Hi guys, Josh here from Open Water Swimming
After 10 years with Surf Lifesaving WA working with volunteer Clubs to meet patrolling service requirements, coordinate a statewide communication network and overseeing water safety at all WA coastal events including the OWS Series, I joined Swimming WA team in May of 2018 to coordinate the Open Water Swimming Series.
In all sporting associations, it is the volunteers that really keep an event alive and the OWS Series is certainly no different. I’d like to thank all of the volunteers OWS Technical Officials and the OWS Committee for welcoming me to the team and very quickly bringing me up to speed in the sport of Open Water Swimming, the passion these volunteers have for the sport is unquestioned.
From driving onto an empty Cottesloe Beach at 2 o’clock in the morning with only the moon to light up the waves, to climbing the red rocky points of Hearson’s Cove, Karratha, coordinating my first two seasons have never been dull and given me a healthy dose of unique experiences. With an ever-changing environment and any number of uncontrollable factors that many event coordinators will never need to deal with, the last two seasons have not been short of challenges to overcome and will have plenty more in the future. If you ask me or anyone involved in open water swimming, we will all tell you that’s the bit we love about this sport.
As we draw near the end of the 2019/20 OWS Series and look to crown our champions at Scarborough Beach on the 2nd March to close the Festival of Swimming, be assured that the volunteer OWS Committee and I will be working hard through winter to bring you an even bigger OWS Series for the 2020/21 Summer. For just some of the recommendations made by your committee and the improvements coming check out the information section on the OWS website at https://www.
And I’ll see you somewhere on the beautiful WA coastline!
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Hi Readers!
My name is Justin and I have recently started at Swimming WA as the new Development Officer. My main responsibilities will be coordinating junior development programmes around WA, assisting swimming clubs and regions/zones where possible and implementing new strategies to increase swimming participants.
My life consists of mainly sport. I am involved with Beach and Indoor Volleyball as a referee, AFL and cricket. My greatest sporting moment is playing a summer of cricket in England as an overseas player.
I’m always available to answer your questions. If you need to get in contact with me my email address is justin.blades@wa.swimming.org.au
I look forward to working with you all in the future.
Date Change
Please be advised that the President’s Forum date has now changed to 10th March
