UWAtri swim squad

Great to have Michael join us for a swim this morning

Something to listen to on the way to training tomorrow 👇

I’ve just released a slightly different episode of the podcast.

After the first 6 months (and 20+ conversations), I wanted to step back and reflect on a simple question:

What actually matters in open water swimming?

This episode pulls together the key ideas that keep coming up — not just about performance, but about how we deal with uncertainty, discomfort and things not going to plan.

If you’ve been listening along, it might be a good chance to reflect on your own experiences as well.

And if you’re new to the podcast, this is probably the best place to start.

🎧 listen where ever you get your podcasts

I’d be really interested to hear — what’s stood out most from your own swims?

Another challenging day but executed superbly.
Golf champions ⛳️
🥇Phil-47
🥈Michelle-34
🥉Garry -27

Perfect morning for a round of golf.
Top 3 performances today
🥇Poppy -68 ,
🥈Michelle -41
🥉Alice -5

Thanks The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming for the suggestion 😉

Really value Brenton’s perspective — well worth a listen 👌

New Episode 🎧
Brenton Ford: Technique, Feel and Effortless Swimming in Open Water

Much of the conversation around swimming technique is built around what it should look like in the pool. But in open water, conditions change, fatigue builds and perfection rarely holds.

In this episode, I speak with Brenton Ford about what actually matters when technique meets reality - how swimmers adapt their stroke, how decision‑making becomes critical and why trying to be “perfect” can sometimes hold swimmers back.

We explore:
How pool technique translates (and breaks down) in open water
The gap between what swimmers think they’re doing and what’s actually happening
Why improvement is often about doing less, not more
What “effortless” swimming really means in practice

A really enjoyable conversation — and one I think will resonate with both swimmers and coaches.

🎧 Available now on your usual podcast platform

“I’d be interested to hear — what feels hardest to maintain when you move from the pool into open water?”

The anticipation and the reflection.

2k build highlighted the continued improvement.
1k PBs Hannah (-42s) & Isabella (-10s); SBs Tyson & Alice
400 PBs Robin (-19s); SBs Kate & Valentina

Same distance, same team mates, faster times. Gamifying training for 😁

Really enjoyed reconnecting with Mel Tantrum on the podcast this week.

Mel and I coached alongside each other during the early UWA - West Coast Swimming Club years, with some of our UWA Triathlon Club triathletes also training under her guidance at the time.

A great conversation on open water swimming, coaching and high-performance sport.

🎙️ New Episode Out Now

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Mel Tantrum — one of Australia’s most experienced swimming coaches, with a career spanning open water, high performance and now para swimming at the national level.

Mel shares insights from her journey through the sport, including:
🏊‍♂️ Coaching open water athletes and preparing swimmers for unpredictable race environments
🌊 Race tactics, turns, positioning and decision-making in open water
🧠 Athlete development and coaching philosophy
🇦🇺 Leadership experiences within Australian swimming and the para pathway

It was a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation with plenty for swimmers, coaches and anyone interested in high-performance sport.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform.

If you enjoy the episode, feel free to share it with a training partner, coach or fellow swimmer — and a rating/review always helps support the podcast.