Open Water Swim Camp Kaszuby 2026: Official Camp Summary

From July 17 to 21, the picturesque Kaszuby region welcomed a group of 14 open water swimming enthusiasts. Organized together with VimoSwim, the event was not a competition but an intensive workshop dedicated to refining swimming technique and the critical skill of open water navigation.

The training was led by a coaching team: Paweł Lewicki, Aleksander Ryszka (Total Immersion Polska, Rybnik), and Mariusz Smenżyk. Over four intensive days, participants trained across three venues: Lake Zamkowisko, Lake Kniewo, and Lake Dąbrowskie, which hosted the final challenge.

Where We Swam: Three Kaszuby Lakes

All three venues sit in the heart of Kashubian Switzerland, the moraine-hill lake district around Stężyca and Gołubie in Kartuzy County. Lake Zamkowisko is a tiny, deep forest lake near Pierszczewo, hidden among the trees and steeped in local legend about an early-medieval stronghold — its calm, clear water made it ideal for the first acclimatization and technique sessions. Lake Kniewo, a ribbon-shaped lake fringed by the wooded slopes of the Szymbarskie Heights, offered sheltered, glassy conditions perfect for navigation and drafting work. Lake Dąbrowskie, the largest of the three and part of the famous Radunia lakes circle, stretches 2.4 km past the village of Gołubie. Its exceptionally clean water and open expanse made it the natural stage for the final challenge.

Camp Schedule and Training Progress

Thursday

After the official check in at 14:00, participants entered the water at 15:00 for a 1 km acclimatization swim. Conditions were challenging, with the water temperature at just 16 to 17°C. Most of the group wore wetsuits, while the coaching staff and those who prefer cooler water swam in traditional swimwear, known as skins.

Friday

This day focused on intensive technical work, starting with a morning mobilization swim at 07:00. Later blocks took place after breakfast and lunch and centered on navigation techniques. The day closed with a demanding evening session.

Saturday

After a 07:00 morning swim and a hearty breakfast, the coaches held a workshop on open water tactics. Participants practiced drafting, pace line swimming, and dynamic lead changes. The day wrapped up with another session after lunch.

Sunday: The Final Challenge

Following the traditional 07:00 morning warm up, the group moved to Lake Dąbrowskie at 11:00 for the final challenge, with options of 2.5 km and 5 km. The weather was perfect, pushing the water temperature up to a comfortable 23°C.

Safety and Course Tactics on Lake Dąbrowskie

During Sunday's challenge, the coaching team's priority was maximum safety and full control over the group. To achieve this, the team used a staggered pursuit start:

• First wave: swimmers covering the 2.5 km distance at a more relaxed pace set off first.
• Subsequent waves: groups with a faster natural pace started at regular intervals.
• Final wave: the fastest swimmers closed out the field.

This setup ensured that, despite differing paces, the entire group converged at the 2.5 km halfway mark. There, swimmers completing the 2.5 km distance finished, while the rest turned back toward the start.

The strategy kept the group compact. As a result, the safety team, including two water bikes and the coaches, kept an excellent overview of the course, tracked every swimmer's position, and stayed ready to respond instantly. Everyone reached their goals, and a few participants, feeling in peak form, even covered extra distance.

Community, Technology, and Evening Debates

A standout feature of the camp was the diversity of its participants — the oldest of whom was 67. The group brought together doctors, entrepreneurs, working professionals, and retirees, proving that a passion for sport knows no age barrier. Some participants combined swimming with cycling and brought their road bikes along. One triathlete even used the close logistics to compete in a Tri-City race during the camp.

VimoSwim added a technology panel to the evening program, featuring an official presentation of the VimoSwim tempo trainer, an underwater swim metronome. This sparked deep discussions about integrating modern technology into swim training and gave participants room to share their own experiences. As a practical keepsake, everyone took home a custom VimoSwim swim cap, worn throughout the camp.

Camp in Pictures

What Is Next: Upcoming Events

The open water season is far from over. The next Open Water Swim Camp runs from August 6 to 10, 2026. We expect a larger group of nearly 20 participants, so it promises to be an exciting week.

Later in August, VimoSwim will also support a two day Total Immersion course in Kraków. To close the season, we will meet at the sunny Open Water Camp Alicante 2026.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all 14 participants for their trust, commitment, and for creating a fantastic atmosphere. Special credit goes to Paweł Lewicki and Aleksander Ryszka for an outstanding coaching collaboration in the spirit of the Total Immersion philosophy. See you at the next edition.

Camp coaches: Aleksander Ryszka, Paweł Lewicki, and Mariusz Smenżyk.