Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Margaux Verger Gourson
Swim history before SwimTrek
I've been swimming for as long as I can remember. I am the youngest of two and first entered a pool as I was following my sister around. I've always been fascinated by water. I swam competitively for many years, representing France on youth teams for both pool and open water, and then moving to the US to swim in college. I then also started teaching and coaching and rediscovered my love for the sport through those I was helping. Swimming has enabled me to travel and meet people from all backgrounds who inspire me. I love the connection that exists between people who love to swim and care for the element that gives us so much passion.
Most memorable swim moment
When I went to World Junior Championships for open water, it had been a very long season and the preparation for it had been rough. I remember being there after the race and being in one of those suspended in time moments where I could really realize and enjoy the present moment. After the meet was over I went back to the starting line and did a massive cannonball that I knew I wanted to remember forever. I can still feel everything about it today.
Top swimming tip
Embrace the element, utilize it to get to know your body and mind better and never underestimate either your abilities nor the power of the water. Technique-wise, optimize your glide.
Interesting fact
After Covid, I quit my day job and went to Mexico to bartend. I then also sort of started an ice cream business that was never very profitable because I was eating too much of it myself.
Richard Parsons
Swim history before SwimTrek
I started Open Water Swimming many moons ago, and have loved dipping around in the UK ever since - Shepperton Swimming Lake is my favourite local spot, and I love the Level Water events, like the Bantham Swoosh and Hurly Burly. Outside the UK, I've swam the Defi de Monte Cristo in Marseille a few times (highly recommend) and - when I used to travel for work - did quite a few swims in odd places. The morning swim from Manly Beach to Paradise Cove in Sydney was always a good one. And I'm recently back from Japan where I found lots of amazing places, empty beaches and clean seas.
Most memorable swim moment
Well it wasn't strictly swimming, but I was stung by a sting ray in Mexico a few years back. They say it's God's way of showing men what childbirth feels like. Not one I will forget!
Top swimming tip
Avoid stingrays. And practise breathing comfortably on both sides, you never know when it will be an absolute necessity in the ocean. And have a good swimming playlist in your mind before a swim, avoid the earworms getting in!
Interesting fact
err, the sting ray again?!
Maureen Corcoran
Swim history before SwimTrek
Growing up in the rugged mountainous deep south of New Zealand, I am from the most inland town, the furthest place from the beach you could get. Who would have thought I would spend my adult life working in and around water. I have been lucky enough to gain invaluable experience in these roles: Lifeguarding and Swim Teaching in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Papua New Guinea; Scuba Diving in Croatia, Open Water Swimming in Portugal, Vanuatu, Spain and many beautiful SwimTrek locations.
Most memorable moment
Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Papua New Guinea, absolutely stunning
Top swimming tip
Relax, Breathe and enjoy…
Interesting fact
I am a nomad, my home is where my next adventure is
Fern Paton
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have always been a water baby - I grew up on the beaches of Cornwall and started training with my local Surf Life Saving Club when I was 8 years old. I later joined my local swimming club and trained routinely through my school studies with them. Although I loved this pool based training, I have always lived for the spring and summer months when I can start and end my day with a sunny sea or seapool swim, the open water events also kick in and we can go on expeditions along the coast.
After finishing my studies, I flew to Australia for a gap year where, despite facing challenges of 'stinger season' and not having set times in the week dedicated to swim training, I loved discovering good swimming spots - finding ocean pools and much clearer seas than at home!
Most memorable swim moment
One that stands out is the sea swim at a particular Cornish Surf Club Nipper championships where I pretty much rolled onto Portreath beach as a 10 year old Nipper, covered from head to toe in sand and seaweed, after completing a swim through 6 foot waves and a stormy shore dump!
Top swimming tip
Remember that you never regret a swim and ALWAYS pack a spare hat!
Interesting fact
I could swim before I could walk!
Georgia Landy
Swim history before SwimTrek
Living by the coast has meant that swimming in open water has been a huge part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are in swimming pools on holiday with family, or competing in local club galas. I have always had a competitive spirit and spent a lot of my childhood and teenage years competing in swimming competitions with school or college. It then transitioned to triathlons that were a mix of pool or open water. One of my favourite memories from childhood was taking part in my local club-sponsored mile sea swim with my family. For the last 6 years, I have worked for the RNLI as a beach lifeguard along the South East coast. I have had the opportunity to work with incredible people who also love the sea and swimming almost as much as I do.
Most memorable swim moment
Whilst at work one afternoon, the beach was very quiet due to the rain and cold weather so I decided to go for a swim. As I had reached the yellow buoys a few hundred meters off the shoreline, a seal pup popped up no more than a few meters away from me. The pup just stared and started swimming and splashing around me seeming to want to play. I kept swimming along and the seal just followed along when another seal seemed to join. They just seemed to follow me on my training session and just stopped every so often to have a look. It was very surreal with the rain hitting the sea, but it just reminded me just how much I love exploring the open water.
Top swimming tip
Nice slow and controlled breathing will make a swim so much smoother and more enjoyable. Take a big gulp of air, and slowly blow that breath out to allow your arms to naturally roll over the water. This will make a swim far more efficient and therefore increase swimming capacity.
Interesting fact
I once did first aid on a member of the royal family.
Billy Carr
Swim history before swimtrek
Pretty much growing up on the beach at Gwithian in South West Cornwall meant that being in and around the sea was my motive for as long as I can remember and being an RNLI lifeguard for 8 years from the age of 15 definitely allowed me to do that as a job. Runs and swims on the beach was a regular activity during the quieter days, and we had weekly training sessions in the pool to keep us in good fitness for our monthly timed swim.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming up Narooma inlet on the East coast of Australia with stingrays twice my size was definitely one that I’d struggle to forget.
Top Swimming tip
Stretch your stroke out as far as you can, imagine you are reaching for the furthest part of water each time your arm goes back in.
Interesting fact
I am the third ‘Carr' to join the SwimTrek team after my dad Pete and brother Stan! Big shoes to fill.
Stephen Pratt
Swim History
Swimming has been one of the most rewarding pursuits in my life, allowing me to forge friendships around the world, coach swimmers to personal bests, watch my daughters compete in collegiate swimming and water polo, and explore the path less travelled via open water adventures. Growing up in San Diego, CA, I spent years as a beach lifeguard and competed in swimming and water polo, continuing water polo at the collegiate and masters levels. I’ve enjoyed many open water swims both as a solo swimmer and as a teammate. Some of my favourites are The Trans Tahoe Relay, Fort Point, Golden Gate, Roundtrip Alcatraz and The Maui Channel Swim. In addition, I find enormous gratification from coaching — both as a long-time Masters swim coach and for several years as a high school water polo coach.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
It's a tie between swimming under the Golden Gate Bridge alongside three gray whales and competing one of my years in The Trans Tahoe Relay as a family team.
Swimming Tip
Swim relaxed. Place your hand and then rotate your hips for full extension.
Interesting Fact
I’m proud to be a former United States Marine Corps infantry officer AND my taco recipe nearly became world famous when I was interviewed on a major NY radio talk show.
Hannah Lowther
Swim history before SwimTrek
As a child, I dreamt of being an Olympic swimmer as I trained and competed regularly from a young age. Team sport (lacrosse) took over at secondary school before I returned to the pool at Durham University with the water polo team. I discovered open water swimming when I signed up for a triathlon in 2015 and got accustomed to wearing a wetsuit. This had to change when I was invited into an English Channel relay team in 2018 where acclimatising to the cold without a wetsuit was key. I was a cold water novice then but the pandemic lockdown caused me to discover local outdoor rivers, tarns and waterfalls and since June 2020 I’ve been a year round swimmer. Professionally, I have taught and coached children, and personally I swim with a Thames open water swimming club. I love to discover bodies of water wherever I travel, both close to home and around the globe. Swimming outdoors is a big part of my lifestyle now, enjoying winter waterfall dips and summer long distance point to point adventures!
Most memorable swim moment
Jumping into the English Channel in the dark for my first leg of my Channel relay swim.
Top swimming tip
Always keep your swimming kit close by as you never know when a swim opportunity might arise!
Interesting fact
Having been a teacher and worked in education for 10 years, I quit my job in June 2023 to take a year of ‘Adventure Leave’. Since then, I’ve enjoyed exploring South America, Antarctica and Asia. Getting a role as a Guide at SwimTrek was a goal for this year so that I can experiment pursuing a career in swimming and travel, my two main interests!
Christine Murray
Swim history before SwimTrek
I grew up as a competitive pool swimmer in Australia, and after my fear of seaweed was conquered, I began to really love open water swimming. I now regularly participate in open water events, such as the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming past five turtles during the Keppel Island Swim, all at different points of the swim.
Top swimming tip
Always wear sunscreen and anti-chafe – don’t learn the hard way!
Interesting fact
I tore the meniscus in my right knee while doing a tumble turn (that’s hard to do!)
Chess Roffe Ridgard
Swim history before SwimTrek
As a teenager I swam competitively in pools but as an adult the competitive edge has subsided with every splash in outdoor big blue spaces! I now swim to see how far I can go and how much I can learn. My happy place is in the water, telling stories and creating memories with like-minded water worshipers. I am lucky enough to have experienced many wild swim locations and various swim events. My favourites to date are the Vidostern Simmet in Sweden (21k) and Lake Geneva (70k relay). You will also regularly find me through the winter months slipping in to chilly waters and letting out a few naughty swear words in the process. I previously worked for the National Open Water Coaching Association (NOWCA) as their Development Officer. Whilst there I founded their winter Sub10 Club initiative, created their Cold Water Induction videos and also developed the Introduction to Front Crawl courses which are taught at their Love Open Water venues. I continue to coach at Middle Dock in Canary Wharf which is a real hidden gem – it has by far the clearest and cleanest open water in London and is teeming with fish!
Most memorable swim moment
I was part of a 70k Lake Geneva relay team last summer. We were 28hrs into what had been a clear glassy swim and suddenly the clouds rolled in and the white horses started charging. I stepped up to the side of boat and before I knew it, the rail had dropped away and I was wrestling the waves. For an hour I punched through watery walls with our little sailboat Chupito racing alongside. I’ve never known swimming like it - having to hold your nerve, keeping your core super strong but flexible to the roll and timing each stroke to fall at the same time as the water. It’s by far the most challenging swim I’ve ever encountered but also the most rewarding. I will never forget the thrill of ‘beating’ the waves as we pulled into the bay and the water smoothed out. Me, Chupito, our swim team and the incredible crew that kept us safe throughout.
Top swimming tip
One at a time, flick each hand out in front of you like you’re trying to get a pesky little piece of seaweed off your hand. How your fingers fall is the position they should be in whilst you’re swimming - not held tight together but fingers spread slightly open. If you turn your hand over and study how it looks compared to when you close your fingers, you should see how much bigger your palm is when you release those fingers into the spread position. Practice keeping those fingers gently open with a firm controlled cupped palm for a better hand-paddle-catch position in the water.
Interesting fact about you
If you have an Amazon Alexa in your house you have likely already head me… or at least heard a certain part of me. I am, the farts of Alexa. That’s right, if you ask Alexa to fart you will be rewarded with one of 36 different bum toots - some fresh from my behind and others with added effects to make them sound cartoony. You’re welcome!
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