SaferSwimmer

Have you ever asked yourself, “What are those orange floaty things in the pictures posted of Barrett swimming?” Do not worry, he and the other swimmers are not being stalked by the mysterious Lake Austin Orange Floaty creature. These orange floaty things are called SaferSwimmers.

Participants training for the 2014 Colin’s Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin 11k are spending many hours training in the pool and in open water. One way to safely open water swim is to wear a brightly colored swim cap in order to be seen by on-coming swimmers and boaters. In addition to wearing a swim cap, swimmers also wear the SaferSwimmer.

The SaferSwimmer is a floaty that attaches to the swimmer and floats behind the swimmer while swimming. Not only does the SaferSwimmer provide better visibility for the swimmer while on the lake, but it can also be used as a floatation device in case the swimmer experiences cramps, dizziness, injury, or even to help another swimmer in distress. The SaferSwimmer also provides a waterproof pocket to hold personal items.

Barrett and many of the other individuals he swims with in the lake have many years of open water swimming and racing under their belts, but each of them have taken to the SaferSwimmer quite nicely. At first they thought having a floaty attached would be annoying, but each of them have said they barely even notice it while swimming. Since most of their swims in Lake Austin are out and back swims, the SaferSwimmer provides a way to stop and comfortably wait for the rest of the group at the turn-around. 

Each swimmer that participates in the 2014 Colin’s Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin 11k will be wearing a SaferSwimmer, swim cap, and have their swim guardian along side them in a kayak or SUP.  While participants were given the option to purchase a SaferSwimmer when registering, SaferSwimmers are also available for purchase but others. If you’d like a Colin’s Hope Logo’d SaferSwimmer, contact the organization directly. You can also find the SaferSwimmer on websites such as Keifer.com or SaferSwimmer.

Next time you drive over the Pennybacker Bridge or happen to be at the Pure Austin Quarry Lake, take a quick peek and see if you see a SaferSwimmer. Mostly likely, the swimmer attached to the SaferSwimmer is getting ready for the Colin’s Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin even on August 28th.

Barrett and I are getting closer to our fundraising goal of $1000. Every dollar counts! Visit Barrett’s fundraising page to donate.  Thank you to those who have already donated!