Join Me in the Open Water: Open Water Swimming Events 2025
/If you're planning your open water swimming calendar for 2025, this one’s for you.
Every year, I step out of the pool and sprinting into the unpredictable beauty of open water endurance. There’s something about racing in rivers, lakes, oceans, and bays — the cold, the current, the mental edge — that brings out the best in competitive swimmers. In 2025, I’ll be taking part in three open water swim events around New York City, among others internationally, and I’m inviting swimmers of all levels to join me, or considering some of the additional options..
Whether you're looking to complete your first mile or chase a personal best in one of the season’s most iconic open water swim races, I’ll be there not only racing — but coaching.
Open Water Swimming Calendar 2025 - NYC Events
PRIDE Swim Manhattan – June 14, 2025
Distance: 1.5 miles (2.5 km)
Location: Hudson River, Lower Manhattan (past West Village)
Start Time: 10:30 AM
Entry Fee: $200
Experience Level: All levels welcome
Host: Urban Swim
A festive, fast-paced swim down the Hudson River shoreline. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned athlete, this welcoming event is your chance to swim with PRIDE and start your 2025 open water season strong. This is the event I kick off open-water season with each year, racing alongside new and returning open water swimming clients.
Great option for first-time racers and a qualifying swim for more advanced events like the Statue of Liberty and Liberty to Freedom swims.
Statue of Liberty Swim – July 19, 2025
Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km)
Location: Liberty Island, Upper New York Bay
Start Time: 10:20 AM
Entry Fee: $450 (includes escort support, kayak, timing, swag)
Experience Requirement:
Must swim 30 minutes/mile or faster
Proof of recent open water swim (PRIDE Swim qualifies)
Host: Urban Swim
This is the bucket-list swim in New York - circling the Statue of Liberty in open water with motorboat and kayak escort. Expect challenging currents, incredible views, and serious bragging rights. While I will be abroad swimming in Hungary’s Lake Balaton 5k, I welcome you to take part in this fun event
Statue of Liberty Swim Manhatthan
Lake George Open Water Swims - August 16, 2025
Location: Hague, NY – Adirondacks
Distance: Choose from 2.5k, 5k, or 10k races
Registration opens April 6, 2025
Lake George Swim
This is one of the most scenic open water swim races in the Northeast. Held in the crystal-clear waters of Lake George, it’s ideal for both competitive athletes and those wanting a more relaxed, natural swim experience.
Proceeds support the Lake George Association, which protects the lake’s water quality. Whether you race or donate, you’re helping keep this body of water beautiful for future generations. Train Daly will have several programming clients at this event.
If you love clear water and quiet power, this is your mid-season gem.
Lake George Open Water Swim race
Liberty to Freedom Swim – September 13, 2025
Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
Route:
Group A: Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty
Group B: Statue of Liberty to Manhattan
Start Time: 12:00 PM
Entry Fee: $500
Experience Requirement:
Must swim 25 minutes/mile or faster
Proof of recent open water swim (PRIDE Swim qualifies)
Host: Urban Swim
A meaningful and symbolic swim across NYC Harbor, established to commemorate 9/11. This event features motorboat support, kayak guides, custom photography, and all the energy of an NYC channel crossing. Join me this September for peak open water season swimming!
Liberty to Freedom Swim with Dan Daly
Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (Solo) – September 10, 2025
Distance: 28.5 miles (45.9 km)
Route: Full circumnavigation of Manhattan Island
Entry by Application OnlyExperience: Elite-level open water experience required
Info: UrbanSwim..com
Host: Urban Swim
One of the most prestigious ultra-distance open water swim races in the USA. I’m swimming solo, just me, the currents, and the bridges. This is the ultimate test of pacing, strategy, and mental focus.
Manhattan Island Marathon Swim - Solo Swimming
In 2024, I had the honor of getting some training swims in with Andy Donaldson, who smashed the Manhattan Island world record in 5:41:48, and Josie Page, the third-fastest female ever at 5:47:36. Their training included 100 x 100s on 1:15, holding 1:12 pace at 65–70 strokes per minute — the kind of effort that demands planning, discipline, and grit.
“Back in the City that Never Sleeps 🗽🏊🏼♂️🌊
One of the absolute joys of our sport is the people you meet along the way.
And last September, when in New York for my Manhattan Island Swim World Record attempt...
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting swimming legend and all-round top bloke Dan Daly.
From helping me, Josie Page, and Jay Prchal get access to pools, to sharing laps and laughs in the lead-up, Dan made sure we felt right at home in NYC 🏙
Now, back in the city for a quick trip, it was brilliant to reconnect — and of course, dive back into the water together.
We grabbed some epic footage, had a few laughs, and even lined up for a cheeky 25m breaststroke sprint 🏊♂️
Safe to say, Dan got the better of me this time 😅… but I'll be calling for a rematch soon!
Massive thanks again, Dan. Grateful for your support, the swim, and the reminder that at its core, this sport is about community.”
— Andy Donaldson, World Record Holder, Manhattan Island Swim
Visiting NYC for an open water event? Let’s connect!
Why Join Open Water Swim Events in 2025?
As a coach and swimmer, I believe open water racing reveals something pool training alone can’t: your relationship with discomfort, your ability to adapt, and your capacity for focus under pressure. There’s no lane line to follow — just you, the water, and your mindset.
If you’re adding new challenges to your open water swimming calendar in 2025, these events offer community, competition, and the chance to grow.
I’ll be at some of these events not only competing but offering custom open water race prep through Train Daly — including stroke tuning, dryland support, and open water skills tailored to each swimmers needs.
Ready to Train for These Races?
Whether you're gearing up for your first mile or eyeing a marathon swim around Manhattan, preparation matters — and I’m here to help you do it right. My approach is built on fundamentals, tailored for open water, and designed to carry you from the first stroke to the final finish buoy.
Here’s what we focus on together:
✔️ Technique that reduces injury and holds up in chop and current
✔️ Dryland training built for swimmers — not just gym-goers
✔️ Tempo and pacing work to match your race goals
✔️ Race-day strategy and mindset prep
✔️ Custom training blocks based on your timeline, not someone else’s
Let’s Swim These 2025 Events Together
There’s a spot for you in open water this year — and it doesn’t matter if you’re new to the game or chasing a PR. If you’re showing up and ready to train, I’ll meet you there. We’ll build a plan that fits your life, your goals, and your stroke — and I’ll be alongside you, every lap of the way. Train Daly swimmers enjoy exclusive discounts on UrbanSwim events in New York.
Fill out the contact form below and let’s start planning your 2025 open water swim season together