FRONT CRAWL
BOOT CAMP
two days spent improving your technique in the water

GET CLOSER TO THE ZEN

Ok, so this is more swimming booties than any kind of military-style boot camp! It's aimed at anyone looking to swim front crawl in the outdoors, particularly if you find currently you are struggling with this stroke.

I often talk on my swimming sessions about the 'zen' I get from front crawl. For me, it's the moment when my breathing, arms and body are aligned. When my rotation feels perfect, when I have that cool abyss of nothingness below me, my rhythm just flows and my focus is well, in the here and now. I know that this has taken years to reach and I have to work hard to maintain it. If I don't stretch myself out, practice my stroke and constantly look to improve, it's harder to find and that doesn't feel so good.

I trained as an open water coach because I wanted to help others to feel the zen. I realise that we are all different and just because front crawl across a deep dark mountain lake is my place to feel good, your place may be a slightly different mix, but whatever our combination we all want to feel amazing, right? I am super keen to help you improve your open water swimming stroke to help you feel amazing in the water. This isn't about winning in your next triathlon or swimming event, this is about improving your swimming stroke to make you feel wonderful!

We will meet in Llanberis in Snowdonia National Park on the first morning and will be based at Llyn Padarn for the first day, we may visit a nearby lake for the second day depending on logistics and weather conditions.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

COACHING

VIDEO ANALYSIS

GUIDING

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

TRANSPORT

LUNCH

HOT DRINKS
IN WATER PHOTOGRAPHY

ACCOMMODATION

COSTS

£200 PER PERSON

RATIO 1:6 PEOPLE

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eGIFT CARDS AVAILABLE

WHAT WILL THE TWO DAYS BE LIKE?

THE COACHING

What will we do?

We will be improving our own front crawl stroke. Even if you feel you don't swim crawl much at the moment, I bet you have somewhere to start from. We will look specifically at what you want to improve on and where you would like to be by the end of the weekend. Setting our own goals because we are, after all, different.

There will be opportunities to do this through both practical sessions in and out of the water and on longer swims putting everything into practice. There is absolutely no emphasis on speed or time chasing this weekend, this is about perfecting stroke technique to enjoy swimming better, increasing speed will come naturally.

THE SWIMMING

What will it be like?

All the swimming will take place in valley lakes, there will be minimal mountain walking on this weekend as the focus is on swimming stroke technique, but be prepared that there may be some walking.

We will be swimming multiple times during the day, but always with adequate times to warm up and refuel in between. We may visit more than one lake over the course of the weekend, based on travel logistics and the weather conditions.

THE WEATHER

But it always rains in Wales!

The mountains are inherently wet. There is no getting away from that, it's part of the water cycle, but that's what makes the lakes and swimming so amazing!

This weekend is about embracing the fine Welsh weather, taking all it gives us and riding with it. Sometimes it does stop us in our tracks and throws seriously difficult weather at us, sometimes we can work around it, sometimes it gives incredible gifts. Who has swum in mountain mist? It's like magic! Taken a dip in wind so feisty it has reminded you, you are alive? Or in water so still and so glassy you find it hard to break the perfection?

Safety will always remain paramount, exact locations we visit will be dictated by the weather conditions on the day. If I deem the forecast unsafe to run the weekend, I always offer an alternative date or a full refund.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

It is entirely up to you what you want to bring along, I always suggest on coaching sessions that you wear what you normally swim outdoors in, bringing along a brand new wetsuit when you normally swim in a bikini can throw in a whole host of other issues as can choosing to swim skins when you've always worn a full wetsuit. If you are at all worried about kit, please just drop me a line.

This is a suggested kit list

Warm hat

Warm jacket

Waterproof trousers and jacket

Trainers

Swimsuits/wetsuit

Swimming Booties/Gloves (if required)

Swimcaps

Goggles

Towels / Robie / Dry Robe

Personal first aid kit/medication

Lunch

Hot drinks

Bag for wet kit

Rucksack/Bag to put everything in

WHERE TO STAY?

There is a full range of accommodation options in Snowdonia to suit every budget and taste.

The ones suggested below operate independently from me

HOSTELS

PLAS CURIG

snowdoniahostel.co.uk

01690 720225

YHA SNOWDON PEN Y PASS

yha.org.uk

0345 371 9534

HOTELS/GUEST HOUSES

GWESTY PLAS GOCH

plascochsnowdonia.co.uk

01286 872122

TY'N RHOS COUNTRY HOUSE

tynrhos.co.uk

01248 670489

CAMPSITES

DOLGAM

dolgam-snowdonia.co.uk

01690 720228

GWERN GOF UCHAF

tryfanwales.co.uk

01690 720294

AVAILABLE DATES

SUMMER 01 FRONT CRAWL BOOT CAMP
Sat, 18 Jun
Llanberis
18 Jun 2022, 09:00 BST – 19 Jun 2022, 15:00 BST
Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55, UK
New for 2022, this is the first of three Front Crawl Boot Camps on offer this year. Join me for two days in the mountains of Snowdonia to hone your skills (no matter where they are at!) in Front Crawl and feel the meditative 'zen' that it can bring.
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SUMMER 02 FRONT CRAWL BOOT CAMP
Sat, 16 Jul
Llanberis
16 Jul 2022, 09:00 BST – 17 Jul 2022, 15:00 BST
Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55, UK
New for 2022, this is the first of three Front Crawl Boot Camps on offer this year. Join me for two days in the mountains of Snowdonia to hone your skills (no matter where they are at!) in Front Crawl and feel the meditative 'zen' that it can bring.
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SUMMER 03 FRONT CRAWL BOOT CAMP
Sat, 20 Aug
Llanberis
20 Aug 2022, 09:00 BST – 21 Aug 2022, 15:00 BST
Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55, UK
New for 2022, this is the first of three Front Crawl Boot Camps on offer this year. Join me for two days in the mountains of Snowdonia to hone your skills (no matter where they are at!) in Front Crawl and feel the meditative 'zen' that it can bring.
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BOOK NOW

My favourite portrait captured by _jodydaunton for The Water Volume - _anotherescape ._.jp

ABOUT ME

I am an artist, educator and outdoor swimmer. I spilt my time between the mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales where I have lived since 2002 and on the beautiful South Coast in the New Forest where I grew up. My project #swimsnowdonia was listed amongst 'The 10 most inspiring adventures' in The Guardian and has been the focus of several short films including a music video for the band Elbow. 'Afterglow' a short film about my passion for both my creativity and cold water swimming won Best Woman in Adventure Gold Award at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival., Best Short Film at The Four Season Film Festival and was recently selected for The Patagonia Film Festival in Santa Monica. I was included in the first San Miguel Rich List, 'a unique list of men and women who value experiences over any possession' and listed as one of Britains 101 Adventurers. I am currently featuring in an ITV documentary 'The Mountain ' which follows the lives of a selection of people who live and work on the busiest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon.

I am a Qualified Teacher, Mountain Leader, Open Water Swimming Coach, RLSS Open Water Lifeguard, RYA Day Skipper and hold RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory. I hold Emergency First Aid in the Outdoors, RLSS Water Safety Management Level 1-3, STA Level 2 Swimming Teacher Award and Certificate, I am an RLSS Trainer and have more than 10 previous years of experience lifesaving in swimming pools.

FRONT CRAWL BOOT CAMP two days spent improving your technique in the water