My journey to Kona Swim Camp hosted by globally renowned swimmer, Karlyn Pipes

By Lisa Harris (MAC Masters, AZLMSC – Communications Chair)

“Swimming the Ironman World Champion waters in Kona is a spiritual experience” – straight from badass Karlyn Pipes – Faster Freestyle Camp/Kona – owner and chief guide.

As an avid | novice swimmer – obsessed with open water swimming, that was all I needed to hear to add this camp to my dream list. Although it took a minute, from meeting Karlyn at a triathlon shop presentation in Denver to the shores of Kona – my bestie and I ventured to the Big Island in February.

My goals were to experience a guided tour of various swim areas across Kona, knowing that the swims were carefully curated by Karlyn and her team, gain confidence in ocean swimming, and seek that ‘spiritual’ experience. The faster part of camp would be icing on the cake. 

Our first and last days of camp included 1:1 endless pool instruction where Karlyn spent as much time as needed to understand my strokes and to guide me on a path to gain efficiencies (and I even attempted a flip). My key learnings on my freestyle stroke was the 10 and 2 entry – this has really helped my pull. These sessions were followed by a delicious buffet and social time in Karlyn and Christopher’s idyllic home with a breathtaking ocean view. 

My first dive-in I brought my camera in hopes of seeing a few friendly fishies and to my shock there were heaps of posers along the way.

Through the week we journeyed through many magnificent destinations around the island each one bringing new sites, adventures and swim experiences in distances, surfs and beauty.  Each swim included exceptional guides, making us safe and capturing progress footage. Each destination included a site-seeing opportunity of caves, ponds, landscaping, and beaches.  We never rushed exploring land and sea.  Post camp time allowed for luau’s, whale watching, dinner cruises, volcano park visits, turtle ogling, sushi, Kona coffee, local jewelry shopping (oops) and sunset cocktails.  I think one of our campers walked the Ironman run course!

To crystalize the week-long experience, we celebrated our accomplishments with homemade lasagna and cookies and relished in our newly formed life-long connections and spectacular sunsets over mystical waters.

Upon return I competed in our state meet and scored one minute faster in my 1000!

My sister asked when I was going back – maybe thinking about camp in Sicily – Italy sounds fun!

Majalo

Contact Karlyn Pipes – Hall of Fame Swimmer, NCAA Champion, Olympic hopeful and Author of The Do-Over with roots in Coronado currently residing in Kona

For questions contact Lisa Harris