Adina O’Neill helps you take your swim outside. This beginner-friendly session walks you through your first open water experience, from safety essentials to race-day prep, so you hit the water ready and confident. She will cover:

• Transitioning from pool swimming

• Your first open water experience

• Safety at different swim spots - tow floats, buddies, boats/fishing, look for signage, talk to experienced swimmers or lifeguards.

• Adjusting to cold / wearing wetsuits

• Prepare for Your first Triathlon 

• Bio needs for long swims - fuel, hydration, chafing, bathroom

Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for lifelong health, but it may not be enough to preserve the muscle, strength, and power we naturally lose with age. In this presentation, Coach Dan Daly will explain why these qualities matter for performance, injury prevention, and long-term independence, and share practical, accessible strategies to maintain them. Whether you’re a competitive swimmer or simply want to stay active for life, you’ll leave with actionable steps you can start using right away.

Training for a marathon swim is about far more than simply eating more. Expert nutritionist, Jennifer Brunelli, will teach you how to strategically fuel throughout your training cycle, optimize recovery between long sessions, and develop a race-day nutrition plan that supports sustained energy, minimizes gastrointestinal issues, and helps you perform at your best from the first stroke to the finish.

The fastest thing you can do in your next open water race costs zero extra effort — and most swimmers are actively working against it. Olympian Joe Maloy breaks down the performance and drafting strategies that separate elite triathletes from everyone else in the pack.

Every record, every historic crossing, every swim that has never been done before starts the same way — with a decision to attempt something nobody has mapped out for you. Sarah Thomas has been the first more than once. Elaine Howley has been on the boat, in the water, and behind the scenes for some of the most historic swims in the sport. Together they'll talk about what it actually takes — the preparation, the doubt, the logistics, the crew, and the moment you decide to go anyway — when there's no one ahead of you to follow.

Cold adaptation is more than simply learning to tolerate cold water. It is a powerful tool that can improve performance, enhance safety, and build resilience in open water. Drawing on years of experience in ice swimming and marathon swimming, Peter Plavec will explain the science behind cold adaptation and share practical strategies that swimmers of all levels can apply. Whether you’re training for your first open water swim or your next marathon challenge, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how adapting to the cold can become your hidden advantage.

Open water is not a risk-free environment — and pretending otherwise costs lives. Mina Elnaccash leads a frank, practical panel with event organizers, pilots, support crew, and swimmers on what it actually takes to keep people safe, races accountable, and this sport sustainable for everyone who shows up to the water.

Marathon swimming demands more from your shoulders than almost any other sport. Dr. Alex Ewart will give you a practical framework to keep your shoulders healthy so you can finish every swim feeling strong, not just surviving it.

The ocean is not empty — and understanding what shares the water with you is one of the most practical things an open water swimmer can do. Dr. Greg Skomal breaks down shark behavior, marine life patterns, and the tips that help swimmers make smarter, safer decisions every time they get in the water.

Providing kayak support is one of the most important roles in open water swimming, requiring safety awareness, navigation skills, swimmer support, and sound decision-making.

Dan Simonelli and Summer Wesson, founders and board members of the San Diego Open Water Swimming Association, will share the fundamentals of effective kayak support, covering positioning, communication, and feeding strategies.

Drawing from experience supporting hundreds of swimmers in training swims, marathon swims, and sanctioned events, both new and experienced kayakers will gain practical skills to become safer and more effective members of any swimmer’s support team.

Check back for the full agenda!