Nick Shanks - Christchurch, New Zealand.
Enjoying the waters of Korcula, Croatia
Name: Nick Shanks Known as: Nick or Shanks
Lives in Christchurch, New Zealand Age 30
Occupation. Logistics
Connect with Nick: IG Follow on Strava: Nick Shanks
Nick, tell us a little about your swimming?
On average I swim five times a week but when I am building towards an event I will fit in a 6th .
I try to get at least an hour for a pool swim, 3-4km, during the week and at least one open water swim at the weekend.
The time of year and water temperature influences the length of the open water swim.
The open water temperatures in Christchurch vary from a low of 7 degrees Celsius (mid 40s Fahrenheit) in July which is our mid-winter, to 14-15 (high 50’sF) in November and topping out at 19-20 (high 60’s F) degrees by the end of our summer which is March. Generally, from November the conditions are bearable to swim for over an hour in the sea.
Do you have a favourite pool set?
I usually plan my session during the warmup. Not good I know but I like to see how I am feeling and decide from there whether I’ll do a speed, threshold or an aerobic session.
A couple of go-to sets I enjoy are:
8x50, 4x100, 2x200, 1x400 - aiming to hold even pace through the sets and then push hard on the 400.
5x400 (or 10x400) with a short rest is always a good one. I find this builds character.
When I swim the 10x400 on 6minutes holding 5:40 – 5:45 I know I’m ready for summer racing.
Images below: Left Cass Bay ChCh NZL Right: Croatia 2019
Who do you swim with?
I enjoy swimming with my ‘masters’ squad, which is generally twice a week after my workday, and once or twice at the weekends with the open water group. To maintain my routine, there are one to two sessions in the week when I swim by myself or with my wife Alice.
A shoutout to my swim mates:
● Waitaha Masters in Christchurch – I train with the squad although I have yet to compete in ‘Masters’ swim meets.
● Canterbury Open Water Swimming Association – my Christchurch based OWS mates.
● The Seamen Ocean Swim Squad in Mount Maunganui – my Bay of Plenty OWS cohort.
● Bay2Bay open water swim club in Auckland
I swim at numerous pools across Christchurch which are predominantly 25m in length. The longer summer outdoor pools of Waltham (33m) and Jellie Park (50m) which open in late November and close in April provide the opportunity to swim further.
The first pool I learnt to swim in was a 33m like the Waltham pool, so I have a soft spot for pools of this length.
During the week I stick to the pools, but on the weekend, you will find me swimming open water off Cass Bay in the Lyttelton Harbour.
My open water swims cover a variety of distances depending on the time of year (water temperature). We achieve 6km plus throughout summer, typically from November onwards
Why do you swim Nick?
Growing up near the ocean I have always felt a connection with the water.
I swam competitively for a short time before my high school years but I gravitated towards ball sports, especially Volleyball, in my teenage years.
Unfortunately, in my early 20s I experienced a back injury while strength training (lifting weights) to improve my vertical jump for Volleyball. This placed a hold on all sport and exercise.
Encouraged by my physiotherapist to return to swimming, I returned to the pool for some non-weight bearing pain free movement and low-level cardio training .I started slowly, only doing what my body allowed.
Over a 6-month period my swimming gradually built until I managed to complete a 1km swim. My back always felt great after swimming, so I continued, and along with the regular strength work I continue to undertake I am completely pain free!
It was through this journey where I came to really love swimming, venturing into the ocean, and exploring many new swimming spots.
I have met many great friends and motivating people through swimming.
Although I swim five to six times a week, I admit I still need to motivate myself to get out the door and dive in, at times, but this tentativeness is all forgotten once I am swimming laps.
Is there a ‘Bucket List’ swim Nick?
Completing a solo swim across Cook Strait has bubbled away in the back of my mind now for a few years. This is a 26km journey between the two main islands of New Zealand.
If we get the right tides, it will be a 7-8 hour swim. If we miss the tides, the challenge becomes a 12-plus hour ordeal.
My current training is focused on this challenge, which hopefully will eventuate in the summer of 2022.
And an Ice Mile – a 1600m swim in water temperature below 5 degrees Celsius.
Since moving from the Bay of Plenty region (North Island, New Zealand) in 2019 I have come to embrace swimming in the colder waters of Christchurch. This has created the interest for the challenge, and with alpine lakes close to Christchurch the opportunity is on my doorstep.
What’s the best place you've swum?
My hometown - Mount Maunganui. Hands down. Can’t beat it.
There are great people to swim alongside, plus numerous swim options around and off ‘The Mount’ beaches.
The water clarity is superb, sea life is abundant - I have seen seals, stingrays, orca, sharks and many schools of fish – and the water temperature is never too cold.
Where would you recommend a visitor to Christchurch swims?
If you prefer a pool swim, get along to the Waltham Summer Pool. The lanes are less busy than the other pools in the city, and it is an old school 33m length pool.
If you want to get in the ocean, I recommend Corsair or Cass Bay. It is relatively safe for all levels of swimming; you can swim to the surrounding bays, and can tailor your swim distance to suit.
Images below: Left Alice and Nick, Roys Peak, Central Otago, NZL Right: Mt Manganui, NZL
What is your proudest swimming achievement to date Nick?
Completing my first official 10km marathon swim, Auckland Masters, in 2019,finishing 3rd. I had done a lot of training leading up to it and was stoked to finish in under 2.5 hours.
How has swimming impacted your life?
I always feel great after swimming. It’s the thing I do to switch off from the outside world. I know I will always feel better afterwards. This transfers to all aspects of my life.
I am a more relaxed and healthier person because of swimming.
I can always tell when I have been out of the water for too long... I am more on edge!
What are the key stroke technique points you often reference when swimming?
I recently started getting a super tight neck during and after long swims. I realised I was overreaching at the front of my stroke, using my upper traps to initiate the catch phase.
I now focus on keeping my scapula’s retracted and down, and not to ‘shrug my shoulders’.
As well as significantly reduced my neck pain, it also has put me in an improved position for my catch - setting up for the use of my lats, rather than my traps, to generate power through my pull.
Tell us a little about your early years of swimming
I leant to swim with the Otumoetai Swimming Club in Tauranga, competing until I was 13 years old.
I have memories of many weekends swimming carnivals in Rotorua, racing in the interclub and regional championships trying to qualify for New Zealand National level meets. I competed twice at the New Zealand Junior Championships, with my best events being the 100m and 200m breaststroke. How times have changed, I’m terrible at breaststroke now.
I was a big fan of Moss Burmester (New Zealand two-time Olympian swimmer) who also started swimming in the club - although I didn’t reach the same level.
To finish, share a fun fact about yourself Nick?
I have abnormally big hands for my height - I’m just under 6’3 . . . they’re great for swimming!
Swimming Wainui to Akoroa - Christchurch, NZL