Login
Login

Shane Crinnion

2026 Summer Ocean Swim

My Activity Tracking

9
kms

What will I be doing?

I'm supporting cancer research and the health of people in Australia 

Roughly 1 in 2 of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. This is a statistic that we need to change. 

So, I've decided to take on a personal challenge with the support of CanToo, to raise funds along the way that could be life-changing. From supporting the ongoing health promotion work CanToo provides, to funding incredible, innovative early-career cancer researchers.

We desperately need to find more solutions to cancer, from prevention, to treatment, and ultimately a cure. Please support me on my journey with CanToo by donating to my fundraising page today!

Thank you for your support!

 

Donate today to help me reach my goal

Raised

$1,246

My Goal

$1,200

Select amount to donate

$50
$100
$250

Or enter an amount

$
Donate

My Updates

Week 3- Mona Vale - The Melbourne of Beaches

Tuesday 25th Nov
First of all I want to thank every single person for their generous donation to CanToo - my page has reached over $1200. It is so appreciated. 
This now means I have hit my donation target already, so the next way to support, is to come and see my swims at the end of it all ?

Week 3

We started off with our Thursday pool swim. Practising many drills we've tried and a few we hadn't, we ended up covering about 1.5km.
One modified drill was the hypoxic breathing, this time aiming to try for 7 strokes per breath - that was tricky.

Unsurprisingly, since the pool swims are about building distance and endurance, this week we had to do 200m not touching the wall or pushing off again. I finished that up with a calf cramp and weirdly enough, at least 3 others in the group did too. 

Our main event was the Saturday ocean swim.
Feeling a mixture of burnt out, tired, and then on top, an early wake to rain, it is to be concluded that I was not excited for the swim ahead.
We got to our lookout spot and wouldn't you know it, conditions were not beautiful like last week and the confidence I had built up was looking weak again.
Our wonderful coach, mentors and champions were bringing the encouragement on overload, they could tell by a lot of our faces, there wasn't a collective excitement in the air this week.

I teed up one of the fantastic mentors and stuck with her throughout. Going in, I noticed so much churned up sand, dark spots and movement below. The water temp was much nicer than the outside though and the drizzling had stopped by the time we were in.

Coming back around the surfboard proved to be the hardest part yet again, getting stuck in no movement spots. I tried swimming across the shoreline but it was proving to be harder than expected and I felt myself running out of energy. 

Our new skill to try this week was sighting, I felt I could see things but I couldn't REALLY see them. It's going to have to be a skill I try another week I think!

One of the rules we're meant to follow is no body surfing back. We are there to practise swimming as much as we can, but this feels the hardest rule not to break when you're trying to swim but going nowhere. I understand that managing getting through the waves is crucial and if I don't do it, I'll never properly learn but gosh, to be able to catch a wave back would really help these recurring problems I've been having!

After one rotation through, I was scared, my heart was pumping hard and I needed a break. I gave the next go a miss to catch my breath and watch.

I gave it one more go. This time, I saw a humongous ray swimming underneath me, thrilling and terrifying. I swallowed a lot of water in that moment from an ill-timed gasp. Also it was time to exit again! Why do the exits come around so quickly!! Long story short, definitely got scathed again haha.

Overall, this ocean day of week 3 was the toughest yet. I'm really hoping with the warmer weather to come, there is some relief with the waves because I'd love to feel what I had in week 2 again and again!

Like the great philosophers Chumbawamba, say, "I get knocked down, but I get up again!" ?

Week 2- Drills and Going Out Further

Sunday 16th Nov
Week 2 - done and dusted

Thursday was our second pool swim. We focused on a few drills to work on building endurance and different body parts when swimming.
With lots of short stints of different drills, we stopped, heard the technique to practise and kept going.
We covered around 1km in total.

- Torpedo - focus on kicking
- Single Arm drill - focus on catch and shoulder placement (I think)
- 3-5 breathing drill - focus on breath control and lung efficiency
- Diving down - mimicking the technique for diving under waves and touching the sand

I really enjoyed this week's drills and I felt like I was part of a swim squad with no yelling or blowing of whistles - thank goodness!

Saturday, I woke up hoping that it would be better than last week. I wasn't mentally prepared for sand for breakfast.
We rocked up and a stream of light cast the eye straight onto the soft waves. My shoulders relaxed, so much better.

This week we were focusing on getting out further. Our coach shared some tips on proper fitting goggles, how to look past the breaking waves to see if the water is calm for swimming, and how to exit the water more effectively. This week, I was more receptive to tips since I wasn't fighting for my life.

I put on my prescription goggles ready to actually look underneath properly this week. We did 3 laps around the surf safety crew, getting further each time and extending the time out.
I got to see a stingray lying in wait on the ocean floor, lots of fish, maybe even a catfish (I saw a fish with whiskers of some sort) and many jellies with no stingers.
I actually surprised myself, I watched on calmly.

It was a terrific session and although it is only the second week I already feel more confident in every way. More confident in my ability to pick myself up, keep going and try again. I know it'll keep getting better but I also know there will be times where it might go backwards but thats the beauty of learning something new. The important part I'm telling myself is younger me would be in awe and I'm doing it with that shy, scared, little girl in mind. 


Week 1- The 1st Ocean Swim

Saturday 8th Nov

Today we headed out to do the first ocean swim of the summer program. The aim was to practise getting out just past the waves and back in, a few times over.

 

It felt different to any regular beach day I had ever experienced. The waves looked monstrous and dramatic, but I chalked it down to exaggerative nerves.

 

After a briefing on what the steps were, how to get through the waves (which I felt I had a fair bit of knowledge of, many summers of over/under quick decisions at the beach) and what to do to lessen the chance of getting dumped by a wave (definitely more experience of what that feels like) we set out into the water.

We navigated through the swell and I refrained from looking under for as long as I could. Colleen called out to look down and swim! I mean, that was LITERALLY what we were supposed to be doing but underneath was what I was the most scared of. Looking down would solidify the reality that I wouldn't be able to stop if I needed to or when I wanted, stand up and climb the ladder out. I wouldn’t be finished with the swim until I got back onto the sand, and I was already longing to feel my feet on that glorious sand!


The rush I felt to get out at that point was intense.

 

Trying to get back through the returning waves was the hardest part by far. Boy, was I churned around and spat back out. The current and undertow were strong, and it was a very unbalanced battle between us. After coming back up and with no time to think, "what even happened?" another wave was just behind. The hide and seek/ tipping chase of the ocean. But I’m happy to report, I eventually won!

 

All of us gathered up on the sand, rehashed our experiences, caught our breath, then got ready again because it was time to go for round 2!

 

This time I was determined to not get dumped again. Well, well, well guess who got smacked about one more time just for fun in the same spot?! I got out a bit faster this time but was I going to attempt another go? No thank you, I'll take a rain-check.


After we had all finished, everyone admitted that the waves were indeed monstrous and the water was very rough today. Thank goodness it wasn’t all in my head after all, but what a start to the program – hopefully not as chaotic every week though!

It’s been a few hours now and the pride I feel to have battled the initial fear of getting through those waves is immense. I’m so happy to be pushing myself out of my comfort zone and I'm looking forward to what’s to come.

Why am I doing it?

Wednesday 22nd Oct

My dad has loved his lap swimming over the years. 20, 30 laps under the belt, easy! Mind-off, goggles-on.

Well, I had concluded, that would never be me.

 

After going with my dad to the pool when I was down to visit, I decided, I was going to set myself a goal for lap swimming, 1km in the pool, no stops (minus tumble turning - I could never do that seamlessly). No completion date in mind - just an outcome.


I started with 1, then 2, and so on, every time pushing harder to add more laps, until one day I could do 20, no gasping, no stopping. I kept doing it too. Wow I could kick my goals, who am I? Also, what was next, add more laps until I beat my previous best? Beat my time, correct my stroke?

I wasn't sure, but what I knew was when I entered that pool, it was mind-off, goggles on. The only thing I thought about, was making it from end to end, over and over.

 ***

Last year, my dear friend and colleague, told me about a wonderful program, full of camaraderie, unwavering support and a chance to beat your own expectations of yourself - an open water swim. I watched as she did this with her cause in mind, to then come out with a stronger lust for life and appreciation of the water.

“You should join me Shane!”

Umming and ahhing I came up with excuses, the pit in my stomach rose every time she spoke of, or I thought of, the scary open water.

After weeks I have decided I’m doing it. I’m doing this to channel and build on the strength required to make and commit to new goals, to prove to myself I can do things that truly terrify me and to fundraise for a worthy cause.

Since I know this will not start off as a mind-off activity for me, I’ll be thinking of the utter strength of people who have gone through or are going through cancer, a bigger battle than swimming in the ocean.

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation towards my goal

$22.58

Anonymous

$33.15

Rachel Allen

Fantastic Shane!

$54.12

Anonymous

$80.25

Rose A

Good luck, Shane! I will be cheering you on all the way to the finish line!!!

$54.12

Bec Gray

$103.72

Janelle I

You got this Shane! Thanks for supporting a great cause. 🏊‍♀️ 🏊‍♀️ 🏊‍♂️

$54.12

Anonymous

You got this!! 💪🏼

$33.15

Brianna C

Very inspirational and a great cause. So impressed by you! 💪

$250

Lee, Mariah, Baby And Dog

A tough challenge for a great cause. All the best to you Shane. Swimming with the fishes the right way!

$211

John Crinnion

Very proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone. It won’t be long and ocean swimming will be your comfort zone.

$250

Dom, Nha And Baby

Amazing work Shane. Look forward to following your journey. We’ll be there to cheer you on!

$50

Colleen

You have totally got this - I'm so proud of you and SO happy that you're doing the program x

$50

Shane Crinnion

Show more