Rewa Rebels tackle Taupo

A keen group of Manurewa swimmers are again preparing to swim alongside some of New Zealand’s best open water swimmers at this weekend’s Epic Swim.

For the second year in a row a team of 24 swimmers from the ‘Rewa Rebels’, with the invaluable financial support from Turners and Growers Bonita Bananas brand, will take to the waters of Lake Taupo for the annual event now in its sixth year.

Many of the team have competed at least once before but will be joined by nine first timers ready to get their first taste of the event.

The two youngest first timers and members of this year’s team, eight year olds Nicolas Logan and Nathan Hannah, will swim the 100m distance while the rest try their hand at the 500m or 1km.

The decision to first enter a team for the Epic Swim came about as the club has a focus on teaching the young swimmers to become more “water wise” so used the Epic Swim to acclimatise to cooler water temperatures and the open water environment.

For some of the young team who have competed before they are stepping it up this year and challenging themselves to some longer distances.

Three of those taking the step up are 13 year old Sarah Chapman, 14 year old Joshua Killian and 15 year old Sam Rex swimming in the 5km event.

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.

Caption: Sarah Chapman