May 23, 2026 | Snohomish Aquatic Center | Presented by Amy Heape’s Open Water Coaching & TWIM Booster Club
Have you ever had to push through churning, turbulent water whipped up by 25+ of your fellow swimmers wielding kickboards? If you were one of the 30 lucky participants who joined us on Saturday, May 23rd at the Snohomish Aquatic Center, you know exactly what that feels like — and you’re probably already a better open water swimmer for it. Amy Heape’s Open Water Coaching and TWIM Booster Club teamed up to host an unforgettable clinic that was educational, challenging, and genuinely fun.
Meet Coach Amy Heape
At the heart of it all was Coach Amy Heape — a swimmer whose story is nothing short of remarkable. Amy discovered her passion for the water at a very young age, and it didn’t take long before she transitioned from competitive pool swimming to tackling some of the most demanding open water challenges in the world. By just 17 years old, she had completed a solo crossing of the Catalina Channel — an achievement that speaks volumes about both her talent and her tenacity.
Today, Amy channels more than 30 years of personal experience into helping other swimmers realize their own dreams. Her coaching philosophy centers on honing technique and taking a holistic approach to each swimmer’s individual goals — with results that go beyond the pool. When she’s not on deck coaching or homeschooling her five boys, Amy continues to train for and compete in endurance swims, living proof that the love of open water never really leaves you.
A Packed House and a Power Team
Thirty swimmers showed up ready to learn, and they were met by an impressive lineup of support. TWIM’s own Emily Castillo warmly checked everyone in, and Coach Amy was then joined by a talented roster of special guest presenters who brought expertise on three critical open water topics: Gear, Nutrition, and Safety. Guest speakers included Marysue Balazic, Karen Chapman, Eric Durban, Lars Durban, Tonya Heike, Diana Hermanson, Jenny Jasper, Melissa Kegler, Felicity Speirs, and Dan Underbrink — each contributing their knowledge to give participants the most well-rounded experience possible.
On deck, swimmers benefited from hands-on coaching from an equally impressive crew. PNA’s Coach of the Year, April Cheadle, was on hand alongside TWIM coaches Alison Eliason, Steve Fogg, Jessi Gable, and Kathy Pelham. After sign-in was complete, Emily Castillo got busy documenting the event through photos. TWIM Booster Club President Dan Underbrink and yours truly rounded out the team, ensuring the day ran smoothly from start to finish.
The Day Unfolds: From Check-In to Certificates
Participants began arriving at 8:15 a.m. for check-in, and by 9:00 a.m. the clinic was officially underway with a warm welcome and introductions including a tribute to TWIM Founder Tom Walker who we lost well before his time in 2024 and who inspired many past TWIM clinics.
What followed was a carefully structured day that alternated between in-pool sessions and deck presentations — a rhythm that kept energy high and information digestible.
The morning’s first in-pool session (9:15–10:15 a.m.) featured lane lines installed in the Snohomish Aquatic Center’s impressive 25-yard by 25-meter pool — with water depths ranging from 7 to 12.5 feet. Coach Amy led the group through a series of freestyle drills and techniques designed specifically to optimize performance in open water. This wasn’t your average lap swim. Participants were challenged to truly feel how they move through the water — including swimming backwards! — a seemingly silly exercise but one that reveals an enormous amount about feel, body position, and propulsion in the water.
Gear, Safety, and the Open Water Mindset
After toweling off from the first pool session, swimmers gathered on deck for the first of two classroom-style presentations. Guest speakers tackled the essential topics of Gear and Safety — two areas that can make or break an open water experience. Participants learned what to wear, what to bring, and how to prepare for the unexpected in varying conditions. From wetsuits and goggles to safety buoys and race-day protocols, the presenters broke down the essentials with practical, real-world insight.
Open water swimming carries its own unique set of challenges compared to the controlled environment of a pool, and this session gave swimmers the knowledge and confidence to approach those challenges head-on. Whether you’re gearing up for your first open water event or looking to refine a well-worn kit, there was something valuable for every level of experience in the room.
Simulating the Real Thing: In-Pool Session Two
If the first pool session built technical skills, the second one put them to the test — dramatically. Lane lines came out. Buoys were positioned at two spots in the pool. Turns and sighting techniques came into play.
And then came the twist: a majority of swimmers armed with kickboards were set loose to churn the water into frothy, chaotic turbulence while fellow swimmers took turns swimming through the rough water — mimicking the conditions of a real open water race as authentically as an indoor pool allows.
This session focused on sighting, pack swimming, and condition simulation — the three pillars of successful open water racing that no amount of pool laps alone can teach you. Swimmers practiced lifting their eyes to spot targets while maintaining rhythm and speed, navigated turns around buoys with strategic positioning, and learned how to read and react to a crowded, churning field. For many, it was the most eye-opening (literally and figuratively) part of the entire day.
Fueling for the Finish: Nutrition on Deck
After emerging from the simulated chaos, participants dried off and reconvened on deck for the second presentation segment: Nutrition. Covering how to fuel the body effectively for endurance training, race day performance, and recovery, this session addressed questions that every open water swimmer eventually faces — when to eat, what to eat, and how to avoid the dreaded mid-swim energy crash.
With guest presenters drawing from deep wells of personal and professional experience, the nutrition talk was both practical and inspiring. Endurance swimming demands a great deal from the body, and understanding how to support that effort with smart fueling strategies is a game-changer for swimmers at any level.
Q&A, Certificates, and a Group Photo
The day wrapped up with an open Q&A session — always one of the highlights of any clinic, as the questions that emerge from real swimmers in the moment are often the most useful ones. Coach Amy and the guest presenters fielded a range of questions before the group gathered for a well-earned group photo and the awarding of completion certificates to all 30 participants.
As a special bonus, every registrant walked away with a 15% discount toward a personalized Open Water, Kayak Assisted, Training Session with Coach Amy this summer — a fantastic opportunity to take the skills learned in the clinic and put them to work in real open water with individualized coaching.
More Than Just a Clinic
What made this day truly special wasn’t just the quality of instruction — it was the community. After the clinic wrapped up, many participants headed across the street to Trail’s End for lunch, swapping stories, sharing goals, and continuing the conversations that had started poolside. That sense of camaraderie is what open water swimming is all about: a shared love of challenging yourself, supporting one another, and embracing the adventure of the water.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the staff at the Snohomish Aquatic Center for hosting us, to all of the incredible guest presenters and on-deck coaches who gave so generously of their time and expertise, and most of all to Coach Amy Heape for bringing her passion, experience, and infectious enthusiasm to every corner of the day. Here’s to many more open water adventures ahead — see you in the water!
