Meet the Committee: An Interview with Peter Emslie

I have served as CLDSA’s Ratification Officer since 2023. By day I’m a sales manager in the pesticide industry, based in Paarl. Outside of work I’m an avid open water swimmer, currently training toward a solo English Channel crossing. Conservation, both ocean and land, is close to my heart and reflects a lifelong connection between my professional and athletic pursuit.

1. Tell us about your swimming journey so far.
   I swam competitively from age 8 and represented Boland throughout primary school. Unfortunately I stopped when I got to high school, and it wasn’t until 2011, at age 30, when I gave up smoking (14 years of the biggest regret of my life) that I jumped into the pool again for the first time. My open water journey started with a few short dam swims, then the Sanlam Mile in 2015, and eventually my first Robben Island crossing in 2020.

2. Tell us about your earliest swimming memory.
   I was swimming 50m backstroke at a Boland gala in Worcester, probably around 10 years old. For some reason they made me change lanes at the last moment. Backstroke and butterfly were my strongest events and my parents knew I had a good chance to podium. They were so disappointed to see this kid winning by almost half a length in one of the outside lanes, only to realise afterwards it was me.

3. What is it that makes you love swimming?
   Obviously swimming keeps you fit and healthy, but the mental aspect is huge. You escape from “the real world” while you focus on every breath, stroke, kick and technique, and nothing else. The happy hormones released put you in such a positive place, last for hours and benefit your everyday life in a massive way.

4. What was your most challenging swim experience?
   I’ve done quite a few big, challenging swims including a double Dassen Island, 16km around Cape Point against the current for most of the way, and a False Bay crossing, but there’s one Langebaan Express that stands out where I had to dig so deep. Out of breath, cold and in pain, but I pushed through. Luckily my car was parked close to the finish line and I walked straight to it, put the heater on to warm up while the tears flowed. I promised myself I’d never do this again. Obviously I was back the next year, and the year after that.
5. Can you describe your perfect week of training?
   Three or four pool sessions during the week plus one ocean swim over the weekend and I’m very happy. Living in Paarl makes it a challenge to get those ocean swims in though, so I’ve moved most of my pool training to a 50m pool, which has made a massive difference.
6. What is a challenging aspect of swimming that you have overcome, and how did you overcome it?
   There are so many, and most of them just take a lot of practice and drills in the pool. In open water it’s staying calm in mass starts, sighting and swimming in a straight line. In the pool it’s perfecting the tumble turn, gliding, a good catch, body rotation and the two-beat kick, which saves a lot of energy in distance swimming. The most challenging one I’ve worked on for at least two years now is bilateral breathing. I still breathe every two strokes along with the two-beat kick, but alternate sides every 10 strokes or so. If you breathe only to one side your balance is out, and you’re almost guaranteed to pick up shoulder injuries down the line.

7. Where is your favourite swim spot?
   Cape Point is just magical. I love the kelp and sea life along the False Bay coast.
8. What was your favourite swim experience ever?
   In 2021 I went for an adventure swim with a couple of friends at Broken Baths near the Sea Point pool. About 2km into the swim a whale appeared out of nowhere and came up to touching distance of us. Luckily he just chilled with us for a while before disappearing again. Scary but amazing, and I’m glad we had a GoPro to capture the moment.
9. Do you have a bucket list swim?
   Obviously the English Channel next year, and I also want to complete CLDSA’s Triple Crown. Having completed False Bay already, I’ll use the other two as training swims this summer.
10. Do you have a tip for an aspiring open water swimmer?
    Technique is more important than just chasing mileage. Find a good coach to help with the basics.