Ocean & Waterway Prep Retreat

Join us for a two-day, immersive retreat that takes the guesswork out of open-water racing and builds your confidence from the shore to the finish. You will master ocean-specific risk and rescue techniques, and tackle a guided swim-and-paddle in Banks Channel—plus dive into triathlon-tailored race-strategy coaching.

Below is a concise overview of the core content you’ll experience, and our working schedule:

CPR/AED Certification 

• Heartsaver course (AHA CPR/AED)
• All materials, instruction, and certification logistics
• Water Safety Instruction 
• 1 hr classroom: rip-current awareness, ocean risk assessment, buddy/self-rescue, tourniquet use, fatigue drills
• 1 hr in-water: structured drills and beach “in/outs” in Banks Channel to master surf entry/exit
• Banks Channel Swim & Paddle
• Point-to-point guided swim with rescue-board support
• Real-time coaching on currents, pacing, entry/exit, and mindset

Ocean Safety & Big-Wave Seminar 

• Interactive discussion on risk management, ocean psychology, and performance in moving water
• Ongoing Safety Oversight
• Continuous lifeguard support
• Safety-equipment management
• Certification tracking throughout all in-water sessions
• Triathlon Race Strategy Seminar 
• Course familiarization, pacing, nutrition, and transition tactics tailored to IM swim legs
• Co-lead Banks Channel Session
• Paddle-board coaching in tandem with Open Oceans to reinforce swim technique and race planning

Instructor Lineup

• Sean Ruttkay, Co-Founder, Open Oceans
• 15+ years Wrightsville Beach lifeguard; USLA competitor; AHA safety-instructor; founder of coastal surf-art studio.
• Rob Brown, Co-Founder, Open Oceans
• Banks Channel native; global surf-rescue veteran; expert in channel navigation and paddling technique.
• Kristen Smith
• Blake (Deep End Fitness): breathwork & CO₂ tolerance
• Shawn Reese: Rise Fitness Studio: functional strength & mobility