The 2017 version of "What's Next?"
Pool season is DONE. If I had more funds I would go to the Fina Masters World Championships this summer in Hungary. Sadly this is not in the cards for me. So.... my pool competition season is now over.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Some of my teammates (and many others across the country) are done with swimming until fall. I have never wanted my swim season to end so here is what's coming.....
I am going to make another run at the GSS Male Non Wetsuit title. I didn't win it the past season and like many things it hurts more when you're close than when you are far away. I liked holding that trophy which already has my name on it....
As you can imagine this involves competing in many events. I have 2 sponsors helping me out and I hope to have at least one more online by the beginning of my season. Of course I can always take more! OH... I now need use of a power boat in August. Anyways.... Here is my calendar....
Starting with the GSS swims which will be on my path to the title....
2017-06-17 - Mine Over Matter - This is always one of the warmer swims.... in what I call grey water. It being an old quarry there is silt (or something) in the water and you really can't see past your hand.
2017-06-28 - Caledon Quarry 1 - The Caledon Quarry swims have been moved to a Wednesday evening slot. I hope this doesn't hurt attendance as I have always had a great experience at these events. For a closed body of water we have had some exciting conditions in previous years. I am excited to see what this year brings.
2017-07-15 - Bring On The Bay - This swim is one of the GSS Classics. It had a huge turnout and is swam in waves. Lots of fun if you are comfortable with the distance.
2017-07-16 - North Shore Challenge - For a full read go to this link https://goo.gl/qsAMc8 . This swim is run by two dear friends of mine and is already one of the top OWS's in the world.... and it's just getting started. If there is one OWS you attend this summer make it this one!
2017-07-26 - Caledon Quarry 2. Same details as Caledon Quarry 1 just later in the season.
2017-07-30 - Embrace Open Water Swim Fest. This event holds what is the easiest 10km swim around, plus swims starting at just 200m in distance. The water is usually warm and it is a great spot for new swimmers.
2017-08-12 - The L.O.S.T race. Another GSS classic.... and one that almost bested me the 1st time. Almost. Last year I punched it back in the throat and this year I intend on returning.
2017-08-19 - Embrace the Challenge Erie Crossing. This will be my biggest test to date. It is a 20km crossing from Sturgeon Point NY to Crystal Beach ON. This is the event I need a power boat for. I thought I had one lined up but we've since found this not to be the case. If you have an extra..... True picture not yet available.
2017-08-20 - Toronto Island Lake Swim. Assuming the Island hasn't gone the way of Atlantis it will once again host its high profile race. Interestingly enough it will run at the same time as the Toronto Island Triathlon.
2017-08-27 - GSS North American Championships. Assuming it is the same as last year this will be another great swim. Last year I did "the double" which I hope is an option once again.
GSS isn't the only series around. I also plan on supporting the Canaqua Swim Series run by the Great Ian Feldman where possible. I have some scheduling conflicts with some of the races but I will still get to many. Here are the ones I am planning for.
2017-06-11 - Leamington OWS. This is actually an event I participated in before it fell under the Canaqua umbrella. It is part of the Leamington Triathlon weekend where my kids will do the KOS event and my wife will do the 5km run. I will do the 3km OWS.
2017-07-09 - Lake Whittaker Swim. This one is new to both the Canaqua series and to me. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into over there. This is in fact part of the reason I want to go.
2017-07-22 - Celebrate Lake Simcoe. We had some hiccups there last year but this season promises to be the best yet for the flagship swim of the Canaqua series. It is part of a bigger weekend event so I expect it to be well attended.
2017-08-13 - Welland Canal OWS - Canadian Open Water National Championships. Previously Elma Couture ran the Masters Provincial Championships here. She has since retired the event and Canaqua was able to add it to their schedule and ramp it up to become the National Championships. It is a fantastic venue for this event and I expect it to be very successful.
Now for the swims that for various reasons didn't make the cut. It is not a reflection on the swims themselves. Perhaps you all will find room.
2017-05-28 - Kawartha Swim. One of these years I will make it out to this swim. It is part of their own little series which I believe consists of a run and bike event. It is a wonderful area for swimming... just haven't made it out yet.
2017-06-25 - St. Mary's Quarry Swim. This swim is part of the Canaqua series and is a revival of a classic. Sadly it is a casualty of a busy schedule. I'd be there otherwise.
2017-07-08 - King Wolf Swim. This is a neat swim that crosses the St. Lawrence in Kingston. If I'm being quite honest I would find a way to shoehorn it in if it was part of the GSS. I have done it before and likely will again in the future. Just not this time around.
2017-07-16 - Ian Mcloy Island Swim - This is a gem up in Sudbury. Last season I went as it was part of the Canaqua series and I wanted to support it. This season it is not and it also conflicts with another swim.
2017-07-22 - Swim For The Cure. My friend Josh talks highly about this swim and its director. I may have to give it a go some year.
2017-08-12 - Ottawa RiverKeeper. It is in fact a GSS race.... but scheduled the same day as the LOST race. I hope next year it is not.
2017-08-?? - Golden Hearts OWS. To be honest I'm not sure that this swim is even running this year. It was an event held in Timmins last year and it would be on my future list if it continues.
Finally.... there are some events in the Multisport universe that I am looking to put in where I can. It promises to be a great summer with a busy schedule and not very much in the way of a free weekend. It is my hope to see many of you out there swimming shoulder to shoulder with me.
Until I touch the wall.....
Michael Kenny
Masters Swimmer
Cambridge Mavericks
Marathon Open Water Swimmer
2015-16 Global Swim Series Champion
WHAT'S NEXT?
Some of my teammates (and many others across the country) are done with swimming until fall. I have never wanted my swim season to end so here is what's coming.....
I am going to make another run at the GSS Male Non Wetsuit title. I didn't win it the past season and like many things it hurts more when you're close than when you are far away. I liked holding that trophy which already has my name on it....
As you can imagine this involves competing in many events. I have 2 sponsors helping me out and I hope to have at least one more online by the beginning of my season. Of course I can always take more! OH... I now need use of a power boat in August. Anyways.... Here is my calendar....
Starting with the GSS swims which will be on my path to the title....
2017-06-17 - Mine Over Matter - This is always one of the warmer swims.... in what I call grey water. It being an old quarry there is silt (or something) in the water and you really can't see past your hand.
2017-06-28 - Caledon Quarry 1 - The Caledon Quarry swims have been moved to a Wednesday evening slot. I hope this doesn't hurt attendance as I have always had a great experience at these events. For a closed body of water we have had some exciting conditions in previous years. I am excited to see what this year brings.
2017-07-15 - Bring On The Bay - This swim is one of the GSS Classics. It had a huge turnout and is swam in waves. Lots of fun if you are comfortable with the distance.
2017-07-16 - North Shore Challenge - For a full read go to this link https://goo.gl/qsAMc8 . This swim is run by two dear friends of mine and is already one of the top OWS's in the world.... and it's just getting started. If there is one OWS you attend this summer make it this one!
2017-07-26 - Caledon Quarry 2. Same details as Caledon Quarry 1 just later in the season.
2017-07-30 - Embrace Open Water Swim Fest. This event holds what is the easiest 10km swim around, plus swims starting at just 200m in distance. The water is usually warm and it is a great spot for new swimmers.
2017-08-12 - The L.O.S.T race. Another GSS classic.... and one that almost bested me the 1st time. Almost. Last year I punched it back in the throat and this year I intend on returning.
2017-08-19 - Embrace the Challenge Erie Crossing. This will be my biggest test to date. It is a 20km crossing from Sturgeon Point NY to Crystal Beach ON. This is the event I need a power boat for. I thought I had one lined up but we've since found this not to be the case. If you have an extra..... True picture not yet available.
2017-08-20 - Toronto Island Lake Swim. Assuming the Island hasn't gone the way of Atlantis it will once again host its high profile race. Interestingly enough it will run at the same time as the Toronto Island Triathlon.
2017-08-27 - GSS North American Championships. Assuming it is the same as last year this will be another great swim. Last year I did "the double" which I hope is an option once again.
GSS isn't the only series around. I also plan on supporting the Canaqua Swim Series run by the Great Ian Feldman where possible. I have some scheduling conflicts with some of the races but I will still get to many. Here are the ones I am planning for.
2017-06-11 - Leamington OWS. This is actually an event I participated in before it fell under the Canaqua umbrella. It is part of the Leamington Triathlon weekend where my kids will do the KOS event and my wife will do the 5km run. I will do the 3km OWS.
2017-07-09 - Lake Whittaker Swim. This one is new to both the Canaqua series and to me. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into over there. This is in fact part of the reason I want to go.
2017-07-22 - Celebrate Lake Simcoe. We had some hiccups there last year but this season promises to be the best yet for the flagship swim of the Canaqua series. It is part of a bigger weekend event so I expect it to be well attended.
2017-08-13 - Welland Canal OWS - Canadian Open Water National Championships. Previously Elma Couture ran the Masters Provincial Championships here. She has since retired the event and Canaqua was able to add it to their schedule and ramp it up to become the National Championships. It is a fantastic venue for this event and I expect it to be very successful.
Now for the swims that for various reasons didn't make the cut. It is not a reflection on the swims themselves. Perhaps you all will find room.
2017-05-28 - Kawartha Swim. One of these years I will make it out to this swim. It is part of their own little series which I believe consists of a run and bike event. It is a wonderful area for swimming... just haven't made it out yet.
2017-06-25 - St. Mary's Quarry Swim. This swim is part of the Canaqua series and is a revival of a classic. Sadly it is a casualty of a busy schedule. I'd be there otherwise.
2017-07-08 - King Wolf Swim. This is a neat swim that crosses the St. Lawrence in Kingston. If I'm being quite honest I would find a way to shoehorn it in if it was part of the GSS. I have done it before and likely will again in the future. Just not this time around.
2017-07-16 - Ian Mcloy Island Swim - This is a gem up in Sudbury. Last season I went as it was part of the Canaqua series and I wanted to support it. This season it is not and it also conflicts with another swim.
2017-07-22 - Swim For The Cure. My friend Josh talks highly about this swim and its director. I may have to give it a go some year.
2017-08-12 - Ottawa RiverKeeper. It is in fact a GSS race.... but scheduled the same day as the LOST race. I hope next year it is not.
2017-08-?? - Golden Hearts OWS. To be honest I'm not sure that this swim is even running this year. It was an event held in Timmins last year and it would be on my future list if it continues.
Finally.... there are some events in the Multisport universe that I am looking to put in where I can. It promises to be a great summer with a busy schedule and not very much in the way of a free weekend. It is my hope to see many of you out there swimming shoulder to shoulder with me.
Until I touch the wall.....
Michael Kenny
Masters Swimmer
Cambridge Mavericks
Marathon Open Water Swimmer
2015-16 Global Swim Series Champion