Ocean & Waterway Prep Retreat

Join us for a two-day, immersive retreat that takes the guesswork out of open-water racing and builds your confidence from the shore to the finish. You will master ocean-specific risk and rescue techniques, and tackle a guided swim-and-paddle in Banks Channel—plus dive into triathlon-tailored race-strategy coaching.

Below is a concise overview of the core content you’ll experience, and our working schedule:

CPR/AED Certification 

• Heartsaver course (AHA CPR/AED)
• All materials, instruction, and certification logistics
• Water Safety Instruction 
• Rip-current awareness, ocean risk assessment, buddy/self-rescue, tourniquet use, fatigue drills

Ocean Safety, Open Water Swimming, Breathwork, and Strength

• Interactive discussion on risk management, ocean psychology, and performance in moving water
• Point-to-point guided swim with rescue-board support
• Banks Channel / Mott's Channel Swim & Paddle
• Real-time coaching on currents, pacing, entry/exit, and mindset
• Continuous lifeguard support
• Safety-equipment management
• Triathlon Race Strategy Seminar 
• Structured drills and beach “in/outs” in Banks Channel / Ocean to master surf entry/exit
• Course familiarization, pacing, nutrition, and transition tactics tailored to IM swim legs
• Paddle-board coaching to reinforce swim technique and race planning, sighting 
• Promote a positive shift in mental and physical health.
• Practice of movement, breath work, and the strengthening of one’s mind in order to optimize human performance in and out of the water.
• Functional strength training specific to all water related sports

Instructor Lineup

• Sean Ruttkay, Co-Founder, Open Oceans
  • 15+ years Wrightsville Beach lifeguard; USLA competitor; AHA safety-instructor; founder of coastal surf-art studio.
• Rob Brown, Co-Founder, Open Oceans
  • Banks Channel native; global surf-rescue veteran; expert in channel navigation and paddling technique.
• Kristen Smith - Without Limits Endurance Coach
  • Founder and owner of the events Swim the Loop and SwimRun Lake James
• Blake Reynolds, Owner Deep End Fitness Cape Fear
  • Mind set, strength, breathwork & CO₂ tolerance Training
• Shawn Reese, Owner of Rise Fitness Studio
  • Functional strength and mobility.  Open water specific.