North Carolina Open Water Swim Camp and High Tech Collaborative

1.  First we have the return of the North Carolina Open Water Swim Technique Camp for 2026!  Join Coach Trent Hayden (President Cape Fear Triathlon Club, USAT Triathlon Level 2, Youth and Junior Coach), and Coach Kitty Clark Cole (Vice President Cape Fear Triathlon Club, USAT Triathlon Coach, Sport Dietitian) for an open water swim clinic at world famous vacation land Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, North Carolina

We have gathered experts from across the southeast United States to bring you this one of a kind weekend training opportunity you will not find anywhere else!  Come and make the ultimate breakthrough in your training.  These camps are appropriate for all levels, you DO NOT need to consider yourself a fast or advanced athlete to receive this first class instruction.  Feel free to email coach Trent at trent@capefeartri.com or text at 910-386-1569 with any questions.    

Learn about your Coaches!

Coach Trent Hayden (USAT Level II Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer, University of North Carolina Professor of Health and Wellness)

Coach Trent's triathlon career started on a fateful day in graduate school.  He was dragged through the swim, passed on the bike, stumbled on the run, and loved every minute of it.  Since that time, Trent has made it his mission to expand endurance sport participation through positive encouragement for everyone. 

• USAT Level 2 Coach for Peak Triathlon Coaching
• University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Professor of Health and Wellness
• Head Coach, Founder and President, USAT affiliated Cape Fear Triathlon Club
• Head Triathlon Coach for the Nir Family YMCA Youth and Junior Team
• Race Director, Nir Family YMCA for the YMCA Youth Triathlon and Pier-2-Pier Open Water Swim Race
• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
• Head Coach, UNCW Triathlon Team January 2016 - present
• Swim Coach and Team Nutritionist, IndoJax Surf team and charities

Coach Kitty Clark Cole (Bachelor of Science: Nutrition & Dietetics,  USAT Level 1 Coach)

My life-long love affair with food began at age 5 at my grandmother Anna’s side; gardening, canning, freezing and standing on a step-stool learning how to cook.

I’ve been passionate about the relationship between food and health since being diagnosed with a stomach ulcer at age 15 and ate for health and wellness since that time.

I majored in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Wisconsin, wanting to know even more about food and it’s interaction with healthy living.  At the time I thought I wanted to go to Medical School but after graduation went to work in public health nutrition. I was also active but didn’t get the bug to race and actually train until I bought a book and trained myself to run my first marathon in 1998, to celebrate turning age 45 and the memory of my brother. I competed in my first triathlon to celebrate turning 50 and here I am today!

Ryan Gillespie (MS Exercise Science, Certified Personal Trainer)

Ryan grew up in the Philadelphia area where sports and exercise was a driving force in his life. Ryan was a multi-sport athlete in soccer, wrestling, and volleyball in high school.

Ryan attended Slippery Rock University and earned his Bachelors and Masters degree in Exercise Science. While in undergrad, Ryan was 3x regional All-American in soccer and captain his junior and senior year. While completing his Masters degree Ryan was the assistant coach for both men’s and women’s soccer programs. After college, Ryan was a member of the US National Beach Soccer Team from 2004-2006.

Ryan’s professional career has spanned over 20 years in health and wellness and helping people and organizations achieve their goals. His experience includes corporate wellness and fitness/recreation facility management for non-profit organizations and universities. Ryan is currently an Adjunct Professor for the Exercise Science Dept. at UNCW and Ryan previously managed and designed award-winning wellness programs for PPD’s global headquarters here in Wilmington.

Dr. Colleen and Sean Rollo (Paradigm Performance Therapy)

Our Mission is to promote a PARADIGM SHIFT in the way our community views physical therapy. We will strive to become the GOLD STANDARD by delivering EVIDENCED-BASED treatments that promote HEALING while providing the ultimate, INDIVIDUALIZED patient-care experience. 

​We are dedicated to serving Wilmington and coastal North Carolina by helping you FEEL & MOVE better, and PERFORM at your HIGHEST potential.

If you have any questions please contact trent@capefeartri.com or text/call at 910-386-1569

Intro:  Join Coach Trent Hayden (President Cape Fear Triathlon Club, USAT Triathlon Level 1, Youth and Junior Coach), and Coach Kitty Clark Cole (Vice President Cape Fear Triathlon Club, USAT Triathlon Coach, Certified Dietician) for an open water swim clinic at world famous vacation land Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, North Carolina!

Camp Overview:  Typical Swim camps usually are exclusively done in a Pool.  The North Carolina Open Water Swim Technique Camp will be held exclusively in the open water at Wrightsville Beach.  Athletes will learn how to take the swim technique from the pool and apply it directly to the race environment in the open water.  In addition, Wrightsville Beach is one of the most unique open water swim environments in the entire United States.  Athletes will experience swimming in the open ocean, tidal rivers (location of Ironman North Carolina 70.3), and back bays all directly adjacent to the beach!  Athletes will each be recorded with specific technique instruction catering to the athlete's needs.  After swimming each day we will then start our nutrition seminar.  The seminar will begin with what we have found works best for endurance athlete's whether they are looking to focus on performance and/or body composition.  We will then change the focus to individuals and set you up with a plan catered to you with ongoing support through your season.

• 8 hours of personalized instruction over the course of the camp weekend
• Open water swimming in some of the best and most varied waters in the US!
  Swim in the same course as Ironman 70.3 North Carolina
• Navigate waves, rough water, calm water, river currents, and how to swim for efficiency and speed in each environment
• Appropriate for all levels of swimming ability, from beginner to expert
• Individual recorded technique videos for each swimmer
• Take home specific workouts and drills to apply to your training to get fully prepared for the season!   
• Dates for the Spring Camp:  May 16 through May 17.  6:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday at Wrightsville Beach, 6 AM to 12 PM in open water at Wrightsville Beach on Sunday.  On Saturday and Sunday after we are done swimming we will start our nutrition seminar going through a general approach to nutrition then a more specific approach tailored to each participants goals.