Mum and daughters up for Taupo challenge

Sisters Jessica and Nicole Lovell have so far only been able to watch on as their mum competes in open water swimming events but are now ready to follow in her wake.

Jodie has been taking part in the New Zealand State Ocean Swim Series for the last few years with the girls watching on and eager to join her.

After looking for a new swimming challenge to take part in Mrs Lovell says her husband who discovered one: Swimming New Zealand’s Epic Swim at Lake Taupo.

Jodie did some research and learned the Epic Swim had a 100m swim for children aged five to 10 years so the Lovells decided to wrap a North Island holiday around the event.

They will base themselves in Taupo for two weeks starting with the January 10-11 Epic Swim for mum, Jessica 7, and Nicole 5.

It will be the girls’ first taste of an open water event and Jodie’s first 10km swim.

She trains with Blenheim Masters Swimmers and has done many 3km ocean swims but admits the 10km stretch will be a challenge.

“The biggest thing I am concerned about is the feeding.”

She is confident Jessica and Nicole will complete their races. Both can swim 100m in the pool and she feels it’s a manageable distance for them to start with in the lake.

“We are going to practise swimming at Anikiwa, Marlborough Sounds before the swim to ensure they can manage it okay and are prepared.”

The 2015 Epic Swim will take place at Lake Taupo on the 10^th and 11^th of January 2015 and runs alongside the New Zealand Open Water Championships, giving recreational swimmers a chance to swim alongside some of New Zealand’s best open water swimmers.