Earlier this year, LYNX swimmer Mary Mackie headed to Clearwater, Florida, to attend a Women’s Open Water swimming camp—a weekend of ocean swimming, skill development and plenty of time in the water. She travelled to Florida with a clear goal: to learn how to swim confidently in waves and currents. Mary was comfortable swimming in lakes, but the ocean was completely new territory.
“I had never done ocean swimming before, and I was nervous about waves and ocean critters.”
Mary and her daughter, after her race on the last day of camp
Learning to Swim in the Ocean
The spring camp was geared primarily toward swimmers newer to open water, with instruction focused on practical skills that could be used in both training and racing. For Mary, that included improving her sighting and becoming more comfortable swimming around other swimmers.
A drill that stood out involved swimmers splitting into groups of three, with two swimming closely side by side while the third practised swimming between them. They rotated positions so everyone had the opportunity to experience being the swimmer in the middle.
After the instructional portions of the sessions, swimmers had the option to continue practicing skills or head out for longer swims. That gave more experienced swimmers like Mary an opportunity to add some distance while still benefiting from the instruction.
Waves, Currents…and No Critters
“The swimming was amazing! So warm.”
Coming from Alberta, the warm water was unlike any open water Mary had swum in before. The conditions were choppier than the previous year, but Mary saw that as a bonus. Learning to handle waves and currents was exactly why she’d travelled to Florida.
“The biggest difference is dealing with stronger currents and waves—though Coeur d’Alene in 2024 was pretty hairy!”
Another surprise? The ocean critters she’d worried about beforehand weren’t really an issue. With that concern quickly put to rest, Mary was able to focus on what she’d come for: gaining confidence swimming in the ocean.
Wetsuit or No Wetsuit?
The warm Florida water gave Mary the opportunity to swim both with and without a wetsuit.
“I swam without a wetsuit at times and I preferred it—less of a hindrance. I’m not sure if I noticed a huge difference in buoyancy. I think the freedom from the wetsuit made up for the lower buoyancy.”
An Unexpected Challenge: Seasickness
Not everything about ocean swimming came easily.
“I made the unfortunate discovery that I get seasick swimming in waves!”
Mary tried a few strategies during the weekend, including chewing mint gum and wearing ear plugs, and plans to continue experimenting with her head position and sighting patterns in pool sessions. Fortunately, that unexpected challenge didn’t overshadow the experience.
“The camp increased my confidence swimming in choppier water. I feel way more comfortable in open water now.”
More Than Just Swimming
Another highlight of the weekend had little to do with swimming technique.
“The vibe was amazing.”
Many of the women return to the camp year after year, creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere from the very beginning. The weekend began with an opportunity for everyone to get to know one another and hear about the different backgrounds, challenges and successes that had brought them there.
Mary enjoyed meeting women with a wide variety of experiences and professions, including a nutritionist and a mental health coach. That sense of community continued throughout the weekend.
“The coaches and campers were all so amazing and supportive.”
Putting It All Together on Race Day
The weekend culminated in an open water race on Sunday, giving Mary and the other campers the opportunity to put their new skills to the test. Swimmers could choose from 500m, 1000m or 1500m, and approximately 100 women participated, including campers and local swimmers from the coaches’ athlete groups.
The race took place in shallow water, allowing swimmers to stand if they needed to.
“We were able to put our new skills to the test with the race on the Sunday, which was a great finish to the weekend.”
Mary and fellow swimmers getting ready for the open water race.
Taking That Confidence Into the Next Challenge
Mary’s next opportunity to put everything she learned into practice comes this September, when she takes on a triathlon with an ocean swim. This camp was an excellent introduction to ocean swimming. For more experienced swimmers, Women’s Open Water also offers a fall camp designed for those who are already comfortable swimming 1500–2000 metres and are looking for a more advanced ocean swimming experience.
Mary travelled to Florida hoping to become more confident swimming in waves and currents. She came home having done exactly that—and with a much better idea of what to expect the next time she stands on a beach looking out at an ocean instead of an Alberta lake.
About Women’s Open Water
Women’s Open Water offers women-focused open water swim camps in Florida, combining instruction, open water swimming and a supportive community environment.
Learn more: womensopenwater.com
