Why do you like Open Water Swimming?

Susan - I don't view your question as controversial. And, I think you listed all the reasons why I love open water swimming: it's liberating, exhilerating, not monotonous and there's no chlorine. In addition, swimming in San Francisco Bay and from Alcatraz throws in another whole dimension of reading the currents, sighting, swimming in the wind and chop and generally getting to know Mother Ocean very intimately. There's an element of risk and it's inherently dangerous but we always have a piloted zodiac along in case of emergency. I guess these are the same reasons that a lot of people prefer trail running to running on a treadmill or biking versus a Life Cycle. Different strokes for different folks.

All of what was said, plus as far as competitive swimming goes, it's a lot more fun to go to an open water swim, do the race, be finished with all of your friends and then go celebrate with breakfast and beers . . . or whatever . . . Hanging around on a pool deck all day for a few minutes of racing is not nearly as fun in my book. This is NOT a diss to pool competitions so no flaming . . . just the point of view that I've developed more recently, since getting into open water races. It seems to me like the open water community is also pretty friendly and displays a lot of camaraderie. The ocean/open water swimmers I've gotten to know are a pretty good bunch.

Interesting question. And a good one. There are lots of reasons why I enjoy open water swimming. One is avoiding the tyranny of the clock--I'm not able to compare myself to my younger fitter self. I can make up for some lack of conditioning with some guile. Which is good because I have more guile than conditioning. The physical challenge implicit in every open water swim is rewarding. And fun. The different views and locations are great. Seeing a turtle in Hawaii, a reflected snow cap mountain in Elk Lake, catching an outside wave at Manhattan Beach, etc. All those are vivid memories. Trying to swim and sight a course and trying to find a better route than anyone else so I can sneak ahead. The camaraderie which someone mentioned surrounding doing an open water swim, which contrasts with spending time on a pool deck for a pool meet is great. The constant variety between different swims. Salt water, fresh water, calm, choppy, currents. Even from year to year the same swim can be entirely different and you have to figure it out. Everyone once in a while, you get it wrong no matter how many swims you have done. That's OK too. Means you don't get bored. Or shouldn't.

The freedom. The lack of boredom or restricting lanes. In places with clean water, the ability to go without goggles.

I agree with what everyone has said so far. For me, it's also about swimming in open sunlight. I was in the Bahamas a few months ago, and I swam in their outdoor pool at dawn. There's just something about doing the backstroke and being able to look up and see clear blue sky. For me, it's invigorating for the soul.

This is odd. I love swimming open water. When I was a child, as we were going to where we spent our summers, we had to cross the Mississippi at the Quad Cities. We would frequently swim across. Then my mother would drive over the bridge and pick us up. Then when I lived in DC, I frequently would swim in the Potomac, from the boathouse to Roosevelt Island and back. That is a great swim, especially if there are a lot of planes landing over your head. This morning, I went to register for an event coming up in August. I was planning on a trip & going camping with a friend after the swim. As I was registering, I realized that the event was going to be very expensive for me becasue not only the fee but also because of the paddler expense. I would rather not have a free meal the night before than to pay for a paddler.

Craig, Who did you swim with in DC? One of my favorite coaches use to train people in that area, as well as at Haines Point. John

Originally posted by thewookiee Craig, Who did you swim with in DC? One of my favorite coaches use to train people in that area, as well as at Haines Point. John I left DC in 1993. At the time there weren't nay teams. I swam at Marie Reed and at Wilson High School. Now none of the high schools in Dc can offer swimming becasue their pools are in such terrible disrepair.

I too love the open water. So much so that I host 2 open water events each summer. A 10km (6.6mile) and a 26.2km (16.25mile). I love the clean clear water. I love how the sun dances on the top giving interesting patterns and shadows. I love swimming with trout, schools of fish, seeing fresh water crays, clam beds, sunken logs and breathing in fresh air!! Of course no chlorine is a given!! I like it too when there is nothing but gazillions of meters below me, a vast and dark view. Although I prefer fresh water, I have done a lot of ocean swims as well. The challenge of the cooler water. Pushing yourself to swim in inclement weather. (After all you can't pick race day) Swimming with endangered species. 2 so far and counting!! Learning how to stay calm when sea otters and seals want to 'play'. Learning how to stay calm when dolphins rub your belly wanting to play. (this happened in a race, and I shot out of the water so high, after all they were grey and had fins!!) The challenge of battling waves! And staying on course. The feeling of freedom when the water is so calm that swimming seems so powerful! The rhythmn of efficient strokes with no walls to watch for. That each race and course is so different and each time will also be different, so finishing is an achievement. And Yes, the apre swim comraderie!! Our group is one to join!! I enjoy indoor too. But my passion is certainly Open water. I was inspired to become a swimmer when I was 12. We were holidaying at a beach and I happened to be down on the bay rowing in my dingy. A large group of swimmers arrived and took off to swim the 3 miles across the harbour. I raced up to my Dad and said. "I am going to be a swimmer, and I am going to do that race". I did, only had to wait to learn to swim for another 20 years!! My Dad beamed the whole way across, as my support crew, a promise he made if I ever did the swim. Kiwi

After about 10 years of not swimming my times in the pool are not what I want them to be. Doing open water swimming, I have no expectations (or previous times to beat myself up with) and enjoy that. The pure freedom and exhilarating feeling from swimming in large bodies of water can't be beat.