Kamloops Classics swimmer Ryley McRae is competing in an international open water event July 20-21 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Larry Read - TRU Sports Information

OPEN WATER SWIMMING

Kamloops swimmer McRae to take on the open waters again

Jul 11, 2019 | 12:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — Ryley McRae continues to add to his already impressive swimming resume.

The Kamloops native and member of both the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack and Kamloops Classics swim teams is preparing for his second international open water event of the summer.

McRae is heading to Lac St. Jean, Quebec next weekend to participate in a 10-kilometre race.

He is hot on the heels of his performance at another international event held in Spain in June where the soon-to-be second year engineering student was swimming lengths of 1.5 to 10 kilometres.

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“I believe we will be swimming laps in the lake rather than a straight shot,’ says McRae who is a member of Canada’s junior national open swim team. “This race will be completely different than anything in a pool.”

McRae says this experience is something to add to his repertoire.

“I am still not sure whether or not I want to continue to do the open water races but I am sure it will be a great experience down the road.”

The Sa-Hali Secondary grad says he is picking up valuable tips every time that he enters an open water event.

“What I took away from the races in Spain is that in open water, I need to stay near someone. I need to be swimming off someone and do a bit of drafting. It makes it easier. I also learned how to swim in the sometimes rough conditions. In Spain, we were swimming in the ocean. Waves sometimes get pretty big. Just knowing how to navigate that sort of terrain can make a big difference.”

McRae adds that going to the venue beforehand and to train in the pool playing out particular scenarios is a big help once the races are held.

The Lac St. Jean event will be McRae’s second open water lake swim. He says he prefers that venue in comparison to the ocean.

“The lake is better because the waves are different. The salt is a big factor in the ocean. You get so dehydrated because there is so much salt in the water. The color of the bottom plays a factor as well. If you can’t see the bottom it is difficult.”

He says the fact the Quebec race will be laps will benefit him.

“It’s similar to traditional pool swimming. It is something that is repetitive and there is a little bit of predictability with that. When you get down one or two laps you know when the next opportunity will come to make a move.”

This is McRae’s last open water event before returning to the WolfPack and training for the 2019-20 Canada West season. He became the first swimmer from Thompson Rivers to compete at the U SPORTS Nationals earlier this year.