WILDSWIM
WATER CONFIDENCE
one to one sessions developing your confidence swimming outdoors
WILD SWIM WATER CONFIDENCE
One-to-one sessions to develop your confidence in swimming outdoors.
I don't hide that I was once petrified of fish! AND seaweed! It seriously limited what I could do in the water. I indeed developed my strategies to cope with these fairly irrational fears. l swam with my eyes closed because what you can't see can't hurt you right? That was until I hit another swimmer in the face. In the middle of a vast empty mountain lake, I bruised her cheekbone and pulled all the ligaments in my hand. For a swimmer who wasn't looking where they were going, I had developed a seriously powerful stroke. Around the same time I had started to take a camera in the water with me to capture all the beasties, I never saw a single fish let alone the Loch Ness Monster but it did lead to the photographic work I now do, so maybe being a bit scared of something isn't all that bad.
Swimming in open water presents a different environment to the indoor pool or Lido. Shelving bottoms, deep water, varying depths and temperatures, weather, waves, underwater obstacles, weeds, fish/marine life, debris, and of course our overactive imaginations. Many of these can send even experienced indoor swimmers into a complete panic.
These one-on-one sessions are designed to help those swimmers keen to improve their confidence in the water and develop ways to become less irrational and cope with our fears.
Whether you have never swum outside before or just need help with understanding your fears for your next triathlon swim, I offer morning or afternoon sessions (approx. 3 hours) focusing on improving your confidence in the water. It is hoped that during the morning/afternoon we would be able to visit two different swim locations to compare and contrast our fears and feelings.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
It is entirely up to you what you want to bring along, this list is a suggestion.
Warm hat
Warm jacket
Swimsuit/wetsuit
Swim hat/woolly hat (may get wet)
Towel/Robie/DryRobe
Goggles
Hot drink/snacks
ABOUT ME
I am an artist, outdoor swimmer and personal trainer. I split my time between the mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales where I have lived since 2002 and on the beautiful South Coast in the New Forest where I grew up. My project #swimsnowdonia was listed amongst 'The 10 most inspiring adventures' in The Guardian and has been the focus of several short films including a music video for the band Elbow. 'Afterglow' a short film about my passion for both my creativity and cold water swimming won Best Woman in Adventure Gold Award at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival., Best Short Film at The Four Season Film Festival and was recently selected for The Patagonia Film Festival in Santa Monica. I was included in the first San Miguel Rich List, 'a unique list of men and women who value experiences over any possession' and listed as one of Britain's 101 Adventurers. I was featured in an ITV documentary 'The Mountain ' which follows the lives of a selection of people who live and work on the busiest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon and various features on the BBC, Sky Sports and Channel 5.
I am a Qualified Teacher, Personal Trainer and Nutritional Advisor, Mountain Leader, Open Water Swimming Coach, RLSS Open Water Lifeguard, RYA Day Skipper and hold RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory. I hold Emergency First Aid in the Outdoors, RLSS Water Safety Management Level 1-3, STA Level 2 Swimming Teacher Award and Certificate, and STA Level 2 Baby & Pre-School Aquatic Teacher. I am an RLSS Trainer and have more than 10 previous years of experience lifesaving in swimming pools.