Back from Heron!
JUNE 20th ISSUE
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| We’re back from Heron Island! What a sensational trip with a great group, full of fabulous swimming on a quiet Queensland island during Sydney winter. What more could you ask for. We were so lucky during the week there to see such a vast array of marine life along some amazing coral landscapes. It was so beautiful, with a swimmer reporting after one swim; “it’s the best swim I have ever had”. The water, a comfortable 23C, was sublime with its amazing shades of aquamarine to deep blue. I feel our time there was also enhanced by being able to get off the grid most of the time, with limited wifi and no phone reception on the island, definitely a bonus.
Experiences are also about who you’re with and we were very fortunate with the great group of swimmers who came on this adventure. I’m can’t speak for anyone else, but this trip really touched something in me. It was truly magical. Thank you to everyone who joined us, it was awesome to experience it with you.
We feel this trip was a great success and hope to make in an annual occurrence, so if you missed out this time (or loved it and want to come again) read on in the newsletter!
In other exciting news, a huge congratulations to Charm Frend on her recent induction into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Such an honour and so well deserved. Read the piece further down in the newsletter which not only covers her induction, but also her amazing ice swimming feats. She has another one on the horizon which she aims to be record breaking. She is a total star!
Unfortunately, we have had to pause Open Water Training for the moment due to low numbers. We look forward to bringing these sessions back in spring in full force – please register your interest below!
In this newsletter, you’ll also find a bio on our newest coach, Jelena. She coaches our Tuesday morning sessions as well as our Saturday combined SwimFit/Squad session.
I’m currently scouting around for one or two exciting winter/spring events to keep us all inspired as we train through winter. In the meantime, I hope you’re managing to enjoy the pool and open water this winter, the ocean temperatures are still quite comfortable. And of course if you’ve been staying indoors, following Olympic swim trials last week – what a thrill!
As always in swimming,
Kari Baynes
Director
Photo: Heron Island, Qld. PC: Kari Baynes |
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Charm Frend – Ice Swimming Queen
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| A huge congratulations to Charm Frend, our previous squad and foundation open water coach who was recently inducted into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. This is such a well deserved award. Charm has supported many squad, Masters and open water swimmers over the past couple of decades, providing guidance, creating programs and loads of encouragement. There are many swimmers everywhere who swim better, for longer and with fewer injuries thanks to her marvellous coaching and stroke correction. She is an icon in our community, a beacon for us of the water.
In recent years she has specialised in training swimmers for marathon events such as the English Channel, Manhattan Island, Catalina Crossing, Strait of Gibraltar, Cook Strait and many others. Charm’s commitment and dedication to her marathon swimmers has seen many realise their dream. She is highly respected and much loved by all.
Last year Charm extended her swimming range further and took up ice swimming. In August 2020 she became the second woman in Australia to swim the Ice Mile (1600m in water sub five degrees), and then three days later she became the first woman in Australia to complete the Extreme Ice Mile (2000m in water sub five degrees). Based on her distance in this swim she is now placed as the only Australian in the top twenty five in the world and the fourth woman globally. Awe inspiring stuff. To learn more about her history and swims click here.
Now if that wasn’t enough, this year Charm is setting out on another Ice Mile Swim – this time to beat the current world records and swim in excess of 3,300m. She has called it “Charm’s Ice Swim for Pain”. She is taking the opportunity of this amazing swim to raise money for pain management research at the Pain Foundation. Such a worthwhile cause given so many people are living with pain every day. If you’re keen to follow Charm’s journey and support this cause, please click here .
We will keep you updated on her progress as she continues her training leading up to the great swim!
Photos: Facebook. Australian Marathon Swimmers Hall of Fame Page and Kari Baynes |
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Open Water Training Paused Until Spring
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| Unfortunately we have decided to suspend Open Water Training sessions until September. The combination of the very cold winter we’re having and tricky surf conditions has led to low numbers of participants. As a result we are unable to run these sessions at the moment.
We are very happy to extend existing Open Water Training passes until September, or we can convert these to squad passes or other pricing options if you wish.
We are super keen to get these sessions started again, so hopefully we can all hit the ground running in spring!
Please contact inquiries@differentstrokesswimming.com.au to register your interest for future Open Water Training sessions. |
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| We couldn’t resist showing off a bit – it really is a magical island! We enjoyed a relatively empty resort and saw turtle hatchlings, a manta ray, epaulette sharks, and of course many other sharks, rays, fish, coral and birds! Check out more photos on our instagram, @sydney_swimmers. Thank you to our wonderful guides, Paul and Suanne from oceanswimsafaris and to our amazing swimmers who made the experience. We’d love to make this swim adventure an annual expedition, so if you’re interested for a summer or winter Heron Island adventure, send us an email below! For those who came this time, you get 5% off your next trip with Ocean Swim Safari if you book within 12 months. |
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| Coach Jelena has taken over our Tuesday morning squad sessions and our Saturday morning combined squad and SwimFit sessions. Get to know her a little more in our interview! Jelena has been teaching swimming for many years, and joined our team in 2020. She has worked across the spectrum of aquatic sports, from teaching disabled children swimming to coaching and as a competitive water polo player. She is currently coaching a triathlon team at UNSW. She is also a top notch swimmer herself, managing to give the Sydney Swimmers fast lane participants a good razzle when she led the lane for most of a session.
How did you first learn to swim?
I actually don’t remember learning to swim- I think it must have been as a baby in a swimming centre.
Where is your favourite swimming spot?
The North end of Maroubra is a classic.
What’s your favourite swimming stroke?
I love backstroke.
Best post-swimming snack?
A big bowl of muesli with lots of fruit and yoghurt.
A piece of swim equipment you can’t live without?
My goggles- I don’t think I could do lap swimming if I couldn’t see.
A piece of advice for new swimmers or squad members?
It’s all about the flow, and that takes time! You can be as strong as possible and have the technique theoretically nailed but the joy of swimming comes from the day when it clicks and you understand how it’s all supposed to fit together and you just glide. |
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Swimming with Fins – Worth it or not?
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| They might make you swim faster, but do they allow to swim for longer? You might swim like a pro, but do they mean you’re not getting as much exercise?
What does using swim fins actually do, and are they really worth it?
Koji Honda is a Bio-mechanist from Swimming Australia and he’s chatting with ABC Radio Brisbane Afternoons presenter Kat Feeney. Interesting conversation if you have time to listen! |
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Join our Facebook community!
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| Want to connect with fellow members of our Squad and Open Water Training programs and get regular updates? Join our private Facebook group! Just search ‘Sydney Swimmers Members Only’ on Facebook and request to join the group – an Admin will approve you as soon as possible. We also have a new Virtual Training Plan discounted exclusively for members of this group coming up – see details below! You can also like our public Facebook page here for updates, swimming articles and more. |
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