The Art Of Living Dangerously In The Open Water

William Gurstelle, author of Absinthe & Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously writes, "Among our primitive ancestors, those who ventured farthest from their caves in search of better food or who overcame their fear of fire accrued significant advantages over theri meeker kin. That's why a lot of us like the idea of living on the edge: It's in our DNA to take risks."

A 2005 German study concluded that people who take above-average risks have a higher-than-average index of life satisfaction.

Maybe that is why open water swimmers seems so happy when they step away from the shoreline and enter the open water?

Photos show Egyptian Abou Heif, who ventured far from shore and voted as the greatest marathon swimmer of the 20th century, known for his ever-present smile and outgoing character.

Now we know why.

Wet Winter Wonderland

The 2010 Winter Swimming Championships will be held in Bled, Slovenia between January 22nd - 24th.

The event will be held in the Bled lido. Swimmers have until October 25th 2009 to enter which can be done online here.

The Winter Swimming Championships include breaststroke races of 25 meters, freestyle races of 25 and 50 meters, endurance swims by application, non-competitive swims (non-timed 50-meter Polar Bears, non-timed 25-meter Seals and a dip-in-the-pool Penguins), relays and group swimming.

Viva Veracruz

Unión Americana de Natación (UANA) invites masters swimmers to participate in the 3rd Pan American Masters Swimming and Open Water Championships (Campeonato Panamericano de Natación y Aguas Abiertas Masters) to be held in Veracruz, México, from October 28th to November 1st.

The 3K open water swimming competition will be two 1.5K loops with the start and finish on Mocambo Beach in Boca del Río that lies on the Gulf of Mexico. Travel guides describe Mocambo Beach as "wide, lined with palm and coconut trees, free of seaweed with a white sand beach and an unpolluted sea where the water is fresh and sparkling with a wide collection of sea shells and other marine species."

Masters swimmers from Netherlands Antilles, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbadoas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, USA, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Islas Virgenes, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Santa Lucía, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and San Vicente y Granadinas are invited to compete.

Registrations are accepted here until October 14th or via email at panamericanomasters2009@fmn.org.mx.

No Rest For The Weary On Carbon-Neutral Relays

Already over 40 teams, several solo swimmers and at least 6 carbon-neutral relay teams on outrigger canoes have entered the 15K Clean Half extreme marathon relay on October 10th in Hong Kong. Members of the carbon-neutral relay teams alternate swimming and paddling for the entire race.