Extreme adventurer Ross Edgley to attempt swim record on Loch Ness this week for ocean conservation
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AN extreme adventurer and author is ready to attempt the world's longest non-stop swim on world famous Loch Ness.
Ross Edgley holds multiple world swim records, but is best known for completing the World's Longest Staged Sea Swim in 2018 when he became the first person in history to swim 1,780 miles all the way around Great Britain, completing the epic in 157 days.
On Wednesday (September 21) will attempt to swim five lengths of Loch Ness after completing a rigorous training regime that included bulking up his body to help him withstand the bitterly cold water.
Ross, 36, from Grantham, is making the attempt for ocean conservation and the preservation of the Scottish kelp seaweed forests with support of Skye whisky distillery Talisker and Parley for the Oceans, a non profit environmental organisation that focuses on protection of our seas, founded in 2012 by Cyrill Gutsch.
Ross built himself up to a self-styled "Ross Ness Monster" from 87kg (192lbs) to 95kg (210lbs) for the gruelling attempt following a visit to @lborosportservices Performance Lab.
Sport science experts there advised Ross to boost his fat reserves for insulation in the cold Scottish water and taught him how to pace himself for energy conservation over multiple days of non-stop swimming.
Ross, who writes motivational books and is also a coach and global lecturer as a leading expert in the science and psychology of adventure, is testing the new Gymshark wetsuit that’s been custom-made to fit his "oddly shaped sumo swimmer body" following his bulking programme.
The non-stop swim of at least 48 hours, and perhaps as long as 72 hours, is a never-before attempted five lengths of Loch Ness, which will be a cool 10 degrees Celsius.
To prepare for the epic challenge ahead, Ross has spent the past few months training for up to 12 hours a day, including swimming 100km in the waters around the Isle of Skye, the equivalent of swimming three times across the English Channel.
During preparation Ross has also been eating 10,000 calories a day to fuel his training and gain 10kg, to help his body stay insulated from the cold during the longest ever swim of Loch Ness aimed at over 160km.
The environmentalist said: "I'm excited to continue being part of this great initiative between Talisker and Parley for the Oceans and to do what I can to help raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of the sea forests beneath the oceans across the world.
"During preparation for this challenge I’ve spent many hours in the water, including time up at the Talisker distillery training in Loch Harport preparing myself mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.
"What makes this swim for the sea different is the purpose behind it, the inspiration to get out into nature to raise awareness of protecting and preserving it for the future.’’
Consumers can support Talisker and Parley for the Oceans project to protect Scottish Waters by purchasing a bottle of Talisker 10 year old from participating Tesco stores nationwide. For every bottle sold from September 27 to October 17, 2022, Talisker will donate £1 to Parley for the Oceans, directly funding this important research and preserving the sea for generations to come.
Follow Ross’s journey to the world record attempt on @Talisker and @RossEdgley
