Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Ray Smith
Swim history before SwimTrek
I was an adequate club swimmer as a youngster, but that stopped when I was hit by a car and spent some time in a wheelchair. I returned to swimming many years later and had some moderate success in open water races between 3k and 10k. However, being more enthusiastic than talented, I needed to improve my technique which took me to a variety of coaches and eventually into coaching itself. There's no better way to truly understand something than by trying to help others with it. The journey towards true understanding is never ending, but very much worth undertaking. For a bit of adventure I moved on to colder water and longer distances and this led me on to an ice mile, three English Channel relays and a Channel Solo.
Most memorable swim moment
Surprisingly, it's not the Channel or the Ice Mile - they were long, cold, uncomfortable and uneventful. Just as I had planned. I have much more vivid memories of the times I have encountered wildlife. Most memorably, the time I bumped into another swimmer while sea swimming and stopped to apologise, only to find that no one was there - but there was a huge Barrel Jellyfish wider than me! He accepted my apology and we parted friends.
Top Swimming Tips
On long leisure swims: Relax and be mindful: Swimming is better when you relax - easier, faster and more fun. Remain aware of what you are doing and be your own internal coach. On Challenge swims: Remember that 'This too shall pass' and 'Success is on the far side of discomfort' - so as Churchill said: 'If you are going through Hell, Keep going'
Interesting Fact
I'm currently exploring the world of self-supported swimming by towing small boats.
Ciara Murray
Swim history before SwimTrek
I swam competitively as a child, peaking at the ripe age of 12. I then took a bit of a break from swimming in my mid-teens, but got back into it when I started working as a beach lifeguard. I lifeguarded for 4 summers in Galway, and trained with the Galway Surf-lifesaving team. I also spent several years teaching swimming and lifesaving, and have recently been swimming with my college swim team. During the pandemic, I really fell in love with the sea and went for a swim or a dip almost every day. I organised a student sea swimming group during this time and we joined the wonderful community of sea swimmers at Blackrock Diving Tower. As a medical student, I tend to be very busy, but I always try to find the time for a swim in the sea. It’s a fantastic way to clear your head and improve your mood.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming across Galway Bay with a group of my closest friends.
Top Swimming Tips
Get a group of friends together, it’s so much easier to get out if you have someone else holding you accountable. Also, wear your togs under your clothes so you can’t back out when you get there!
Interesting Fact
I once dislocated my knee while surfing, popped it back in, then continued surfing.
Jason Brandt
Swim history before Swim Trek:
I became a strong open water swimmer about 10 years ago. After seeing my children become regular fish in the water, I dedicated myself to taking lessons and coaching with masters swimming to learn to swim efficiently. Now swimming is one of my favourite sports! It also opened the door to triathlon where I’ve now completed over 10 full distance Ironman Triathlons. I’ve also become an advanced open water scuba diver. And finally, I discovered SwimTrek and the joy of combining swimming and vacation with two trips as a guest to the Galapagos and Baja Mexico.
Most memorable swim moment:
Completing the Alcatraz Swim in San Francisco, CA! Alcatraz prison was said to be inescapable due to the cold water, strong tides and shark infested waters that would surely prevent an escapee from making it to mainland. While that may be lore, it was very cool to swim with good friends and be cheered on at the finish by my wife.
Top swimming tip:
Be comfortable bilateral breathing. Open water swimming presents its own challenges with waves, sunlight and pack swimming. Being comfortable breathing on both sides makes for a more enjoyable experience. Oh and treat yourself to new goggles before an event or trip.
Interesting fact (about yourself):
My son and I love mountain climbing and just recently summited Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Rebecca Lodge
Swim history before SwimTrek
My mum was a swimming teacher and taught me to swim from a young age, I was never a competitive swimmer growing up but always attended her swimming club, learning the four strokes, water safety, achieving distance badges etc. Around the age of 15 I followed her into open water swimming with our local triathlon club (after much disgust and resistance at the prospect) and instantly loved it. Something about swimming outside in fresh, clear water was just magic. Eventually I got sucked into doing full triathlons and have competed for a number of years including in a few age group world championships. After quitting a PhD in 2019, I am now a swim coach and teacher, and live in Snowdonia where I have both the sea and an abundance of mountain lakes to explore to my heart’s content! Me and my mum still make time to do an open water event together every year.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming with sea lions in Argentina! They were so incredibly inquisitive and playful, just wanting to chase and be chased. You’d come up to breathe, find yourself nose to nose with one, and then chase it around in circles under the water.
Top swimming tip
When in the open water, take the time every so often to pause, take in your surroundings, and enjoy your situation.
Interesting fact
My other favourite pastimes are climbing and mountaineering!
Sarian Harcombe
Swim history before SwimTrek
I had an incredibly fortunate childhood initially swimming in the lakes of Wales, and then in the Caribbean and Indian oceans. When I had to start work I initially got into hotel and catering, but I quickly realised that my geeky ability with computers was in demand. Since then I’ve spent a chunk of my life working for large organisations doing IT. The one constant is wherever I’ve worked I’ve taken every opportunity to swim in any available body of water. Many moons ago I dabbled in triathlons up to Olympic distance. I now prefer to run and swim without the cycling (I fell off too many times), and prefer slightly longer swim distances. I’m more at home in open water as I tend to get too hot in most pools!
Most memorable swim moment
This is such a difficult question as there are so many and it’s difficult to compare. One particularly memorable event happened when my husband and I were camping at Porpoise Bay in New Zealand between Christmas and New Year. We decided to go for a very early morning swim and ended up swimming with a playful group of Hector’s dolphins. They were surfing in the waves with us and it was completely awesome. And then we got chased out of the water and quite a way up the beach by an aggressive sea lion. Possibly one of my fastest swims, ever.
Top swimming tip
I like to find something to enjoy about every swim e.g. sometimes it’s a swim where everything comes together and you’re whooshing along and everything’s speedy; sometimes it’s about enjoying the moment with friends; sometimes it’s about experiencing nature. If I’m swimming in open water I’m always very aware of the environment and how I feel - and adjust my swim accordingly.
Interesting fact
I also love horse-riding and fell-running
Alessandra Masala
Swim history before SwimTrek
In my life I have always cultivated my two greatest passions with great enthusiasm: one for swimming and one for Art. I have been swimming since I was 4 and have certainly spent more time in the water than out. I was a professional swimmer at national level, with experiences in international competitions. I am a swimming teacher and lifeguard since 2005 and after finishing my university career with a Master Degree in History of Contemporary Art, I spent my days working in museums and teaching in the swimming pool. Since 2007 I work as an Open Water swimming guide and I organize swimming trips for children, adolescents and adults. My goal is to transmit, through knowledge, respect for our greatest friend, the sea. I am very sensible in humanitarian and environmental issues and I am part of the Legambiente Onlus, the most important Italian non-profit environmental association. I am a passionate lover of the sea and everything that concerns it. Since 2018 I have been organizing and promoting events, training courses and workshops on Yoga, Freediving, Swimming Technique, Marine Biology, First Aid, Safety at Sea and Environmentalism related to Open Water Swimming. I love to practice many sports and in recent years I have been dedicating myself to improving my freediving skills.
Most memorable swim moment
It's still printed in my eyes. It was on the Asinara Island, North-West Sardinia. I was leading a group of children on a swimming exploration along the coast. A giant ray comes to meet us. I try to show it to the whole group but many of them failed. I invite everyone to put their heads under the water again… maybe the ray will come back. At that moment a line of six giant rays are swimming towards us and, to close the group, the smallest and cutest of them tried to swim as fast as possible to keep up with the group. The guys and I didn't speak for a long time, incredulous for the wonderful scenery we've witnessed.
Top swimming tip
Breathe deeply, clear your mind and enjoy the sensations your body has in the water. Remember we are marine animals. By listening to our body we can rediscover the deep connection we have with water - our primordial environment.
Interesting fact
I live according to my instincts and I follow with all my strength what I love most. I like to observe the sea and learn from it.
Alison Biddulph
Swim history before SwimTrek
I’ve always been a bit of a water baby, and have trained with Shrewsbury Masters for the last 20+ years, but only really got seriously into open water relatively recently. When I say seriously, I’m not a competitive person and swim very much for the social side and to enjoy being in nature. I mean seriously in the way that barely a day goes by when I’m not in the water….at least once. I dabbled in triathlons, but that’s not for me. I’m now very active in my local open water communities, meeting up for long swims, dips and introducing people to new bodies of water. I particularly enjoy river and estuary swimming. I’m known for my cold water tolerance, and have really enjoyed encouraging some of my fellow guides to embrace the cold during lock down! My first encounter with SwimTrek was in Oman in 2019…and there’s no going back now!
Most memorable swim moment
Swooshing down the River Tweed at 5.30am on 1st May this year. Mist over the water as it was 5c in and 1c out. You can’t beat a bit of cold to make you feel alive.
Top swimming tip
Do what makes you happy. If you like to race, race. If you like to dip and explore, do that. If you like wetsuits, wear them. Life is too short to do what you other people think you should - in swimming or any other part of life.
Interesting fact
I spent 2 weeks recce-ing and crewing the support vehicle in a cross-desert car rally in Qatar when I was 23.
Mike Sapounas
Swim history before swimtrek
I grew up in the east suburbs of Athens/Greece where the closest beach was a five-minute walking distance from my house. As a result, swimming was a daily activity in my life from a very young age. In 2012, I joined a triathlon team and since then I have participated in 4 local triathlon competitions. The last few years, I find great joy and fulfillment in swimming all year round with friends who share the same passion as me!
Most memorable swim moments
Swimming in the winter at the north side of Crete and looking at the magnificent snowy White Mountains in every breath!!
Top swim tip
Keep calm, Breath, Glide, Enjoy!
Interesting fact
Skydiving once wasn’t enough for me – I have to do it again!
Chris Janes
Swim history before Swim Trek
I cannot remember ever not being able to swim, and growing up near the sea in Cornwall I’ve swam more in the sea than a pool. It’s always been a place to go, rather than a sport and I’m far more comfortable in water than on land. Now working as a beach lifeguard I’m lucky that I can spend my working days in the water too.
Most memorable swim moment
One would be off Syracuse’s Swimming Platforms on Ortigia Island in Sicily.
Top swimming tip
It doesn’t always have to be a training session or a race.
Interesting fact
My other passion is art.
Aaron Davis
Swim history before Swim Trek:
Coaching learn to swim, juniors and masters in pool and open water. Open water swims in many great locations - 1 mile to 10 km (but usually 2 to 3 km is plenty ;-). Recently joined a pool masters club for the first time and enjoying form strokes and their various turns. Designed, lead and coached swimming trips and triathlon camps on 4 continents.
Most memorable swim moment:
First 10km marathon distance - hard to forget being unable to use my arms post swim.
Top swimming tip:
Focus, feel, intensity. When feeling good on a longer swim focus on a part of the catch - entry, early catch, power phase of pull etc - and add some relaxed (long neck, not hunching searching for power) intensity to that point of focus and really feel the water and your hold on it. In time it comes natural and it is not a focus - and then you are flying along enjoying the view and the company.
Interesting fact (about yourself):
Have seen sunrise from the top of Mt Fuji 25 times.
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