Turquoise dreams: Preparing to swim X-Waters Antalya

The crystal-clear, 20°C Mediterranean waters of Antalya are the stuff of Rowan’s dreams. As she prepares to race the 1-mile open water swim with X-Waters Antalya, she shares her top swimcation training and travel tips.

Far from icy Finland, the warm, turquoise waters of this iconic open water swimming event are a dream. And so is the opportunity to visit the Turkish Riviera with its fascinating history and culture. Always up for a challenge, I decided to push myself to swim a mile competitively in such perfect conditions. But, how should I train?

Why X-Waters Antalya?

My usual approach with open water swimming events is to pick a longish distance and swim slowly and steadily. And, if I do ‘race’, it’s in ice and no further than 50 metres! With X-Waters Antalya, I saw an opportunity to set a new challenge – to swim one mile as competitively as I can.

Because X-Waters Antalya is early in the season, the 1-mile swim allows me to optimise the training I’ve been doing in the pool. The sea temperature is a beautiful 20 °C, meaning I can delay wriggling into my wetsuit and swim skins. And, with 20m visibility under the surface and sunny, temperate spring weather, the conditions couldn’t be better for testing my (so far non-existent) open water pacing skills.

X-Waters Antalya is my favourite kind of open water swimming event: a global coming together of outdoor swimmers of all ages and nationalities. And, as one of the most prestigious open water swimming series, X-Waters Antalya attracts a wide audience—from recreational age-group swimmers to elite athletes.

It features several challenges across three days, May 1st-3rd:

• 500m: Ideal for those taking their first strokes into open water
• 1 Mile & 5km: Iconic courses for experienced swimmers looking to test their endurance
• 2x1km Relay: Perfect for friends and teammates to share the thrill of the Mediterranean
• X-WATERS Kids: Safe and fun races specially designed for the champions of the future

How to train for X-Waters

Despite some sunny spring weather, the water temperature in the UK is still cold. So, my training is focused on three areas:

• Technique in the pool – working on the weaker areas of my stroke and skills like drafting
• Speed work in the pool using interval training
• Transitioning to open water with short sessions (as the temperature allows) to practise skills like open water sighting and buoy turns

My catch and head movement are two areas of my stroke to work on. I use virtual coaching from Catch (see Rebecca’s front crawl tweaks here) and my FORM smart goggles to help me work on my technique.

Psychologically, my watchwords are strong and calm. On a steady swim, I’m very good at relaxing. But add competition, and I panic, which throws off my breathing. So, I will be following Leadership Coach Lexi Tinkler’s tips from our Virtual Event in March and using my open-water training sessions to focus on calming my breathing.

How to swimcation

Known as the ‘Turkish Riviera’, Antalya is renowned for being a beautiful, historically interesting, friendly holiday destination. But for outdoor swimmers, it’s much more. Its 600km coastline is lined by Blue Flag beaches such as Konyaaltı (where the swim starts and finishes), and secluded coves. Near Kekova Island, which you can get to by boat, there’s a famous sunken city, and you can also dive at the Antalya Underwater Museum to see over 100 submerged sculptures. The swimming season is exceptionally long, with swimmable sea temperatures lasting from late April through to November.

An event like X-Waters Antalya is a great way to explore outdoor swimming in a new country. Because you get safety support and guidance, it allows you to be a bit more adventurous. As well as the event, I’ll be heading into the sea for some leisurely swims.

Wondering what to pack? Read these tips. On my packing list is:

• Polarised goggles with UV protection for my eyes
• A bright hat and tow float for visibility to other water users
• Water shoes – Konyaalti is a pebble beach
• Sea-safe sun cream

Organised by Sedoxy Sports Events, X-Waters Antalya’s main sponsors are Corendon Airlines and Orca, which help make a massive contribution to the local economy. With almost 2,000 tourists expected this year, it’s going to be a true festival experience, where sport, nature, and history converge. I can’t wait!

Registration is Open: Use your Outdoor Swimmer discount

You can access race details and registration forms via the official website. Use your Outdoor Swimmer discount code: IQON95 to get 10% off registration.