Jono’s journey with open water swimming began in a somewhat unconventional way. A snowboarding injury forced him into the pool as part of his rehab. This rehab led him to enter his first open ocean swim event in 2011, where he almost pulled out after the first 100m but after pushing onwards and completing his first event he was hooked.
More than a decade on, Jono is now one of New Zealand’s most accomplished open water swimmers. His accomplishments include swimming Cook Strait (25.5km), Lake Taupo (40.6km), Foveaux Strait (30km), and the first double-crossing of Matapouri to the Poor Knights (45km). Jono’s Foveaux Strait swim set the speed record at the time, and he holds one of the top 10 fastest times for the Cook Strait.
Jono’s story is an awesome example of how to create your own silver lining and push yourself far beyond what you think you are capable of.
“I’ve been using SurfEars religiously for years. They’re a critical part of my kit while ocean swimming year-round, and particularly so in the colder months. SurfEars are perfect at letting sound in but keeping the water out. They’re extremely comfortable and I often forget that I have them in. If you want to keep the water out of your ears and protect yourself from the dangers of surfer’s ear, make sure to grab a pair of SurfEars for any of your open-water swimming adventures.” – Jono Ridler