SwimScape - the podcast

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Today, we’re chatting with a man who has helped thousands of swimmers discover some of the most incredible open water swimming destinations around the world - Simon Murie, the founder of SwimTrek.
Originally from Australia and now based in the UK, Simon’s journey into the world of swimming adventures is anything but conventional. Before founding SwimTrek, he spent years working overseas in the mining industry, while using his spare time to organise open water swimming trips for himself and others. What started as a passion for adventure eventually grew into one of the world’s best-known open water swimming holiday businesses.
Simon is also a solo English Channel swimmer and a swim coach, and he hasn’t left the adventures behind just because he founded a successful business. He still gets out there guiding some of the tours himself.
His own swimming achievements include crossing the River Volta in Ghana in 2009, setting an Australian record for swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar, and swimming to the Isle of Wight in 2010. Having travelled to around 60 countries in search of extraordinary swims, Simon now spends much of his time scouting new destinations and dreaming up the next great SwimTrek adventure.
And perhaps it all started with a simple introduction to swimming from his mum, in a local river - proof that you never quite know where a love of the water might take you.
Welcome to the SwimScape Open Water Swimming Podcast!

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Our guest is Marcus Bristol, the new owner of the Beach Series, which takes place at Takapuna Beach over the summer. For those who know the Beach Series, you’ll know it’s about much more than just swimming. It’s about getting people outdoors, bringing communities together, and encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get involved.
Marcus has a background in events and community services, so he’s no stranger to bringing people together and making things happen. We’ll chat about his journey into event management, what attracted him to taking over the Beach Series, and what he hopes to bring to the event in the years ahead.
We’ll also get into his own swimming journey, including the experiences he’s shared in the water with his daughter — because sometimes the best part of swimming isn’t the distance you cover, but the people you share it with.
And, of course, we can’t have Marcus on the show without talking about his rather impressive love affair with Hawaiian shirts. We’re not entirely sure whether the shirts are a fashion statement, a lifestyle choice, or a permanent state of summer, but we’ll get to the bottom of that!
So, whether you’re a regular at the Beach Series, a keen open-water swimmer, or someone who simply enjoys getting out there and being part of a community, this should be a great conversation.
Let’s get into it. Welcome to the podcast, Marcus Bristol!

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This week on SwimScape - The Podcast, we sit down with Auckland open water swimmer Troy Rangi, who shares his inspiring journey as a swimmer with special needs and how he discovered a passion for the open water.
From his first experiences in the water to becoming a regular competitor on New Zealand's open water swimming scene, Troy talks openly about what draws him back to the ocean, the challenges he has overcome, and the personal rewards that swimming brings. Troy has been a familiar face in Auckland open water events for several years and continues to be an active participant in the local swimming community.
In this candid conversation, we discuss:
How Troy first got involved in swimming and eventually discovered open water swimming
What he loves most about being in the ocean
The aspects of swimming he finds most challenging
His training routine and preparation for events
The importance of friendship, community, and his swim mates
The confidence, independence, and enjoyment that swimming has brought to his life
Join us for a heartfelt and motivating discussion that highlights the power of sport, inclusion, determination, and the strong bonds formed within the swimming community.
Whether you're an experienced open water swimmer, a pool swimmer looking for inspiration, or simply love hearing remarkable stories from everyday athletes, this is an episode you won't want to miss

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For this episode of the SwimScape Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Mackay, founder and Head Coach of Auckland-based Boost Coaching.
Andrew’s own journey in endurance sport started in the swimming pool. A competitive swimmer at national level as a youngster, he eventually made the transition into triathlon — going on to race professionally between 2006 and 2009 and ultimately lining up in the professional field at the 2009 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
But perhaps the most interesting part of Andrew's story isn't what he achieved as a professional athlete.
It's what he has learned since.
Today, Andrew coaches a wide range of athletes — from people taking on their first endurance event through to experienced Ironman and triathlon competitors. And as a father of two boys, he understands the reality of trying to train seriously while also being a parent, running a business and managing everything else that life throws at you.
His philosophy is refreshingly realistic: there isn't a perfect work-life-training balance. The balance changes.
Sometimes training gets priority. Sometimes work does. Sometimes family has to come first. And sometimes you simply have to accept that you're not superhuman.
That philosophy seems to sit at the heart of what Andrew does at Boost Coaching - helping athletes build effective training around their actual lives, rather than expecting their lives to revolve entirely around training.
And then there's swimming...
Andrew has developed "The Seven Secrets to Swimming Success", a resource aimed at helping swimmers and triathletes understand why they may be struggling in the water and, more importantly, what they can do about it.
In this episode, we'll unpack those seven secrets, including:
1. There is a LOT going on in a swim stroke
Understanding the sequence of movement and breaking technique down into manageable pieces.
2. Cause and effect matters
Why fixing one part of your stroke often requires looking at something else happening earlier in the movement.
3. Swimming is dynamic
Why drills are useful, but ultimately swimming needs to become a continuous, rhythmic and flowing movement.
4. Tension kills technique
Learning the difference between swimming hard and swimming efficiently.
5. Adults can relearn coordination
Why many adult swimmers overthink the process — and how patience, repetition and the right drills can make a huge difference.
6. Breathing isn't optional — but panic is
Finding a relaxed breathing rhythm and developing confidence in the water.
7. Your feet matter
Understanding the role of kicking, body position, rotation and the kinetic chain in creating an efficient freestyle stroke.
These principles are part of the swimming philosophy Andrew applies through Boost Coaching, alongside structured training, accountability and a personalised approach to the individual athlete.
From national-level swimmer, to professional triathlete, to Ironman World Championship competitor, to coach and father of two.  This is about much more than getting faster in the water.  It’s about figuring out how to keep moving forward when real life is happening around you.

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Welcome back to the SwimScape Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories behind New Zealand’s most inspiring open water swimmers, adventurers, and endurance athletes.
Today’s guest is someone who perfectly embodies what this podcast is all about -grit, curiosity, humility, and an incredible love of the water. Jemimah Mcilroy is a Dunedin-based marathon swimmer and university student who has already achieved more than most swimmers do in a lifetime.
She’s completed an extraordinary challenge by swimming around all nine islands of Dunedin, she’s immersed herself in the world of cold-water swimming, and she’s now training for one of New Zealand’s ultimate endurance tests - the Cook Strait crossing. If you’ve seen her Instagram, you’ll know she seems to spend more time in cold water than most people spend in a warm shower.
Jem is the oldest of five kids, she’s one of those genuinely kind people who makes everyone around her feel welcome, and underneath that friendly smile is someone who is absolutely tough as nails. She has a remarkable ability to keep showing up, day after day, in conditions that would send most of us straight back to shore.
In this episode, we talk about marathon swimming, cold-water mastery, mental resilience, balancing university life with elite-level training, and what it really takes to prepare for Cook Strait.
So grab a coffee, jump in the car, or better yet, head out for a swim—and please enjoy this conversation with the incredibly inspiring Jemimah McIlroy.