X-WATERS

ALTITUDE COMPARISON of our favorite LAKES: 🏔️

Lake Sevan (Armenia) - 1,900m (6,234 ft)
Issyk Kul (Kyrgyzstan) - 1,607m (5,272 ft)
Lake Bled (Slovenia) - 475m (1,558 ft)
Lake Baikal (Russia) - 456m (1,495 ft)
Lake Borovoye (Kazakhstan) - 320–480m (1,050–1,575 ft)

HOW TO PREPARE:

🟢 Bled, Baikal, Borovoye - No special prep needed. Same as training at home.
🟡 Issyk Kul (1,607m) - Arrive 3–5 days early. Light cardio. Stay hydrated. Your body adapts quickly.
🔴 Sevan (1,900m) - 20% less oxygen = serious altitude. Prepare properly:
- Arrive 5–7 days early (or join our camp for built-in acclimatization)
- Double your water intake
- Light training only first days
- Sleep extra
- Eat iron-rich foods
- No intense workouts until adapted

The secret? Training at altitude builds endurance that transfers everywhere. Your body creates more red blood cells. You become stronger.

Which altitude will challenge you?
👉 Link in bio to explore all 2026 events

July is PACKED. 🔥

July 19: X-WATERS Baikal - the world's deepest lake.
500m • 1 mile • 6km
(Camp: July 14-19)

July 25-26: X-WATERS Volga - Europe's greatest river.
Including our FIRST NIGHT SWIM. 1k • 3k • 5k • 10k • 30k
(Camp available)

X-WATERS Volga swimmers will take on ultra-distances for the first time this season - 10 km and 30 km along the Volga River! This is the kind of experience that will allow swimmers to see Europe's largest river in a new light.
This is Russia's largest open water swim by participant numbers for years (from 2017), in 2025 there were 3000 participants, living legend!

Last-minute spots still open. Or follow along as thousands of swimmers cross legendary waters.

Which one calls to you? 🌊
👉 Link in bio to register

Tell me you're an X-WATERS swimmer without telling me you're an X-WATERS swimmer. 👀
You're wearing Mad Wave goggles that don't fog up at 1,900m altitude. Your racing suit moves with you through cold Siberian lakes and warm Mediterranean seas. Your gear trusted swimmers from Sevan to Baikal to Bled.

Mad Wave builds gear for open water warriors, not just pool swimmers. Crystal-clear lenses. Racing suits that actually stay on. Goggles that survive altitude, cold, currents, and everything in between.

Every X-WATERS event. Every altitude. Every distance. Mad Wave performs.
Our swimmers choose gear that works as hard as they do. 🌊

Swimming at 1,900 meters (6,200 feet) isn't just different. It's transformative.

The air is thin. Your lungs work harder. Your body adapts in ways sea-level training can't replicate. But here's the magic: when you return to sea level, you'll feel like a superhero. Your endurance will be sharper. Your mental toughness will be unshakeable.

Lake Sevan teaches your body resilience. Every stroke becomes intentional. Every breath matters.

The views don't hurt either - turquoise water, ancient monasteries, snowy peaks all around you while you push through thin air.

This August at X-WATERS Sevan 2026 🇦🇲, you're not just swimming. You're training at altitude. You're building endurance that will carry you through every swim for years to come.

Ready to train where the mountains meet the water?

X-WATERS Sevan 2026: The Main Swim - August 16, 2026
X-WATERS Sevan Camp: Prepare, Explore, Connect - August 11–16

👉 Link in bio to register

🌊 JOIN JULY CHALLENGE AND WIN RACE SLOT!

sets a new challenge to keep your training on track. This July, X-Waters is powering the prizes 🤝

Swim 7.5km before the month ends and you're in the draw to win:
🥇 1x FREE entry to X-Waters Slovenia
🥈 1x FREE entry to any X-Waters event of your choice
🎟️ 3x 10% promo codes for any X-Waters event

Got summer swim goals? This is the perfect way to stay motivated and get rewarded for it. Log your kilometers in the app, hit 7.5km before July 31st, and you're automatically entered. 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️

No excuses - every lap counts. Let's get in the water! 💪
📲 Track your swims now in OpenSwimApp

Welcome to X-WATERS Kazakhstan 2026 at Lake Borovoye, our most hospitable swim and the perfect summer adventure!

What Makes This Swim Special?

🏞️ Breathtaking Scenery
Lake Borovoye is a natural wonder. Clear, warm water. Sandy and rocky shores. Mountains and bizarre rock formations that look like they belong in a fairytale.

📖 A Lake of Legends
Also known as Auliekol (“Sacred Lake”), this place is steeped in ancient stories. You’ll swim past Zhumbaktas Rock - the “Mystery Rock” - which changes its silhouette depending on the angle: from a beautiful girl to a terrifying witch. Swimming here feels like journeying through time.

🤝 Warm Hospitality
This swim welcomes everyone, beginners to pros. The location at Wyndham Garden Burabay (just 10 meters from the water) makes it easy to bring family and friends.

🏊‍♂️ Your Distance, Your Challenge
500m – perfect for beginners
500m FINS – high-speed challenge with fins
1km – scenic loop for all levels
4km – lake crossing
8km – ultimate challenge around Mount Zhumbaktas
3×500m Relay – share the experience with friends
KNOCKOUT 3×500m – thrilling elimination race

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Bring Your Family. Make It a Holiday.
The start is at the resort hotel on the beach. While you swim, your family can:
- Hike through pine forests with stunning views
- Explore sacred sites and viewpoints with guides
- Relax on the beautiful beach and reset

✈️ Getting There
Fly to Astana (Kazakhstan’s capital). From there, a new highway takes you directly to Borovoye in ~3 hours (219km). Easy. Scenic. Worth it.

🏊‍♂️ Ready to Swim in a Legend?
Don’t just visit Kazakhstan - experience it. Swim through sacred waters, feel the mountain power, and take home unforgettable memories.

Follow X-WATERS KAZAKHSTAN

Want to sign up for an open water swim but not sure how to train?
You’re not alone. That’s why we partnered with OpenSwim to give you the training plan you need, whether you’re building endurance, improving technique, or gaining confidence in open water.

Get started in minutes:
✅ Download the OpenSwim app
✅ Find the ‘X-WATERS’ plan (or create your own)
✅ Sync your watch & track progress
✅ Follow sessions leading up to race day

Having a clear plan changes everything. No guessing. No scrambling. Just confidence.

Ready? Check out the QR code!

A medieval castle on a cliff. A church on an island. You swimming through it.
X-WATERS Slovenia 2026 at Lake Bled. 🏰

This isn't just a swim, it's the kind of place that stays with you. Emerald water. Mountains. Magic. ✨

Bring your crew. Explore castles, churches, and national parks. Stay a few extra days.
Distances for every level: 500m to 10km.

Ready for your fairytale swim?
👉 Register: Link in bio

We've been preparing this for a long time. Step by step, we solved every challenge to make X-WATERS Volga 2026 truly unforgettable. And now we're ready to announce something special.

We've moved the Night Swim directly onto the Volga.

This will be the first-ever night swim that actually takes place on the river itself. No pools. No protected waters. Just the Volga at night, dotted with lights, and you swim through it.

Picture this: the darkness. The river. Buoy lights guiding your way. The city lights ahead. History happening around you.

What's waiting for you:
🌊 600m distance on Europe's greatest river
🌙 A night start at 8:40 PM, finishing under the city lights
🔥 Pure open water. No shortcuts. No calm. Just honest swimming in real conditions.

To honor the 10th anniversary, we've pulled out all the stops. The Volga at night isn't something you just see, it's something you experience.

This is your moment. Take a slot. Bring your friends. Get ready for a summer you'll never forget.

When: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Start Time: 8:40 PM
Slots: Limited. The night won't wait.

Register Now!

Summer is in full swing, but the X-WATERS season is far from over. We've gathered a selection of the most exciting swims still ahead in 2026, from legendary lakes to intercontinental gems.
Each one offers a unique challenge and a chance to explore a new corner of the world. Find your next great adventure below.

🏊‍♂️ Upcoming Swims

X-WATERS Baikal: July 19
Swim in the world's deepest and oldest lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visibility reaches tens of meters. Unforgettable.

X-WATERS Volga: July 25-26
Russia's largest open-water swim. For the 10th anniversary, we're adding night swims, your chance to cross the Volga under the stars.

X-WATERS Kazakhstan: August 8-9
One of the biggest events on this list, famous for hospitality! Swim the lake Borovoe!

X-WATERS Sevan: August 15-16
Unique chance to swim across Armenia’s main lake.

X-WATERS Issyk-Kul: August 28-29
One of the world's largest high-altitude lakes, surrounded by snow-capped Tian Shan mountains. Water clarity up to 20 meters.

X-WATERS Slovenia: September 5-6
Swim on Lake Bled, one of the world's 25 most beautiful places. Medieval castle. Island church. Pure magic.

X-WATERS Montenegro: September 26-27
The season finale in the stunning Bay of Kotor. Two towns, two islands, one fjord. The warmest swim of late summer.

🏕️ Train with the Best: Upcoming Camps

X-WATERS Sevan Camp: August 11-16
Five days on the shore of Armenia's legendary lake. Train with pro coaches, explore ancient monasteries, and arrive at race day ready.

🚀 Start Planning Your Next Swim
The water is waiting for your next unforgettable experience. Whether you're chasing a new altitude record, swimming in a new country, or simply seeking the beauty of open water - X-WATERS has a swim for you.

Don't panic, just swim.