Three days after Aerin Bowers turns 50 on Sept. 15, the Rossland mom will fly across the pond to commemorate her milestone birthday in the United Kingdom.
However, her trip involves more than just touring and shopping in the English countryside for a week-long vacation.
Bowers is heading to the Dover Coast to acclimatize for a few days before she wades into the English Channel to swim across the frigid open water in the last week of September, though the exact day has yet to be determined.
This challenging endeavor, covering approximately 35 kilometres from England to France, is expected to take between 12 to 16 hours.
Through it all, Bowers will be equipped with only a bathing suit, swim cap, and goggles.
More than a personal challenge, Bowers is swimming the English Channel in honor of her late father, Kelly Bowers, a dedicated advocate for physical education, and as a fundraiser for the Canadian Tire Jumpstart charities.
害羞草研究所淚 chose Jumpstart since it is the best way I can honour the legacy of my Dad, who passed away five years ago this September,害羞草研究所� Bowers explains.
害羞草研究所淗e was a physical education teacher who tirelessly advocated for disadvantaged kids who couldn害羞草研究所檛 afford to participate in sports. He believed very strongly in the power of sports to change lives, build community and grow self-esteem, often paying out of pocket for equipment,害羞草研究所� she adds.
害羞草研究所淛umpstart is the perfect partner because their mission aligns exactly with that, and it害羞草研究所檚 the best way I can think of to give back and celebrate everything my Dad did.害羞草研究所�
Born in Saskatchewan, Bowers was an avid swim club member throughout her childhood in Canada, and later in California when her family moved south for her dad害羞草研究所檚 career.
But from ages 13 to 39, life got in the way.
害羞草研究所淎nd then suddenly, I was 39 and living in Rossland,害羞草研究所� she writes in her blog, Open Water Aerin, at openwaterlife.com.
Her then-nine-year-old daughter had been swimming for a few years, so Bowers started going to the pool to sneak in a workout while her daughter had lessons.
She recalls, 害羞草研究所渟ome sort of strange muscle memory took hold of my body.害羞草研究所�
Suddenly, Bowers was swimming again and wanted to swim more.
It was during summer travels to B.C. lakes when she started to entertain thoughts of partaking in open water events.
At 40, she set a goal to complete four open water swims.
Since then, she害羞草研究所檚 swum in open waters both near and far, including Christina, Kootenay, Slocan, and Skaha Lakes, Lake Chelan in Washington State, the Riddarfj盲rdssimningen event in Sweden, the Sri Chinmoy 26-km Marathon Swim in Lake Zurich, and most recently in July, the Coronado Swim in San Diego.
Now, it害羞草研究所檚 the English Channel.
But, just how does one go about this process?
Certainly, there must be training and permissions before quite literally jumping into a freezing cold arm of the Atlantic Ocean?
害羞草研究所淭here is a years-long process that involves securing an approved pilot vessel and captain, applying through the Channel Swimming Association, paying memberships and deposits, getting a medical, putting a crew together for feeds and support/safety on the boat, and doing an observed six-hour qualifying swim in water that is colder than 16 degrees Celsius,害羞草研究所� Bowers told the Times.
害羞草研究所淚 did mine in June.害羞草研究所�
Anyone wanting to swim the English Channel often looks at booking two to three years out, she adds.
害羞草研究所淚 originally applied in 2020.害羞草研究所�
Bowers notes that her window for swimming opens on Sept. 23.
害羞草研究所淒epending on the weather and conditions, I could swim any time between September 23 and September 29,害羞草研究所� she explains.
害羞草研究所淪o once I arrive, my team and I will spend a few days getting over the jet lag, prepping for the swim, and trying to relax while we wait for confirmation.害羞草研究所�
This period of waiting is often referred to as being on the 害羞草研究所淒overcoaster,害羞草研究所� since swimmers don害羞草研究所檛 know exactly when they will get in the water.
害羞草研究所淎nd you have to be ready on short notice when your pilot says 害羞草研究所榞o!害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Bowers says.
Once in the frigid saltwater of the English Channel, slathered in Desitin (zinc oxide) and Vaseline to ward off chafing, Bowers will start her stroke in such a way to preserve her physical fortitude.
But what about her mental endurance?
What goes through her mind during these solo tests of perseverance?
害羞草研究所淚t depends on the swim and the conditions that I害羞草研究所檓 in,害羞草研究所� she shares. 害羞草研究所淪ometimes I think about my swimming and my stroke, and sometimes I go into a situation I害羞草研究所檓 dealing with in my life and just work it over.害羞草研究所�
There is plenty of time, she says, adding that she will go into a semi-meditative state when conditions are calm.
害羞草研究所淏ut if I害羞草研究所檓 dealing with bad weather then I am thinking about my own navigation and getting through it.害羞草研究所�
She害羞草研究所檚 also memorized a playlist of about 100 songs, so sometimes Bowers thinks of each song to pass the time.
害羞草研究所淲hat I try not to think about is any pain that I害羞草研究所檓 having, whether that害羞草研究所檚 in my shoulders or my arms,害羞草研究所� she continues.
害羞草研究所淚 often think about food too, and what I害羞草研究所檓 going to eat when I害羞草研究所檓 done. I can pass a few hours mentally constructing the perfect lasagna.害羞草研究所�
With this swim, however, Bowers says she will also be thinking about the inevitable encounters with jellyfish and other sea life such as dolphins and seals.
She will undoubtedly be thinking about her father as well.
害羞草研究所淭his swim is my way of honouring his legacy,害羞草研究所� she adds.
害羞草研究所淚 know he would have been on my support boat, cheering me on to France.害羞草研究所�
About Jumpstart
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has helped over 2.4 million kids across Canada get involved in activities such as swimming, soccer, hockey, and ballet since 2005.
Funds raised through Bowers害羞草研究所� swim will directly support children who face barriers to accessing sports, allowing them to develop new skills, build confidence, and boost their self-esteem.
Bowers encourages supporters to donate through the secure online donation platform linked to the campaign.
害羞草研究所淭ogether, we can help kids across Canada access the opportunities they deserve to learn, grow, and thrive through sports,害羞草研究所� she says.
To donate to Bowers害羞草研究所� fundraiser, visit openwaterlife.com and click on 害羞草研究所淕iving Back: My Jumpstart Fundraiser害羞草研究所� found under the left-side pull-down menu.
Women who came before
The first woman to attempt to swim the English Channel was Aldyth Trevelyan Thomson, an Australian swimmer.
She made her attempt in 1900 but was unsuccessful in crossing the Channel. Her attempt, however, set the stage for future female swimmers to challenge the waters of the English Channel.
The first woman to successfully swim the English Channel was Gertrude Ederle, an American swimmer.
She completed the swim on Aug. 6, 1926. Ederle swam from Cap Gris-Nez in France to Kingsdown, Kent, England, in 14 hours and 34 minutes, beating the existing men害羞草研究所檚 record at that time by nearly two hours.
Her achievement was a significant milestone, proving that women could also conquer such a physically demanding and endurance-based challenge.
The 害羞草研究所淐hannel害羞草研究所�
The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
