The world championships and the Olympic Games of swimming in short or long pools catch the attention of the public and specialists. However, the open water modality also has specific competitions in which the best exponents worldwide participate.
One of these events is, precisely, the Open Water Swimming with lifeguard class World Circuit. Have you heard of him? If this is not the case, in the following article we intend to help you. We will inform you about the characteristics and particularities of one of the most important open-water swimming events worldwide.
World Open Water Swimming Circuit
Its original name in English is World Open Water Swimming Series, hence its acronym WOWSS. It is an annual circuit of open water swimming events organized by the WOWSA (World Open Water Swimming Association). The venues of these competitions vary according to each season. These are some of those that are or were part of the calendar:
- aQuellé Midmar Mile.
- Miami Mile.
- The crossing.
- Jax Sheko Challenge.
- The Henley Mile.
- Hellespont and Dardanelles.
- Aichi Crossing.
- BCT Gdynia Marathon.
- Waikiki Roughwater Swim.
- Swim The Island.
- The Five.
- The King and Queen of the Sea (King and Queen of the Sea).
- Stroke for Egypt.
All these events are held on different continents and at times when the water temperature is warm and the practice of this sport is safe. You can find a lot of information about each of them on their official pages, just use the web browser to reach each one!
Global Swim Series
In parallel, there is an open water circuit very similar to WOWSS. This is the Global Swim Series, which was founded in 2014 and brings together athletes from all over the world.
The venues are located mostly in Asia and Oceania, although there are also tests in Mexico, the United States, Morocco, and Barbados. These are some of the most recognized:
- Barbados Open Water Swim Festival.
- Round North Head Classic.
- The Bays Swim.
- Marokko Swim Trek.
- New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – King of Bays Swim.
- Point Leo Swim Classic.
- Newport Pool to Peak Ocean Swim.
- New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – La Grande Swim.
- Chelsea Sugar Swim.
- Channel 7 Port to Pub Swim.
- New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – Legend of the Lake.
- Rangitoto Island Swim.
- GSS Caribbean Championships – Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim.
- GSS Global Championships – New Zealand OSS – Sand to Surf.
- Swim Around Lido Key.
- Riviera Nayarit Open Water.
- New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – Swim the Bridge.
- Brown’s Island Marathon Swim.
Open water competition mode
The total distance of these tests is around 30 kilometers – some a little more and others less – which differentiates them from the FINA Marathon Swim World Series, whose races have 10 kilometers.
However, these events also have other tests that are more accessible to non-professional swimmers. For example, as detailed on the website of the first WOWSS test of the year, aQuellé Midmar Mile, tests for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, among others, are held on Saturday and Sunday.
As can be expected, these competitions last for hours, so physical preparation and mental and physical resistance are qualities that cannot be lacking in these athletes. The swimmer who wins is the one who completes the course in the shortest time possible.
Requirements to organize these competitions
Clearly, safety is a priority for the organizers when planning an open water competition. For this reason, they reserve the right to postpone, reduce or suspend an edition if inclement weather does not favor the normal performance of an event.
In this sense, it must be taken into account that many venues are located in areas exposed to phenomena such as tornadoes and typhoons, especially in the summer.
Finally, many other security measures are also implemented, including boats that accompany swimmers, prior medical checks, and special authorizations for minor athletes or those with any degree of disability.
In short, although it is not an event directly organized by FINA, it is a matter of following its guidelines regarding the organization of open water events. One thing is for sure: the atmosphere is very festive and there are spectacular days of sand, sea and lots of fun!
0 Comments