Open water swimming series returns to Alkimos

SWIMMING WA’s 2016-17 open water swim series will return to Alkimos in February 2017, with registrations open.

Organisers are urging swimmers to start training for the ocean swim, with a free five-week open water swim program available for Shorehaven estate residents in January and February.

The Peet estate is sponsoring the February 19 event of the 2016-17 Open Water series for a second time, with swims distances set at 500m, 1.25km, 2.5km and 5km.

Champion open water swimmer and local resident Brad Smith said he was looking forward to the event at his home beach in Alkimos.

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Smith is an open water swimming champion and enjoys pitching in to help at the free clinics to see the interest generated in open water swimming amongst others.

The electrician swims around 70km a week, getting up at 4am six mornings a week to either hit the water or work out at the gym.

“Three mornings in the gym, three in the pool,” he said. “Then I swim five nights a week after work, up to 5km a night.”

In March, the long distance swimmer became the inaugural winner of the Port to Pub event across the Rottnest Channel.

“Since it was the first time the race had been held, I now hold the record – 5 hours and 34 minutes and 33 seconds,” Smith said.

He started open water swimming about four years ago, and has done the Rottnest Channel Swim once as a duo and twice solo, finishing second in the last race.

Register at www.openwaterswimming.com.au or email community@peet.com.au to do the free training program.