Ruby Fresh's Eddie Spearing on designing wetsuits, running the Ruby swim, and the joys of Lake Wānaka

At the time of recording, Eddie was recovering from a mountain biking accident so we talk about that at the start of the episode. All the best with your recovery, Eddie!

Eddie Spearing lives in Wānaka on New Zealand's South Island, and is the founder of Ruby Fresh, a wetsuit that was designed (by Eddie) for freshwater swimming – he's since grown the business and now also sells wetsuits for ocean swimming.

Eddie is the co-organiser of the hugely popular Ruby Island Swim event, which is held every year in late January. Entries are limited and open on September 1st.

In this episode we talk about what goes into designing a wetsuit, launching and growing a swim business, how to look after your wetsuit so it lasts longer, the history of Ruby Island and the annual swim (which started in 2015), lake conservation, the pūteketeke (the Australasian crested grebe famously championed by John Oliver), the meaning of 'lake snow/snot' and 'duck itch', and how Eddie went from running snowboarding events in the UK to launching a swim business in Wānaka.

Thanks to Lesley Cornish for the photo of Eddie, taken in 2025 during our swim adventure in Wānaka.

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