of the salt water on skin, and the murky water with who-knows-what swimming beneath. As I said before, I do sometimes wish I could enjoy it more. I view it as an obstacle - something I have to fight and get through to finsih a race.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

mctrusty — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:03:38 GMT

Hippie. :thhbbb: Open water sure is a great change of pace.

RE: The Joy of Open Water

ViveBene — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:35:17 GMT

Open water is wonderful! No two days alike, not even two consecutive hours. Why not come over to the OW forum? :applaud: Regards, VB

RE: The Joy of Open Water

Former Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:18:19 GMT

Or humility=nearly becoming chum in the propellers of a ferry boat that drives right through the race... Remember that last year at Quassaquag? We were watching in horror from the beach, and were relieved that nobody got hurt. ssshhh! i'm trying to get more people to join in the fun this year.