What made you want to become an open water coach?
I’ve always loved being in the water and like so many people find it to be my place of peace. There’s an irresistible pull that draws me to it and from a youth spent competing in the pool to many years of sea swimming and surfing that followed that, the water has always been an important part of my life. From an early age I’ve also loved the process of sharing knowledge and helping people. I taught swimming to youngsters at the pool I lifeguarded at as a teenager and then went on to teach PE for many years. When that career reached its conclusion, I was really keen on the idea of working for myself. I’d ‘coached’ friends to swim, from gaining confidence in the open water to improving their strokes for years and enjoyed every moment of that process so it was a natural progression for me to combine all of that experience and passion into open water coaching. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made!
Who is your main client base and how has your practice developed?
I’ve been really keen to be as inclusive as I can be and have got clients from non-swimmers through to triathletes looking to improve performance. Outdoor swimming comes in so many forms and a swim can mean anything from a quick cold-water dip or ‘swimble’ to a good long ‘adventure’ swim and I try and make sure that I offer something for all of those swimmers.
I started out focussing very much on coaching people to improve their front crawl stroke and gain the fitness and confidence to stretch themselves in their swimming. I love that process and helping my swimmers to develop and access more water. Living and working in Cornwall means that I’ve got some amazing and varied swims and I’m working on some swimming holidays and retreats for next year which is really exciting. I have to say though, I’m increasingly finding that I’m being drawn into the cold-water coaching side. I’ve personally got so much out of the cold and love helping people to access those amazing benefits too. I’m working with social prescribers, individuals and businesses in taking people into the cold water for their health and wellbeing. Running courses which not only focus on safe access and gaining the confidence to continue with swimming after the course, we look at how you can tie in cold swimming and breathing into your life and this is turning into something these course are taking up more and more of my time.
What has been your favourite coaching moment?
That’s such a tough one! I’ve had so many of my cold-water clients who have overcome their fears, found a new lease of life or some reduction in pain which is always inspiring and emotional. I’ll never tire of those moments, but probably my favourite moment happened this summer when I was coaching a swimmer who had lost confidence and wanted to be able to put in some longer swims for fitness and to find a bit of headspace. Over the course of three sessions he was probably the perfect client in that he listened and honestly and openly engaged with the coaching process. I am a bit of a stroke geek and the difference in his stroke from start to finish was huge and there was a moment in that last session where it all came together beautifully. His stroke lengthened and slowed and his speed through the water increased considerably. He looked like a complete natural by the end and he even seemed to be walking taller when we walked back up the beach. He’s wanting more training now, really wanting to push on, so I know I’ve done my job well.
What advice would you give to new coaches?
We’re all on our own journey and you don’t know quite where yours is going to take you. Be open to some directions that you might not expect at the outset. Some of those won’t work out but some might surprise you! Enjoy your clients and be curious. The coaching process is about communication and of course that goes two ways. Embrace that! I’ve learnt plenty of things about myself through my coaching and those conversations that has helped me to grow as a person as well as a coach.
What is next on your swim bucket list?
My personal challenge is to swim some longer distances. I was a sprinter back in my youth and avoided distance swims as I’d always get the pace wrong and it was hard! Last year this was the aim for me but I ruptured a bicep whilst surfing in the early part of summer and that put paid to any serious training. I’m back to fitness now and looking to book in for a good long loch swim in late summer when we’re heading up to Scotland for a trip away. I’m combining some training for that in with working up some new swims for clients next year here in Cornwall where I’d really like to take some groups out for some adventure swimming journeys, swimming and walking a stretch of coast and river and staying at some lovely places along the way. There’s always a new swim around the next corner!
