Ambassadors
Dan Abel
Dan is the owner and head coach for open water swim specialist swim company 'Fit & Abel' He is also a pioneer in New Zealand of open water sportive swimming under the brand RealSwim Adventures.
Dan competed at a National level between 1988 and 2008 and is a former New Zealand national pool swimming champion, an ex USA Collegiate swimmer and holds the 4th fastest time ever for swimming the Cook Strait in 6 hours 15 minutes.
These days Dan spends his time teaching adults how to swim and introducing them to the addictive fun that is open water swimming.
"I’m stoked to be using SwimEars. Most earplugs have a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. SwimEars enable you to custom fit the plug to your ears, how cool is that? If you are like me one of the frustrating things about wearing an earplug is you are then cut off from your swim mates – you can’t hear them. SwimEars let sound in! The third ‘win’ for me is that the plugs come with a leash. I was a little sceptical to begin however the leash fits nicely under the cap and that one time in hundred your custom fitted plug falls out (maybe when swimming with dolphins) you don’t lose it!" – Dan Abel
Jono Ridler
Jono’s journey with open water swimming began in a somewhat
unconventional way. A snowboarding injury forced him into the pool as part of his rehab. This rehab led him to enter his first open ocean swim event in 2011, where he almost pulled out after the first 100m but after pushing onwards and completing his first event he was hooked.
More than a decade on, Jono is now one of New Zealand’s most
accomplished open water swimmers. His accomplishments include swimming Cook Strait (25.5km), Lake Taupo (40.6km), Foveaux Strait (30km), and the first double-crossing of Matapouri to the Poor Knights (45km). Jono’s Foveaux Strait swim set the speed record at the time, and he holds one of the top 10 fastest times for the Cook Strait.
Jono’s story is an awesome example of how to create your own
silver lining and push yourself far beyond what you think you are capable of.
“As an all-season open-water swimmer, SwimEars are one
of the most important pieces of my swimming kit. A friend of mine was subject to Surfer’s Ear from repeated cold-water exposure, causing expansion and hardening of the bone in his ear canal and eventual deafness in one ear.
Since hearing his story, I’ve worn my SwimEars religiously when swimming in the open water. For your long-term health, it really is a no-brainer.” – Jono Ridler
Dave Scott
Dave Scott is the most recognised athlete and coach in the sport of triathlon. He is a six-time Ironman World Champion and the first inductee into the Ironman Hall of Fame.
“This is truly a revolutionary product. Keeping the ear canal open and dry while swimming has changed my feel for the water, the added bonus of being able to hear clearly while submerged will help triathletes relax and be more aware while in open water.” – Dave Scott