Nick Bone - Auckland, New Zealand
Name: Nicholas Bone Known as: Nick
Lives in Auckland, New Zealand Age: 24
Occupation: Finance/Communications Lead at SwimTastic.
How many swims per week do you regularly achieve?
Six sessions, with a weekly total ranging from 22km to 30km – averaging 25km per week.
Describe a regular swim (or 2)
My usual sessions starts at 6am for 90 minutes. We do a lot of intervals training, and mix in some long distance pull or hypoxic work (this is my favorite as I compete as a long-distance ocean swimmer).
I’ll usually lead the lane with four to five other swimmers which I find positive as it means I’m always working; except I do move back in line when we are doing kick and/or breaststroke. I justify to myself this is due to me being an ocean swimmer, but the harsh truth is I haven’t quite developed my kick for swimming or put in the time to do so.
I am fortunate to have a father who is a successful coach on the international stage, Mark Bone. He can read me very easily and knows when something is wrong, or if I am being lazy . . . there is no escaping his hard sessions!
Who do you swim with?
In our Adult Squad at SwimTastic there is some professional athletes mixed in with us everyday average Joes, this includes: Cameron Brown (NZ Ironman Legend), Mark Bowstead (NZ pro Ironman Athlete), Richard Lockhart (former NZ Olympian representative), and a few fellow athletes and training partners of similar age bracket to me, including my girlfriend. There is no lack of motivation. We push each other along.
Where do you swim?
The pools sessions are at the SwimTastic facility and sometimes we venture into the ocean.
Why do you swim?
Firstly, I love It. I love the feeling of removing myself from the world and the solace that comes from being in and under the water.
Secondly, I love racing in the ocean and am an avid triathlete, so I do this to enable myself to stay fit and active and compete at a high level. photos below - Nick in action, Auckland New Zealand
Do you have a favorite swim / pool set?
Although this is my most hated set while I’m doing it
3 x [3 x 400 on 5 mins] 1st and 3rd set swim. 2nd set pull
I do this as a test set before a big race I have targeted. Occasionally I will perform it in the off season to see how my fitness is tracking but will tend to ease the interval times a little.
What does swimming mean to you?
The act of swimming is the ability to submerge yourself in the calming waters and glide through the water of the pool or the ocean. Simply forgetting about outside life stresses. It’s a period of pure bliss and solace.
Do you have a current swimming goal? Or a ‘Bucket List’ swim. If yes, what is this?
Bucket list swims would be Waiheke to Mechanics Bay swim (Auckland) this is a 20km charity swim to raise funds for the Westpac rescue Chopper.
Also, to swim in the Dead Sea to feel the effect of the buoyancy.
What’s the best place (or 2) you’ve swum?
Lake Taupo with the amazing crystal clear water and Bay of Islands when competing in Breca SwimRun, which involved swimming between islands and then running over them.
Due to COVID the Breca 2021 event only option was the Sprint event (9km running. 3.5km swimming), however I intend to complete the full event in April 2022 - 32.5km (10 runs / 24km and 9 swims / 8.5km)
When a visitor comes to Auckland, where would you recommend they swim?
If they are looking for a pool, I would suggest SwimTastic due to the state-of-the-art facility. If they wanted a beach, I would suggest Anchor Bay beach as it’s never too busy and is surrounded with beautiful scenery and a national park.
Tell us about one of your proudest swimming achievements / moments:
Completing my first Marathon Swim (10km) from St Heliers Beach, around Browns Island and return in 2019, placing first.
Has swimming changed your life? If so, how?
Swimming has definitely changed my life. I was involved in it from a young age, due to dads coaching and profession. However, he never forced me into swimming. Instead, he let me find the passion for it myself, and this has evolved as a have matured. Playing water polo through school, swimming was always there to help maintain fitness levels. Swimming has now become part of my routine, and I feel out of sync when I don’t swim. It allows me to remove myself from outside stresses, even if it’s a short 45-minute swim you come out feeling refreshed. It will always be part of my life.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I swim better, faster, in the ocean than I do in the pool. Although I am not a fast ‘turner’, my theory is my technique is somewhat suited for open water conditions. I read the currents and tides, and sight well, which helps me to swim great lines in the ocean. I have a slightly ‘thrashy’ stroke (it is controlled underneath the water), and when the water is rough, choppy or when there is bigger surf, my technique is suited for these conditions.
Photos below: Nick in front of Mt Cook (New Zealand) and with partner Yasmin pre-race
