In the middle of the mountains, oceans and deserts, a new type of holiday is gaining land – in which they strive at most, it is the main objective
We are swimming 3 km from Cabo Pelegrin, in the north -east corner of the island of Hvar, Croatia, through a free water channel towards the island of Palmizana.
The water is agitated, which makes Palmizana only a portion of dirt over the waves. Arriving on the other side, there are still 5 km in advance: circumvent the coast of the Pakleni islands, crossing hidden covers and silent bays surrounded by Pinheiros.
But my attention is not in the landscape. I am focused on the swimming boes of swimmers.
During the high summer season, this archipelago is full of tourists from divisions, which relax in boats and float in shallow and turquoise waters. But at the beginning of May, the beaches are empty, the water is cold and the only sound heard is the constant rhythm of the arms that beat on the surface.
I am here to participate in the Ultraswim 33.3 circuit, a four -day adventure for each point on the southern coast of Croatia, 33.3 kilometers – the distance equivalent to a crossing of the Mancha channel.
Ultraswim is part of an increasing trend on travel: holidays based on physical resistance tests, in which the goal is not rested but transformation.
“I wanted to create something that collected a race, a challenge and an adventure on vacation,” said Mark Turner, founder of the circuit.
“There is a generation of people between 40 and 60 years old who are still looking for this type of challenge, but they also want to stay in a good hotel, eat well and perhaps bring their partner to explore the region. The crossing of the Mancha canal is iconic, but the experience itself is so pleasant. What I tried to create here was the same sense of conquest, but in longer waters, with incredible landscapes – and a glass of wine.”
“I was hungry to live”
Ultraswim is just an example of a new wave of travel experiences based on the physical resistance that are redefining the concept of “holiday” or “space” of work.
Instead of simply relaxing on the beach or exploring a new city, an increasing number of travelers is choosing to exceed its limits – or on a 171 km ultramarathon around the Mont Blanc, a 250 km race for the Moroccan desert or for skiing of 220 km through the polar circle Arctic in the figure.
Alison King, a 56 -year -old landscape architect in London, is one of those people.
“I decided to enroll for Ultswim 33.3 in Croatia because, after two decades dedicated to growing my two children and attached to the school routine, I was hungry to live,” he said.
King, who never considered himself athletic, was initially intimidated with the 12 km of swimming on the day of the longer race.
“I liked to swim, but I had never been part of a team or practiced competitive sports. At the beginning, I felt an impostor, but I realized. I finished strong, calm and euphoric. Sometimes it was afraid, but the joy of being out there in the world, to connect with other people and the ocean … This is something that I will take with me. It was not just a journey.”
This sense of transformation is common in the universe of ultra resistant tests. In different ways, participants often describe their experiences in almost spiritual terms, not despite the pain and effort, but precisely because of them.
“I would describe how the best and worst week in my life, with ups and downs collected in a single experience,” says Gemma Morris, a 41 -year -old flight attendant who completed the sand marathon, a 250 km ultramarathon by the Moroccan Sahara.
“I run huge distances under the brutal heat, sleeping badly, living with the minimum. But there is something incredibly magical in that landscape: dawn, silence, starry skies without light pollution. Solitude gives you time to think, to be present with yourself. More than this, it makes you appreciate the little things.”
The expansion of these resistance tests all over the world has made them stop niche activities to become a global phenomenon.
Ultraswim hopes to attract about 600 participants of at least 38 nationalities by 2025, with the ambition to increase from six to eight events and over 1,000 swimmers in the next three years.
Utmb World Series, a global Mountain Ultramarathon circuit, already brings together 200,000 runners in 50 events sold every year.
In cycling, the race through France grew from 300 participants in 2021 to 1,400 this year, with routes ranging from 300 km to 2,500 km. And the tests of Swimrun – a combination of racing track with free water swimming, created in Sweden – quickly multiply all over the world.
Economic and cultural benefits
Although these resistance sports bring the human body to the limit, they also bring economic, social and cultural benefits to the countries that receive them.
“Such an event with 250 people can generate around € 50,000 (R $ 322 thousand in the current conversion) in food spending and accommodation,” says Michael Lemmel, co-founder of the World World Series Ötillö Swimrun, who started in the Stockholm archipelago.
“But more than this, these events attract a different type of tourist, someone who is more connected to nature, outdoor experiences, not only of nightlife.”
The island of Hvar, previously known mainly for its summer hedonistic climate, begins to embrace this new identity. In addition to ultraswim, the island now receives cycle fields, racing races on paths and long -range swimming crossings.
“These events help to extend the tour season and attract more involved visitors,” said VAT Belaj Šantić, director of the tourism council of the city of Hvar.
“But they also enrich the life of the local community. Growing up on an island can mean having limited access to the activities. These events bring visibility and inspiration, in particular to our young people. The reason why a tourist arrives is as important as it leaves behind.”
Paula Reid, a psychologist specialized in adventures – who has participated in various polar shipments and ocean crossings, as well as helping other people to prepare for similar challenges – believes that there is a biological explanation for the growing interest of people with resistance tests.
“These trips offer a sort of evolutionary beginning,” he explained. “We evolved to hunt and collect food with great distances. For many people, life has become too easy. It is physically uncomfortable. But we are biologically built for discomfort, challenge and adversity. We need to grow.”
The result is a type of travel that not only restores but transforms you. It is a question of seeing a new landscape and, inside, seeing you differently. And for many, it is worth much more than drinking a drink on the promenade.
As we dragged out of the water at the end of the last stadium in Hvar, the sun sets behind the walls of the port. My shoulders are painful and the salt is incorporated into my skin.
But there is something silently triumphantly in shared effort, in the handshakes, in laughter and in the promise of grilled fish and red wine right there, climbing the hill. We travel through a place and work to win it. And somehow makes the place – and his memory – last even longer.
Tips and training
- Do I have to be in great physical shape?
Many of these events are aimed at amateurs with adequate preparation, although it is recommended to check the prerequisites of fitness and medical requirements before registering.
In the case of Ultraswim 33.3, participants must be able to swim 2.5 km in an hour (in a swimming pool) and have already made at least a 5 km passage in the open sea.
- What is included?
The packages include accommodation, food, support team, transport of equipment and safety supervision. Ultraswim 33.3 offers a five -star hosting option, transport and social events. UTMB participation kit includes control of compulsory equipment, timing chips, support points along the routes, maps and post-specific.
- Where to start?
Search for events focused on beginners or Swimrun tests for introductory participants. It is also worth talking to a coach or join a club to have support in the preparation.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
