Posted in: Events

Santos Brazil Pro and Amateur Races

29.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

35 of the world's top professional marathon swimmers, including World Cup champions Thomas Lurz and Poliana Okimoto and swimmers from Russia, Croatia, Israel, Canada, the Netherlands, the USA, France, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Equador, Venezuela, Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Australia are expected to descend upon Santos, Brazil - with huge crowds to support them and cheer them on.

The pro athletes will participate in the rectangular 10K Atlantic Ocean venue (see course map on left) at the Maratona Aquática Internacional de Santos (Santos International Marathon Swimming Renata Agondi Trophy).

The first leg of the 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit will be held on January 31st - and will be a great indicator who is in shape or not.

Hosted by the Brazilian Swimming Federation and organized by two-way English Channel swimmer Igor de Souza, a member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, the race should culminate in an exciting finish and great kick-off to the 2010 season.

But the pro race will also be held in conjunction with an opportunity for amateurs of all ages and abilities to participate in 1K, 2K and 4K races in the I Etapa - Santos event (Copa do Mundo da FINA). Like the pros, the amateurs can showcase their talents in the beaches of Brazil.

A Very Special Polar Bear Plunge

27.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

It is not a competition, but a celebration.

The Maryland State Police host the Polar Bear Plunge, th largest polar bear swim in the US, held annually at Sandy Point State Park in the Chesapeake Bay.

The event raises funds for the Special Olympics - an estimated 11,000 people participated in 2009 raising a cumulative total of US$3.1 million. Since its start in 1997, 25,000 Polar Bear Plungers have raised over US$6.6 million.

Professional football players, local celebrities, media personalities and elected officials have joined the field to raise money and celebrate the Special Olympics Maryland programs.

Part of these funds is used to underwrite the cost of sending athletes to the Special Olympics Winter Games and Summer Games, that will include a 1.5K race at the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

The event will also include a Miss and Little Miss Polar Bear Plunge and Miss Hypothermic Hon where children compete with creative attire and show off their talent in reciting a poem or singing a song about the Plunge.

A video of the event is here.

Gary Duffield and the Serpentine Members Celebrate the Peter Pan Cup

26.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

Gary Duffield won the annual Peter Pan Cup Christmas Morning Handicap Swim in the Serpentine in London yesterday. The water, measured at 0°C (32°F), had just defrosted from the ice sheet that had melted overnight. Peter Pan Cup Christmas Morning Handicap Swim, first held in 1864, is open to members who have competed in three winter series event, typically held in under 4°C (40°F) water.

Sky News footage of the 100-yard event can be seen here. Photo above shows the start of the 2006 swim here.

Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011

20.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

It's never too early to plan ahead.

The XVI Pan American Games will be held in Guadalajara where open water swimming (aguas abiertas in Spanish) was added to the competition schedule. The open water race will be held in beautiful Puerto Vallarta.

One of the world's designated Cities of the Future, Guadalajara will undoubtedly roll out the red carpet for the athletes, as will Puerto Vallarta, a resort on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.

The Miracle of the Midmar Mile

20.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

The Halfway Toyota Midmar Mile will be setting the record straight on February 13th and 14th as it establishes itself as the world's largest open water swimming event.

Showcasing the world 10K champion Keri-Anne Payne, the Halfway Toyota Midmar Mile may reach the magical 20,000 participant entry mark this year.

Similar to Julian Crabtree's unprecedented swims at the Great Swims in Great Britain, Terence Parkin will attempt to swim 16 miles over the two days at the Midmar Mile at part of a fundraising effort for the Deaf Association.

The growth of the Midmar Mile has been phenomenal over the years due to the untiring efforts and vision of race director Wayne Riddin:

1974 - 153 swimmers
1975 - 220 swimmers
1976 - 634 swimmers
1977 - 1,021 swimmers
1978 - 1,426 swimmers
1979 - 1,892 swimmers
1980 - 2,500 swimmers
1981 - 3,000 swimmers
1982 - 3,000 swimmers
1983 - unknown
1984 - 2,555 swimmers
1985 - 2,454 swimmers
1986 - 3,200 swimmers
1987 - 3,500 swimmers
1988 - 3,916 swimmers
1989 - 3,700 swimmers
1990 - 4,000 swimmers
1991 - 4,890 swimmers
1992 - 4,400 swimmers
1993 - 4,724 swimmers
1994 - 5,027 swimmers
1995 - 6,140 swimmers
1996 - 6,925 swimmers
1997 - 7,774 swimmers
1998 - 9,600 swimmers
1999 - 10,045 swimmers
2000 - 10,045 swimmers
2001 - 12,214 swimmers
2002 - 13,218 swimmers
2003 - 16,050 swimmers
2004 - 17,332 swimmers
2005 - 17,087 swimmers
2006 - 16,696 swimmers
2007 - 16,853 swimmers
2008 - 19,013 swimmers
2009 - 17,575 swimmers

We are confident the 2010 Halfway Toyota Midmar Mile will set another Guinness World Record.

Note: Julian Crabtree's 44-mile effort at the Great Swims was nominated as one of the World's Great Swims of 2009. Online voting is still open here.

Swimming in the Cold for the Special Olympics

19.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

In July 2011 in Greece, there will be a world's first: the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens will hold its first open water swimming competition.

The world championship for Special Olympians will be a 1.5K race in the Aegean Sea in the city of Marathon (a double-loop course in a protected cove) where over 7,500 athletes are expected to take part in the World Summer Games where the athletes will use the same facilities as were used in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

In support of these programs, Special Olympics organizations around the world (in 186 countries) hold fund-raising events. As an example, a series of Polar Bear Swims are being held in northern California.

The Special Olympics of Northern California will organize a Polar Bear Swim in Fort Bragg (Noyo Beach) on February 27th, in Fresno (Millerton Lake) on February 27th, Kelseyville (Lakeside County Park Lake) on February 27th, San Francisco Bay (Crissy Field) on February 27th, Incline Village on March 7th and a Post Plunge Party in south Lake Tahoe (Zephyr Cove) on March 20th

Prove you have acclimated to the cold water in your support of the Special Olympics.

Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Course at the 2016 Rio Olympics

18.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

We had the opportunity to see first-hand - and swim along - the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim course that will be used at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For five days, we encountered several different conditions, from flat conditions and mild rain to strong currents, heavy rain and rough seas with up to 6-8 foot surf breaking on the shore.

In summary, we were very impressed with the venue and proposed 10K course for a variety of reasons:.

1. First and foremost, the course will present a variety of challenges for the Olympic athletes. Due to the shape of the venue and the outline of the shoreline, the course offers a clever combination of a protected shoreline near the start and finish as well as exposing the athletes to potentially rough conditions of the Atlantic Ocean. Once the athletes swim approximately 200-300 meters from the protected start, they will swim into the open ocean where they will encounter swells and currents. On a rough day, these swells can be very large (of the rolling sort) and the currents can be very challenging, requiring successful athletes to have a very high navigational IQ.

On a windy day, the whitecaps and surface chop will most certainly be difficult to manage - which is what we expect the world's best marathon swimmers to be able to overcome. Even on a mild day, the normal ocean currents will have to be carefully managed because the currents will most likely not be running parallel to the athletes' most direct point-to-point course. To make things even more interesting, the ocean swells will be running at anywhere from a 45° to 90° angle to the athletes' most direct point-to-point course between turn buoys. This means that the athletes will have to take into acccount the dynamics of the ocean - which will be a great natural challenge for the world's best open water swimmers.

2. The setting is wonderful and the famous Copacabana Beach will be filled with hundreds of thousands of cheering Brazilian fans and Olympic spectators. The marathon swimmers will be treated like rock stars in front of a huge number of cheering fans, television cameras and the world's media - which is what they deserve after years of training hard and sacrificing nearly everything for Olympic glory.

3. The start and finish are in an area protected by the peninsula between Ipanema Beach (left in the above photo) and Copacabana Beach (right in the above photo). At the start, the athletes will swim straight out from the shoreline, gradually encountering rougher water with more dynamic forces (i.e., swells and currents) to deal with. It is also a great choice for the finish, which will undoubtedly be extremely close. The finish pad will most likely be stable in the calm, protected waters for a fair finish - except, of course, in the case where the ocean really becomes turbulent and the waves are pounding the shoreline.

4. The stretch between the final buoy and the finish pad will run parallel to the shoreline in full view of the onshore cameras and screaming fans.

It should be a great experience for the athletes and provide wonderful drama against a fantastic backdrop for the television cameras and worldwide audience.

5. The magically happy atmosphere of the venue. Combining the white sand and the green mountains as background, the pulsating music and multi-lingual announcements to hundreds of thousands of fans will be a giant, multi-cultural beach party where the marathon swimmers will be celebrated in Olympic fashion. Because Copacabana Beach has a tradition of hosting millions of revelers during celebrations, the Brazilians will be able to present the sport of open water swimming in a unique, enjoyable, media-friendly manner. Note: on New Year's Eve in 1994, Rod Stewart reportedly played in front of 3.5 million people on Copacabana Beach.

Aerial views of the course and great video shots of world-class marathon swimmers competing on the Olympic course can be seen here at Globo TV's spectacular television coverage. Using seven cameras - including helicopter aerial and in-the-water footage - of the King of the Sea Challenge (Rei Do Mar Desafio) is spectacular.

All systems are go for a truly wonderful, visually dynamic and challenging 10K race at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For an overview of the 2016 Rio Olympics, click here.

2010 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup and FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Schedules

17.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

FINA will post its 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup schedule and its 2010 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix schedule later today on the FINA open water swimming website.

The schedule for the 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit, won last year by Thomas Lurz and Poliana Okimoto, includes:

1. Santos, Brazil on January 31st
2. Viedma, Argentina on February 6th (Maraton Patagones Viedma)
3. Setubal, Portugal on June 26th
4. Lac St-Jean, Canada on July 25th (Traversee Internationale du Lac St-Jean)
5. Copenhagen, Denmark on August 28th
6. Hong Kong on October 3rd
7. Cancun, Mexico on October 9th
8. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on October 23rd

The schedule for the 2010 FINA Open Water Swimming
Grand Prix circuit, won last year by Petar Stoychev and Camilla Frediani, include:
 
1. 57K Maraton Acuatica Rio Coronda in Santa Fe, Argentina on January 31st
2. 88K Hernandarias-Parana in Argentina on February
3. 15K Sumidero Canyon Swimming Marathon in Mexico on April 17th
4. 36K Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy on June 20th
5. 32K Traversee Internationale du Lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada on July 31st
6. Sabac Grand Prix in Serbia on August 1st
7. 34K Traversee Internationale du Lac Magog in Quebec, Canada on August 7th
8. Shantou Grand Prix in China on September 25th
9. 15K Dubai Grand Prix in United Arab Emirates on October 27th

Ten countries (Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Italy and China) and hundreds of kilometers later, we will find out how will follow in the footsteps of Thomas, Poliana, Petar and Camilla.

In addition, the 6th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships will take place in Lac St-Jean in Roberval, Canada between July 15th - 23rd.

Busy year ahead.

Ocean racing Series World Championships on a Special Easter Weekend

16.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

The 2010 Axxess DSL Ocean Racing Series in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth in South Africa is a great place to be for an open water swimmer during the Easter holidays.

The fifth annual Series will feature a special challenge race this year that will showcase the endurance, grit and sprinting talents of the world's best ocean swimmers.

On April 3rd, the 2K Ocean Racing Series World Championships will be held with top-notch South African swimmers, like world championship medalist Chad Ho, competing against world-class non-South African swimmers. The race is part of the vision created by Michael Zoetmulder who organizes Africa's largest beach events.

On April 4th, the Nelson Mandela Bay Bell Buoy Challenge with prize money totaling R33,000 (US$4,446) will be held. This is a 7K out-and-back ocean swim from Hobie Beach to a Bell Buoy located about 3.5K off-shore from Hobie Beach).

On April 5th, the 750-meter King of the Bay Swim Challenge with prize money totaling R24,000 (US$3,232) is a very unique and interesting event with five separate elimination rounds. Twenty swimmers will qualify for the finals, but the last four swimmers are eliminated during each round until the fastest four swimmers race for in the final round for the prize money with separate heats and finals for the men and women.

This knock-down, get-up-and-go event will require both endurance fitness and sprinting talent as the rest between each break will only be as long as it takes for the opposite gender to complete their round. So, as soon as the women finish their heat, the men take off.

A video overview of the fabulous ocean racing series can be seen here.

The world's best ocean swimmers - a unique mano-a-mano challenge - and a fun-filled family event in Nelson Mandela Bay - what an Easter weekend!

Swim for Life in the Canary Islands

15.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

Twenty ocean swimmers from all over the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands contributed to the Walk for Life in a uniquely aquatic way.

While 800 people walked the route along the beach front, the open water athletes swam along the same 3.4K course under strong winds and currents.

In a show of solidarity with their terrestrial colleagues, the athletes swam with pink caps and a pink/white balloons attached to their backs.

Photo courtesy of Ryszard Majewski.

Making Waves in Miami

12.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

Next year's Nike Swim Miami's multi-race event in April should be its biggest and best event ever with a pre-race camp offering training methods and stroke analysis, an international field of top swimmers and enjoyable and safe Miami Mile, 5K and 10K races for swimmers of all ages and abilities.

Because the Nike Swim Miami is held early in the Northern Hemisphere season, it is a great way for individuals to test their skills before heading into the busy summer season - which in 2010 will be packed with even more open water swims than ever before.

The Nike Swim Miami can be seen here:

Photo by George Kamper who has a truly unique ability to showcase open water swimming by his photographic skills.

A Very Special Open Water Swim in Athens

8.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

On July 1st, 2011, the Special Olympics will hold an open water swimming demonstration event at its 2011 World Summer Games.

This exciting development in the world of open water swimming – which truly demonstrates the expanding reach and scope of our sport – will be a 1.5K sea swim, held parallel to the shoreline, for 35 athletes. The race will be held in the 25° (77°F) waters off the Sailing Academy in the City of Marathon, Greece.

To qualify, the athletes must meet the time standard of one hour in the 1500-meter pool freestyle and will also be required to participate in the 800-meter freestyle in the pool competition.

Due to the beautiful seaside course in City of Marathon and the inherent challenge of open water swimming, the 1.5K course is expected to showcase the ability and potential for the athletes with intellectual disabilities in a dramatic fashion.

The 1.5K open water race will be preceded by seminars and a development program to introduce Special Olympians and their coaches to the wonderful world of open water swimming. The open water swimmers Special Olympics Village will be in Nea Makri Marathonas.

Greek organizers of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 are planning to host nearly 7,500 athletes from 185 participating countries competing in 22 sports at 30 venues in addition to 2,500 coaches, 3,000 officials, 3,000 media representatives, 25,000 volunteers and 40,000 athletes’ family members from June 20th to July 4th, 2011 . With the exception of the open water course in Marathon, the athletes will use many of the same facilities as the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The scope and amount of resources devoted to preparing the World Games will undoubtedly prove worthwhile and will result in a global celebration of the triumph of the spirit and will power of Special Olympians. Holding the World Summer Games in Athens follows the previous World Games in locations such as Connecticut (1995), North Carolina (1999) and Shanghai (2007).

This Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 will highlight the challenges and opportunities for full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and will include a Host Town Program, a Healthy Athletes Program, a Global Youth Summit, a Family Forum, a Global Policy Summit, a Special Olympics Sports Experience and a Special Olympics Festival with the athletes, families, dignitaries and celebrities from around the world can gather, discuss and learn more each other and the global programs of the Special Olympics.

Open water swimming’s inclusion in the Games has been passionately promoted and pushed by a true open water swimming ambassador, Kester Edwards of Trinidad & Tobago.

Kester (shown on left) has long helped Special Olympians in open water swimming, including taking athletes to the RCP Tiburon Mile where swimmers like Andrew Smilley of the Cayman Islands (shown above) have proven themselves by placing high.

It seems so appropriate to have the effective first world open water swimming championships for Special Olympians in City of Marathon. It has been a long road to acceptance and inclusion – and we look forward to covering this great event.

Note: Andrew is one nominee for the World's Great Open Water Swims of 2009.  Votes can be placed online on this home page.

A Special Olympics in Athens in 2011

6.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

On July 1st, 2011, the Special Olympics will hold an open water swimming demonstration event at its 2011 World Summer Games.

This exciting development in the world of open water swimming – which truly demonstrates the expanding reach and scope of our sport – will be a 1.5K sea swim, held parallel to the shoreline, for 35 athletes. The race will be held in the 25° (77°F) waters off the Sailing Academy in the City of Marathon, Greece.

To qualify, the athletes must meet the time standard of one hour in the 1500-meter pool freestyle and will also be required to participate in the 800-meter freestyle in the pool competition.

Due to the beautiful seaside course in City of Marathon and the inherent challenge of open water swimming, the 1.5K course is expected to showcase the ability and potential for the athletes with intellectual disabilities in a dramatic fashion.

The 1.5K open water race will be preceded by seminars and a development program to introduce Special Olympians and their coaches to the wonderful world of open water swimming. The open water swimmers Special Olympics Village will be in Nea Makri Marathonas.

Greek organizers of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 are planning to host nearly 7,500 athletes from 185 participating countries competing in 22 sports at 30 venues in addition to 2,500 coaches, 3,000 officials, 3,000 media representatives, 25,000 volunteers and 40,000 athletes’ family members from June 20th to July 4th, 2011 . With the exception of the open water course in Marathon, the athletes will use many of the same facilities as the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The scope and amount of resources devoted to preparing the World Games will undoubtedly prove worthwhile and will result in a global celebration of the triumph of the spirit and will power of Special Olympians. Holding the World Summer Games in Athens follows the previous World Games in locations such as Connecticut (1995), North Carolina (1999) and Shanghai (2007).

This Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 will highlight the challenges and opportunities for full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and will include a Host Town Program, a Healthy Athletes Program, a Global Youth Summit, a Family Forum, a Global Policy Summit, a Special Olympics Sports Experience and a Special Olympics Festival with the athletes, families, dignitaries and celebrities from around the world can gather, discuss and learn more each other and the global programs of the Special Olympics.

Open water swimming’s inclusion in the Games has been passionately promoted and pushed by a true open water swimming ambassador, Kester Edwards of Trinidad & Tobago.

Kester (shown on left) has long helped Special Olympians in open water swimming, including taking athletes to the RCP Tiburon Mile where swimmers like Andrew Smilley of the Cayman Islands (shown above) have proven themselves by placing high.

It seems so appropriate to have the effective first world open water swimming championships for Special Olympians in City of Marathon. It has been a long road to acceptance and inclusion – and we look forward to covering this great event.

American Lifeguards Heading To Australia

2.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

Besides working modeling assignments and recently getting married, Micha Burden, one of America's top open water swimmers, will represent the Los Angeles County Lifeguards in its annual competition against Victorian State Surf Life Saving Association of Australia in The Wieland Shield in January.

Lifeguards - who are an abundant source of local knowledge of the waterways around the world - are often open water swimmers' best friends.

At The Wieland Shield the Californian and Australian lifeguards will continue to exchange ocean lifesaving knowledge, skills and techniques that they have done over the past five decades. Micha and her California lifeguards will continue the tradition.

It Will Be Epic In New Zealand

1.Dec.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  (0) comments

The inaugural Epic Swim Festival in New Zealand will kick-off its first year in the majestic Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, in January 2010.

The Epic Swim Festival showcase New Zealand best with the New Zealand 5K and 10K Open Water Championships and the New Zealand Masters 2.5K Open Water Championships.

Additionally, as the Festival looks toward the future, it will include recreational swims of varying distances 100-300 meters for children between the ages of 5-12 and 12-16 years, plus a 2K and 5K for open and age group swimmers.

It will be another one of New Zealand's great open water swimming events, capitalizing on the country's natural resources.