But what about all the open water swims that require no certification? All they do is say "Do not attempt this if you cannot swim a mile comfortably in a pool in under 40 minutes."
The first time I swam the Tiburon Mile in the 63 degree SF Bay, nobody asked me for any certification or even proof that I could swim.
Are designated OW events different from triathlons?
Good point. But I'd argue that a larger portion of OW swimmers already swim regularly, most with a USMS team, and that is what differentiates OW swimmers from triathletes - they actually train swimming!
This goes back to my point about hosting distance meets - they're a great barometer for anyone looking to do a longer-distance race.
But what about all the open water swims that require no certification? All they do is say "Do not attempt this if you cannot swim a mile comfortably in a pool in under 40 minutes."
The first time I swam the Tiburon Mile in the 63 degree SF Bay, nobody asked me for any certification or even proof that I could swim.
Are designated OW events different from triathlons?
Good point. But I'd argue that a larger portion of OW swimmers already swim regularly, most with a USMS team, and that is what differentiates OW swimmers from triathletes - they actually train swimming!
This goes back to my point about hosting distance meets - they're a great barometer for anyone looking to do a longer-distance race.
