A Natural Racing Experience Thrills Senses, Protects the Marine Environment and Producers Winners

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 27, 2022 – Human beings have been enamored with the ocean since the beginning of time and the robust tourism product of the Turks and Caicos is proof of that,  but only a few of us venture away from the sand to swim long, lovely laps in the ocean.

“It just somehow makes everybody a little friendlier; everyone is a lot happier when they swim in the ocean.” A founder of the annual Race for the Coch Eco Sea Swim, Ben Stubenberg, confessed that after swimming in the open water many people don’t want to go back to a pool because the (sea) water is “so perfect.”

This view may have a little something to do with the huge turnout for the Eco-Sea Swim races held on Saturday June 25 (2022).

Stubenberg, a swim instructor and avid open sea swimmer himself opened up to Magnetic Media about what it feels like to drive your body through the pristine waters, unencumbered, pushing your own physical limits for the most exhilarating exercise experience.

“All of your senses are engaged and you feel a connection with nature that you don’t get from standing on land.” He said, “This is something that you feel because there’s really no limits; its as far as you can go, it’s quite unlike a pool.  This is salt water, you float better…it’s engaging with nature in a way that you can’t otherwise do when you’re swimming in a pool.”

In its 12th year, “Race for the Conch” Eco-Sea Swim is a registered non-profit in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The organizers explained that proceeds from sponsorships and race fees go to support The Provo Children’s Home, local learn-to-swim programs, the Reef Fund, and initiatives to support special needs children in the family islands.

The 2022 staging pulled in 135 swimmers in its biggest ever showing, 13 of whom were children from the Turks and Caicos. Adult, teen and even preteen swimmers came from the US, Canada, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos to participate in four races:  A 2.4 mile; a 1 mile; a half mile, and a 100m kiddie race.

The top-ranked adults for the 2.4-mile races were Joseph Shields for the men and Alicia Uhl for the women.

Lenin Hamilton Jr and Taylor Schiffern won the one mile for men and women respectively and  Lenin Hamilton Jr and Celia Wolf topped the half-mile.

Over the years, organizers have maintained that they wanted to have a more environmentally conscious race.

“We decided that as part of the race we wanted to have a commitment to a more ecologically friendly race that was more in line with our philosophy of trying to make the earth and the ocean a better place…we take that part of it very seriously. It’s not just something added on because it sounds ‘trendy,” said Stubenberg.

There are several ways the organizers set out to do this.

Only reef-friendly sunscreen is allowed on the beach and they provide ‘Stream to Sea’ sunscreen created by a local partner company called ‘Whole Health”. Race for the Conch Eco Sea Swim also serves its refreshments in biodegradable containers, often the rehydration drinks are coconut water coming straight from coconut trees, with no packaging needed.

Additionally, even the coveted conch trophies and medals are made by local artist Stanford Handfield crafted from actual conch shells from the TCI’s slice of the Atlantic Ocean.

Though the race is not yet totally eco-friendly, Stubenberg hopes Race will evolve to having a  zero carbon footprint very soon.

Photo credit:  Photo by Paradise Photography