A Story time with Ross Youngman.

I had a chance to sit down with Ross after a VLADSWIM event in Sydney and asked him a few questions about this and that. To be honest I didn’t have to ask much, Ross has a natural ability to tell a story and it is captivating. 11 minutes probably wasn’t enough!

Perhaps there is another episode with Ross in the future. k
I hope you enjoy his story and thank you.

Swimcerely,

Val

Channel Swim Preparation 2026–2027

Get Ready for the Swim of a Lifetime

For all Australian swimmers who have already booked their Channel Swim for 2026 or 2027 — congratulations! Now is the perfect time to start preparing for what might be the longest and most rewarding swim of your life

After completing my second Rottnest Channel Crossing in 2021, I felt a pull to go further. Distance swimming had taken root in me, and I began seeking a new horizon…

You might have heard of SCAR – a four-day swim adventure in Arizona. Each day features a different dam: Saguaro (15k), Canyon (15k), Apache (25k), and Roosevelt (10k). An incredible experience, surrounded by epic scenery and even more incredible people.

I did it! I got around!! Swim Around Keppel. No. 3 = 21 km = 6 hours 40

We have an oversized picture book of Tasmania sitting on our coffee table and I have turned the pages.

From the moment I first learned about the #SwimAroundKeppel from a friend, I knew I was sold on

The Derwent River 'Big Swim' wasn’t really on my radar. I knew Val Kalmikovs was running a new support

A new year, a new challenge for me. After many months of training and preparation, last Wednesday in

‘Come for the Event, Stay for the Experience’ is the message behind this year’s 5th Annual Swim Around