Aqua Sphere extends commitment to Great Swim until 2018

Aqua Sphere has announced that it is extending its partnership with the Great Swim Series until at least 2018. The brand is already official swim kit partner but has increased its commitment to the popular series of swims by supplying the events with wetsuits, goggles and caps. Swimmers who took part in all four swims in 2014 will also receive kit from Aqua Sphere to help them train for the 2015 series.

The Great Swim has grown from a 1-mile swim in Windermere in 2008 to a series of five events taking place across the country from June to September. Race distances now range from half a mile to 5km. This year the Great North Swim will introduce a Challenger wave aimed at club swimmers and experienced open water swimmers wanting to complete the 1-mile distance in under 30 minutes. The Great Scottish Swim also offers the chance to see world-class open water swimmers in action with a series of elite races.
“The Great Swim Series is all about taking on the challenge of swimming in the great outdoors in carefully selected, safe urban and rural locations,” says Martin Newton of Aqua Sphere UK. “The festival atmosphere at each location adds to the adventure and fantastic sense of achievement for all involved.”  
Although purists may grumble at the wetsuit-only policy of the series, it cannot be denied that the events are a great introduction to open water swimming. Last year the five events attracted nearly 25,000 swimmers of all abilities. “We are very proud that the series is going from strength to strength,” says Sian Keen of event organiser Nova International, “and look forward to attracting record numbers again this year.” The challenge now is to retain these new participants in the sport.