OWS?

I have been living in AK for 7 months now and recently did our town’s annual triathlon and loved all the training leading up to the event.  This was my first triathlon and I certainly do not want it to be the last as it was really fun and I liked the competition.   

The town has a pool, so I did my entire swim training there but if I ever wanted to venture out of the state to do a triathlon elsewhere I figure an open water swim is likely.  Even with a heavy wetsuit in the middle of summer, the Bering Sea is just too cold to even think about going into.

How do other Alaskans practice OWS?

Thanks…