OW video...

[Leonard Jansen]

This is a bit of a fluff piece from the Corpus Christi Open Water Festival in September. Still, it is well done and with OW done for the year in this part of the world, you have to get your fix somehow.

http://www.universalsports.com/media...4157&sid=11652

-LBJ

[RuffWater]

Thanks for posting that LJ. It actually was pretty good.

[Munatones]

I always love watching open water swimming events of all types, but I have to be honest about this production - which I greatly appreciated as an open water swimming fan. The event showcased three extremely well-known Olympic champions - two who live and train in the state of Texas. Aaron Piersol, Brendan Hansen and Rowdy Gaines were the stars and attractions of this event. I also believe this event was produced - or at least supported by - arguably the most successful swimming marketing firm in the US (Premier Management Group). But the number of athletes who appeared to be participating in the event looked small to me - at least compared to other open water swims. With these three very popular and articulate athletes and Premier Management Group's marketing prowess, I would have liked to see a much larger, more colorful race in, perhaps, New York, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Seattle, Maui or San Diego where many more swimmers and great background visuals could have showcased the sport of open water swimming even better, at least in my opinion. The excitement that Rowdy Gaines brings to the RCP Tiburon in San Francisco or Aaron's cool, studly reputation intermingled with a tropical background in Hawaii or the All-American ambience of Brendan Hansen combined with the iconic imagery of Boston Harbor, New York Harbor or Chicago's Lake Michigan could have, perhaps, showcased the sport of open wate swimming a bit better. Please understand this is not a criticism of the event, the production or the host city of Corpus Christi. The production and the event were excellent, especially with camera shots from helicopters and the one-on-one interviews. However, I believe Aaron, Brendan, Rowdy and the Premier Management Group have tremendous potential for truly showing off open water swimming in ways that have never been down before in this country. With their continued involvement, leadership and interest in open water swimming, I am confident that they will help bring much more public awareness, media involvement and participant excitement to the sport of open water. Thank you for bringing this to our attention and thank Aaron, Brendan, Rowdy and the Premier Management Group for their support of open water swimming.

[Leonard Jansen]

Here is a link to a few more (5) that people may not have seen. They are fluff pieces and not about racing, but are well done. Plus, I'm in love with the woman who is the focal point of these films.

http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.co...vents&s=&id=45

God, is it EVER going to be open water season again?

-LBJ

[RuffWater]

Originally Posted by Munatones

I would have liked to see a much larger, more colorful race in, perhaps, New York, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Seattle, Maui or San Diego where many more swimmers and great background visuals could have showcased the sport of open water swimming even better, at least in my opinion.

The sites you list already have strong open water support. Having Aaron, Brenden and Rowdy at this one is exactly where they should be... drumming up support and enthusiasm about open water swimming where there is little of it happeneing. Why pour gas on a fire that is already burning brightly? The fuel needs to go to spots where interest in open water swimming is luke warm.

[Munatones]

Rob,

You, Aaron, Brendan and Rowdy are all on the same page in going to smaller markets to promote open water swimming. I wish everyone well and it is exciting for those swimmers in Ft. Myers and Corpus Christi who attend their clinics and races.

I just happen to have a different perspective because I believe that having Rowdy and Aaron talking up open water swimming in, say, New York City, would simply draw even greater media attention to the sport that would help the sport in other important ways (e.g., sponsorship interest, general public awareness, an increase in perceived legitimacy among age-group pool swimmers).

[ViveBene]

Originally Posted by Leonard Jansen

Here is a link to a few more (5) that people may not have seen. They are fluff pieces and not about racing, but are well done. Plus, I'm in love with the woman who is the focal point of these films.

http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.co...vents&s=&id=45

God, is it EVER going to be open water season again?

-LBJ

LBJ - I bought her book, Wild Swim, and also the book by Roger Deakin, Waterlog, that inspired her and gave a huge push to wild swimming in GB (he breaststroked the length of the big British island, and lived in a manor with a moat, where he also swam). Both are tasty, and there are many photos in her book.
Will enjoy the films, and thanks for finding the site!

Australia has some fine swims during the Nordic winter!

Marjorie

[chaos]

Originally Posted by Leonard Jansen

God, is it EVER going to be open water season again?

-LBJ

leonard, i feel your pain. this happens every year when the water temp drops to 45 (and the pool is 78..... a noodlers heaven)

start planning next season! there's no better way to to stimulate the economy than by purchasing those airline tix, paying those entry fees, getting all the medical exams in order, renewing the passport......

and if that doesn't make you happy; there is always the big pharm solution.

[Chicken of the Sea]

Nobody is allowed to go to Australia to swim unless they take me along as a tour guide/translator/cultural attache/dogsbody....etc
My rates are very reasonable.