Fit & Abel

Step away from the everyday noise, the busyness and your ‘to do’ list for a weekend and join us as we enter through this gate to experience the serenity, tranquility and breathtaking landscapes that Mt Guardian Walkways offers.

Our first ‘RealSwim Hike’ weekend is a two night stay, one day hike, providing you a unique adventure that connects you with nature and like-minded people, nourishes you with delicious food and provides a physical challenge while making last memories.

Fish out of Water - 18 - 20 September.

Full details online; https://www.fitandabel.com/swim-courses/fishoutofwater/

One of the most common questions I get asked is “when can I progress to the next step”…and my answer is always the same “when you are ready…when you can comfortably, consistently, accurately do the base level of skills…that’s the time to move to the next level”. If you trust me…I’ll help you identify when that time is right.

We find it is a common theme amongst our clients…the ‘adult trap’. Whats the adult trap? Being impatient, looking for a shortcut…not doing homework honestly and/or accurately. You can’t master the skill or drill unless you consistently practice the movement, until it becomes second nature.

We appreciate public pools make it tricky to practice your drills. We love to do what others are doing…which is generally swimming laps, and most certainly going to the other end without stopping. But trust us…be comfortable doing what you need to do. Do your swim. Be courteous, but don’t feel pressured to use a lane the same as others.

If you put in the practice and master the skill so it comes naturally every time…then you will efficiently move through our Freestyle Fundamentals ‘recipe’, enabling you to then progress your distance…but this time more competently and confidently. Yes we are all unique, but we also have very similar traits that we see time and time again – trying to look for a shortcut…wanting to rush to the next item.

Nothing excites us more and is more rewarding than swim success. This narrative focusses on the common themes around what stalls success in adult swim development.
“The longest distance between two points…a shortcut” - never a truer statement than in swim technique development. It doesn’t take long…but it does take time.
Swimming is like learning a language…you need to understand and be fluent in the foundations. Then you need regular accurate practice. Be knowledge, be accurate and be patient with your swim development and you’ll actually arrive at your destination a lot faster.

The good thing about swimming…you can learn it well a heck of a lot faster than a language…well at least that’s my experience 😊

Happy swimming. Dan

Those who have lake swum with us may recognize this name - great work from William Simmons who has been continuing his passion for water safety and all things open water in the northern hemisphere for a number of seasons.

No doubt the beaches will be busy in the UK with the current heatwave. It’s making Dan nostalgic thinking of hemisphere hopping to follow the open water season.

Enjoy the time Will and no doubt the back to back seasons are allowing you to take a great skill set, and make it even better.

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/may/21/rnli-lifeguards-rescue-pair-after-kayak-capsizes-off-burgh-island

A weekend of connecting; with nature and each other, of nourishment with delicious meals using farm produce, of RealSwimming; without measure or pressure, and of fun 💙

Swim Retreat at Mt White Station
11 - 13 December 2026
Just three spots remaining…
https://www.fitandabel.com/realswim-adventures/swim-retreat-at-mt-white-station/

A swim group is a community, and if you’re really lucky it becomes a family. These are the ones that are there good times or bad, and even when you haven’t seen some of them for over a decade, it feels like it was only yesterday 💙