Swakopmund is gearing up for the Teamflippy Open-Water Splash, an inclusive open-water swimming event scheduled for 19 December, at the Mole beach.
Organised by brothers Phillip and Daniel Seidler, the event invites swimmers of all levels to participate in solo, two-person team, and four-person team categories, covering a distance of 2km.
“The Open-Water Swim Dash is designed to engage every swimmer – regardless of their skill level,” says Phillip, a Namibian open-water Olympic swimmer, and one of the organisers.
“We want to offer something new and exciting, where swimmers and non-swimmers alike can be involved,” he says.
This event is known not only for its inclusiveness, but also for its collaboration with local sport initiatives.
“We’re teaming up with the Swakopmund Academy Beach Volleyball to host a beach volleyball event alongside ours, making the day significant for various sport enthusiasts,” Phillip says.
The ‘Splash’ event was born from the Seidler brothers’ desire to expand the open-water swimming and sport culture in Namibia.
“There aren’t many events like this, so we decided to create a cool and inviting swim event,” Phillip says.
Branded as the Teamflippy Open-Water Splash and powered by Bojo’s, the event’s name reflects its partnership and vision for growth.
It does not compete with, but rather complements, the existing annual Jetty Mile event by offering different concepts while sharing the goal of promoting open-water swimming.
Phillip says he wil not be participating in the swim, but will be focusing on the event’s success.
He will, however, compete in the Jetty Mile, he says.
“I will be participating [at the Jetty Mile] with a weight belt and thick surf wetsuit to challenge myself, and hopefully take the win for the 10th time,” he says.
The organisers have set their sights on hosting a successful event that adds fun and inspires the community to excel at their sport.
“We hope to plant seeds that encourage Namibians to become the best versions of themselves,” Philip says.
The event will offer various divisions and prizes, including trophies, medals, and gifts from local sponsors for the different age and team categories.
The first 30 entries in each category will receive special swimming caps from Bojo’s and tote bags from Amazing Designs.
Phillip also shared his excitement about his upcoming book, ‘Swimming Thousands of Miles Upstream’, set for release next year.
He says the book promises to inspire with its tale of determination and dreams, drawing parallels that reach beyond the realm of sport.
