World Drowning Prevention Day Highlights New Free Open‑Water Course and Upcoming East Coast Festival

Open water swimming is exhilarating—but safety must come first. In episode #107 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we talk with Barry Healey of BC, Canada about an event in his town. Get into the new open-water course and check out the ISCA Open Water Festival. The upcoming festival with a 5K swim is hosted at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Virginia. Progress is being made on the insurance issue. New free open‑water swimming course (read.swimisca.org) and the East Coast Open Water Festival at Smith Mountain Lake Introduction of a university division for collegiate squads and how to register Ongoing insurance work and why coaches and need to stay informed about liability risks The July 18, 2026 Across‑the‑Lake Swim disaster – what went wrong and the key safety failures New mandatory safety gear: high‑visibility swim buddies and why they're now required for all open‑water events