Posted in: 10-2009

Double the Trouble in Three Anchor Bay

31.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Solo Challenges   |  

51-year-old Theodore Yach is currently training for the challenge of his life.

Over the course of his career, Theodore has completed the English Channel and an unprecedented 54 crossings between Robben Island and South African mainland in or near Cape Town in South Africa.

He will attempt a 29.5K cold-water swim from Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island and back on or around December 7th in 12-13°C (53-55°F water).

The Theodore Yach Ultra Swim is a charity swim on behalf of the Cadiz Open Water Swimming Development Trust which raises funds for disadvantaged swimmers who do not have the funds or resources to follow their passion.

An impressive explanation of the The Theodore Yach Ultra Swim is here.

Double the trouble, but we are looking forward to the success of his swim and the success of his charity.

Circling Aquatic Park in San Francisco

31.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Training   |  

Northern Californian Larry Scroggins provides an excellent and extraordinarily detailed explanation of the famous Aquatic Park in San Francisco Bay where the a 57-year-old English Channel hopeful trains and hopes to join the scores of other English Channel swimmers who have trained in the Bay.

Click here to read his accounts of Aquatic Park.

Are Humans Built for Marathons?

31.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Technique   |  

In the October 27th issue of the New York Times, Tara Parker Pope wrote a thoughtful and insightful article on why and how The Human Body Is Built for Distance.

Although Tara Parker Pope writes on marathon running, she makes observations that are relevant to open water swimming.

Her opening sentence, "Does running a marathon push the body further than it is meant to go?", presents an intriguing issue for marathon swimmers.

If we ask this question to World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year nominee Lisa Cummins (35 hours 36 minutes in the Channel), Great Open Water Swim of the Year nominee Lianne Llewellyn (27 hours 35 minutes) or Japanese Channel Queen Miyuki Fujita (29 hours), the answer may be, "Perhaps, but we gotta try."

According to Tara's article, 425,000 individuals finished a marathon run in the U.S. in 2008. This number of terrestrial marathoners is more than the number of open water swimmers (183,000), but not if you add triathletes to the mix.

Tara also writes about how evolution has favored endurance running. With the explosive growth of open water swimming since Captain Matthew Webb first swam across the English Channel in 1875, we wondered if evolution also favored open water swimming.

But Genadijus Sokolovas, ex-Director of Physiology & Director of Sport Science for USA Swimming, says, "Fish do not have knees or necks like humans. Their kick is much more efficient than our kick. Humans do not have the same propulsion on our up-kick and down-kick. Also, because humans have a neck, we are not as streamlined in the water like fish. But, the world's best swimmers have a good up-kick and down-kick and they look straight down when they swim [freestyle]. This straightens out their spine and makes them much more streamlined in the water. If we keep our necks strong and firm while swimming, then we can efficiently break the water like the bow of a boat and swim faster."

But we have a long way to go before we can swim like a dolphin.

History Made at Lake Geneva

30.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: History   |  

Sometimes, we come across interesting tidbits of open water swimming history and believe it is worthwhile to share them with our global community.

At the V FINA World Cup race in 1996 in Lake Geneva, the American team of Jay Benner, Chuck Wiley, Bambi Bowman and Samantha Chabotar were being coached by Sid Cassidy, Rick Walker    , Marion Cassidy Keen and Dave Thomas.

The 17K race was along a beautiful point-to-point course from France to Switzerland and the American team was staying in Évian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva.

In preparation of the race, Dave (shown above) bought several cases bottled water for the swimmers and hauled the heavy cases of bottled water to his fourth-floor hotel room by the stairs. This bottled-water-gathering ritual is carried out by coaches, swimmers and support crew throughout the open water swimming world, especially before international competitions.

However, when the hotel manager noticed Dave dripping in sweat as he labored to carry the heavy cases up the stairs in the hotel, he informed him that they were in Évian-les-Bains, the home of Evian mineral water. Lo and behold, when Dave looked down at the labels on the bottled water, he smiled when he saw the Evian logo. The manager smiled and informed him, "That bottled water comes out of the tap around here."

After that realization and the 17K World Cup race, Dave sat at the shores of the beautiful Lake Geneva and formulated the original plan to get open water swimming in the Olympics with Sid and Rick. While at the time their plan to showcase the sport in a 10K format in a rowing basin was a radical departure from the typical 25K race in lakes and oceans, it was the plan that Sid enthusiastically carried forth and promoted together with his FINA colleagues. Ultimately, their plan got accepted by the International Olympic Committee in October 2005 and the first Olympic 10K Marathon Swim was held in a rowing basin during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

That inspirational 10K rowing basin idea - outlined on a napkin - was certainly a key turning point in the history of open water swimming.

Ky Hurst and Melissa Gorman Earn More Noose Titles

30.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  

Olympic 10K marathon swimmer Ky Hurst came up big-time - in the sand, in the water and in the surf - for the seventh time in his career by winning the 2009 Eyeline 1000 Ocean Swim.

Trent Grimsey, fresh off his 10K victory in the FINA World Cup race in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) this month, took second with Trent's younger brother Codie in third, Dean Mercer in fourth and Nick D'arcy in fifth.

"Near the end I had nothing left, so I just tried to hold on," said Ky of his 11 minute 4 second victory. "I turned at the last can and still had a bit of a lead. I just wanted to finish it off properly and was praying that I got a wave." Ky ended getting two waves to assure him victory. He first caught a small wave to gain an initial advantage over Trent - which Trent then closed - before Ky caught his second small wave.

World 5K champion and 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year nominee Melissa Gorman won her sixth victory (and fifth in a row) in 12:07, "This is great training for the open-water stuff. I don't get much time in the surf except for this sort of race. I'm really in hard training at the moment, so to get a good hitout is always good. I was thinking that I haven't lost it for the past five years and there is more and more pressure every time I come here," she said." Former world 5K and 10K bronze medalist Kate Brooks-Peterson and Danielle DeFrancesco were second and third.

Both Ky and Melissa represent the Kurrawa Surf Lifesaving Club.

Information from AAP. 

Shark Deterrent Device Patent Application

30.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Products & Equipment   |  

We came across the following from inventors Jacques Chauvet and David Conroy who submitted a shark deterrent device patent application to the US Patent and Trademark Office:

A shark deterrent device comprises at least two hollow cylindrical shafts, a tip, a twist-release mechanism, and at least one self-lock mechanism. The tip may be replaceable. The shark deterrent device is a retractable unit that is easy for a diver to carry and stow, and yet can be extended in order to deter a shark. The device is unlocked from its retracted position by twisting a collar, thereby unlocking the concentric shafts and allowing the unit to be fully extendable by hand. Once the unit is fully extended, a self-lock mechanism lock the unit to prevent it from retracting during use. The unit has a handle formed at one end of the outermost cylindrical shaft and a tip at the opposing end of the innermost cylindrical shaft. The tip may be replaceable and removed, and other useful tips may be attached.

[Field of Invention] The present invention relates to a device for deterring shark attacks. In particular, the device provides the user with a telescopic blunt object with which to prevent a shark from coming too close, while reducing the potential for injury to the shark.

[Background] Shark attacks are a common fear of scuba divers. In order to prevent these attacks, divers often carry with them various shark deterrents, such as chemical repellents or spear guns. Chemical repellents are often not allowed in ecological fragile areas, and are often of only limited effectiveness.

Sharks rarely attack in a straightforward manner. The most common method of shark attack is known as a "circling attack." A circling attack is when a shark starts to circle its prey widely, and gradually reduces the diameter of the circle until the shark is close enough to "bump" its snout into the prey. This "bump" allows the shark to use its electroreceptors to identify its prey before the "test bite." Since sharks are known to be scavengers they often are attracted to an easy prey. When sharks encounter prey that fights back, they have been known to retreat.

Thus, there is a need in the industry for a non-chemical, non-wounding device that will deter sharks and yet is easy for a diver to carry and open. This device may be used when a shark attempts to approach or "bump" a diver, acting as a deterrent and causing the shark to retreat and leave the diver in search of easier prey.

[Summary] Responsive to the foregoing challenges, Applicant has developed an innovative device for deterring sharks. The device is comprised of at least two, and in one embodiment three hollow shafts that may be cylindrical, a replaceable and/or interchangeable tip, a spring disposed in at least one hollow shaft to partially extend or open the device; a twist-release, or similar release, mechanism, and at least one, and in one embodiment, two self-lock mechanisms. The shark deterrent is a retractable unit that is easy for a diver to carry and stow, and yet can be easily extended in order to deter a shark. The device is unlocked from its retracted position by twisting a collar or using a similar release mechanism, thereby unlocking the concentric shafts and allowing the spring to partially or fully extend the device, and if necessary the device may then be fully extended by hand. Once the unit is fully extended, self-lock mechanisms lock the unit to prevent it from retracting during use. The unit has a handle formed at one end of the outermost shaft and a replaceable and/or interchangeable tip at the opposing end of the innermost shaft. The replaceable tip may be removed, and other useful tips may be attached. In various embodiments, the interchangeable tips may include, but are not limited to, a hook, a spear, a net, a flashlight, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), or a shovel. In some embodiments the apparatus may include a spring or other similar mechanism to partially or fully extend at least one of the concentric shafts upon release from the retracted position.

SIU Swims to 5K Victories in Grassy Lake

30.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  

Southern Illinois University, the University of Evansville, Illinois State University and the University of Missouri competed in the SIU 5K Open Water Festival this month in Grassy Lake, Marion, Illinois.

The final times of the college teams were comprised of the cumulative times of the top three swimmers each from the participating schools.

In the men's race, the SIU Saluki team of Matt Parsons, Matt Kruse and Barrett Mark combined for a cumulative first-place finish with the respective times of 59:15, 59:17 and 59:52.

The SIU women's team of Kirsten Groome, Jennifer Kwok and Keli Kramer tied with Missouri in the nine-team race. Kirsten won the women's 5K in 59:32.

Photo of Rick Walker    , coach of Southern Illinois University and 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year nominee, who created the inaugural SIU 5K Open Water Festival this year. You can vote for Rick or the other nominees here.

Russian Women Channel the Power of Cleopatra in Turkey

29.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  

Russians sweep the medals at the 17th International Swimming 5K Marathon on Cleopatra Beach in Analya, Turkey: Lubov Volkova (gold), Dasha Kostovara (silver) and Svetlana Uskakova (bronze). The Russian men did equally as well: Dimitry Polyanskiy won the men's 18-39 division, Dimitry Dordulya took the 40+ division, Alexander Antipov won the 50+ division and Antoliy Shakmatov won the 60+ age group.

Photo of the Yuzme Maratonuna top female swimmers by DHA.

Eastern Province Open Water Swims Series in South Africa

29.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Events   |  

As the Northern Hemisphere enters its winter season and open water swimmers either become dormant or head indoors to train in pools, the Southern Hemisphere open water swimming season is getting underway from Sydney to Kouga.

Kouga?

The Eastern Province Open Water Swim Series in South Africa will host six swims of 1K, 3K, 5K and 10K in the pristine canals of Marina Martinique. Marina Martinique is located in the world-famous surfing location of Jeffreys Bay. The races cater to all levels of swimming in the safe confines of the Martinique canals and is also a qualifying swim for the South Africa Open Water Swim Championships. The 5K and 10K swims are for elite open water swimmers who wish to qualify for provincial and South African national teams that will be selected to compete internationally.

Marj Heymans, Chairman of Kouga Tourism said, "The series is a well-needed boost for tourism as it will certainly bring visitors to the town. We will be supporting the Kouga Swim Club in marketing the events and assisting in ensuring the series becomes an annual fixture in our tourism calendar. There is no doubt that we have the facilities to host world-class open water swim events and hopefully we will even see international events take place in the Kouga in the not too distant future."

Brenton Williams, coach of the local swim club and organizer of the Marina Mile is similarly enthusiastic, "Open water swimming is one of the fastest growing extreme sports in the world and interest is growing after the inclusion of the 10K marathon swim in the Olympic Games. We have many athletes in the Kouga who will benefit from a top-level series like the Eastern Province Open Water Swim Series. Triathethes who want to experience open water swimming in preparation for the Ironman as well as surfers who want to stay fit for the big days will find that Marina Martinique is the best venue there is in the Eastern Cape. There are no currents, the canals are protected from the wind and there is no worries about blue bottles and sharks. The Marina is also very spectator friendly, making it the perfect place for the family to enjoy quality time and enjoy the swimming."

The series includes races on October 25 (1K, 3K, 5K), November 22 (1K, 3K, 5K), December 23 (1K, 3K, Marina Mile), January 16-17 (1K, 3K, 5K, 10K), January 30-31 (1K, 3K, 5K, 10K Eastern Province Open Water Championships) and March 13-14 (1K, 3K, 5K, 10K).

Michael Marais (shown above) won the inaugural 5K race this past weekend in a South African national qualifying time of 1:03:16. Jessica Roux won the women's 5K race in 1:07:10 which also qualified as a South African national qualifying time. Jonathan Roux won the 3K swim in 42 minutes and Tammy Geyer won the women's 3K race in in 44:43.

We couldn't agree more with Coach Williams.

Information courtesy of Babobski's Blog.

Developing Great Australian Distance Freestyle Swimmers

29.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Training   |  

Australia has a wonderful history of great freestyle swimmers, both in the open water (Des Redford, Susie Maroney, Shelley Taylor-Smith    , Melissa Cunningham) and pool (Murray Rose, Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould, Kieren Perkins, Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett).

The expectations and the experience in maintaining this proud history is something that continues - and the Australians work at it...hard.

Australia’s promising young core of great distance freestyle swimmers are training together on the Gold Coast this week for a seven-day camp led by two of Australia's leading coaches: Denis Cotterell and Mark Regan.

19 swimmers, including several who do open water, will train 75K during 11 pool workouts in 7 days, focusing on keep Australia on top of the medal podium at the Olympics and world championships. "We’ve got the best up-and-coming young distance swimmers here," said national team coach Alan Thompson. "There is a lot of experience still to be gained and that’s why we’ve brought our best distance coaches together with our best distance swimmers."

In a similar strategy to the very successful British team, Australia is bringing together proven young stars from the pool and open water into the one program in a conscious effort to encourage swimmers to try both disciplines. Alan explains, "We've combined the distance pool events with the open water events as one program and it’s a trend we are seeing around the world with pool and open water swimmers swimming in both events. We've seen it ourselves with swimmers like Grant Hackett, Ky Hurst and Melissa Gorman (shown above) who have transitioned quite well between the two disciplines with Melissa now representing Australia in both the pool and open water at the Olympic Games and World Championships where she won gold in the 5K."

The athletes in attendance include Wally Eggleton (16 years old), Loui Friess (17), Robert Hurley (20), Rhys Mainstone (19), Ned McKendry (17), Ryan Napoleon (19), Daniel Smith (18), Eugene Tee (15), Matthew Terry (19), Jessica Ashwood (16), Danielle De Francesco (17), Blair Evans (18), Ellen Fullerton (16), Katie Goldman (16), Stacey Hansford (19), Bonnie MacDonald (13), Kelly Marquenie (17), Rachael McLean (19) and Brooke Wilson (16).

Interested coaches, fans and teammates can follow the Australian national team via Twitter here.

Living a Dream Job as a Professional Triathlete

28.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Swimmers   |  

When Sara McLarty was seven years old, she confidentally told her parents that she wanted to be a professional triathlete.

After a career that took her to the University of Florida, the Olympic Trials and FOUR different world championships (in pool swimming, open water swimming, aquathlon and lifesaving), Sara finally made triathlon her life, career and profession.

The American pool swimming world may remember Sara as a 15-time All-American swimmer who placed fourth in the 400 freestyle at the 2004 USA Olympic Trials.

In the open water water, she was also among the world's elite, earning a bronze medal in the 5K at the 2004 World Open Water Swimming Championships. 

But in the triathlon world, Sara is legendary.

She has never been beaten in the swim leg in any triathlon anywhere (on five different continents).

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, she has utilized her telecommunications honors degree from the University of Florida.

She has successfully branded herself among the elite triathlon echelon with multi-media exposure via monthly magazine columns, guest appearances, webinars, speeches, camps, clinics and podcasts.

After she qualified for her fifth different world championship in triathlon, we caught up with Sara as she was rushing off to another airport.

Q1. You just missed the Olympics as a pool swimmer and were one of the world’s best open water swimmers, but you chose to become a pro triathlete. Why?
A1. I started swimming competitively when I was four and did my first triathlon when I was seven. During my teenage years, triathlon became my favorite, my passion. But, following my parents advice, I remained a very competitive swimmer so that I could compete in college and hopefully get a scholarship. After just missing the Olympic team, I competed in open water events while transitioning to triathlons. It was just a bonus along the way that I posted some great results in open water.

Q2. What was your athletic background in biking and running?
A2. I trained and competed in triathlon since I was seven. I ran track and cross country in high school and won the Junior national road cycling championships in 2000.


Q3. How does one become a pro triathlete?
A3. You must first look at your priorities in life. Being a pro triathlete is not a lucrative or illustrious career. but, if you have the passion, dedication, and great support group behind you, it can be very fun. Other than that, one must train hard, in three sports…there’s not much else like it out there.

Q4. Have you experienced ups and downs as a pro triathlete?
A4. [laughter] What better example than that last two weekends of my career. First, I race amazing at St. Anthony’s and leading the entire race until the last ½ mile. I finished 3rd overall. It was great publicity and a [nice] payday. I had companies contacting me to build a partnership. Then I fly to Korea two days later and race like crap that weekend. I finished second to last. No money, embarrassing publicity, and not something I want to show in my results.

Q5. What is the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome as a pro triathlete?
A5. Injuries. Without a doubt, it is the hardest thing in this choice of career. Your body is your business. When it shuts down, you’re completely out of luck. Fortunately, if you remain determined and focused, you can figure out what’s wrong and get back in the game.

Q6. Is it a glamorous lifestyle?
A6. On those couple of days each year, when you perform 100%, all your training has been great, your nutrition was spot on, and it was just YOUR day to race fast, yes, it can be glamorous in the awards ceremony when everyone is congratulating you. Other than that, the other 360 days of the year are very far from the spotlight. It’s just you, the road, the pool, and a LOT of sweat.

Q7. Do you travel the world?
A7. That is one perk of this job. I’ve visited some amazing places and I make a point to stay a day or two after the event to take advantage of flying halfway around the world. I’ve seen some of Brazil, South Africa, Korea, China, Hungary and other places.

Q8. Where do you train?
A8. After finishing my collegiate career in Gainesville [at the University of Florida], I took advantage of the USA Triathlon Resident team program in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training center. I lived and trained at altitude for three and a half years and then decided it was time to choose a place of my own. I was back in Florida in 2008 and did some training in Clermont, Florida. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the training options, especially the National Training Center where I got a coaching job.

Q9. What is your daily schedule?
A9. I average about five hours of training per day. Most days, I do all three sports plus some strength, stretching, massage and naps. That leaves a few hours in the daylight to have fun with friends before starting all over the next day.

Q10. How much does it cost to be a pro triathlete? Your equipment must be expensive and your training and food bills must be enormous.
A10. Yep, it’s expensive. I was lucky to have the option of living at the Olympic Training Center for the early years of my career. The food, housing, training, facilities, sports medicine and coaching was all free. I was able to save my prize money during that time in preparation of getting my own place. Now, between coaching, substitute teaching, writing for sports publications, and racing for prize money, I am able to keep the roof over my head and food on the table.

Q11. What would you advise others who wish to become pro triathletes?
A11. Good luck and have fun. Triathletes are a great group of people and we welcome the competition.

Stunningly Beautiful and Swimmable Lakes Around the World

28.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Training   |  

This website is full of stunning, swimmable lakes around the world.

Absolutely beautiful photography abounds at Allpics4u.

Experienced Solo Swim Missing At Sea

28.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Swimmers   |  

Saipan's newspapers reported the unfortunate results of a water-aerial-land search by the U.S. Coast Guard and 55 local responders for Jim Bell who has not been seen since he dove into the waters near Suicide Cliff on the island of Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands.

Jim was an experienced swimmer, heading into familiar waters, but he had ventured alone.

"It is hard to think of him being gone. He had a wonderful sense of humor. We were always there for each other during the best and worst of times,” said Donna Bell, his former wife. "He had a great ability to write and his stories were phenomenal."

Jim was the first person to swim across the 8K Tinian Channel, just south of Saipan on his 70th birthday. "This was his dream and I wholeheartedly embraced his plan. Everything came together and he was so thrilled when he achieved swimming the Tinian channel at 70 years old. He first achieved it when he was 42."

Jim was dropped off near Suicide Cliff with his cell phone by a friend, but he had no provisions (including water) or escorts and departed Tinian by himself on October 17th. His goal was to swim around the corner of the island and surface at Kammer Beach later that day.

Jim was renowned for swimming by himself.

In 1981, he marked his retirement from the U.S. Navy by swimming alone from Saipan to Tinian in 12 hours. In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Tinian DPS searched 15 hours for him. Reported missing by friends, Jim was later found still swimming toward Tinian Island after being swept out to the open ocean.

Photo by Janet King.

Tadpoles, Rookies, Fossils and Pioneers Heading to Noosa

28.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  

The 21st annual Eyeline Noosa 1000 Ocean swim will take place this weekend where past winners have included the Who's Who of Australian freestyle swimming (Olympic champions Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett and Olympic open water swimmer Ky Hurst).


The Eyeline Noosa 1000 Ocean Swim is one of Australia’s most competitive 1K swims and part of the Noosa Triathlon Multi-Sport Festival this Friday on Main Beach in the sheltered waters of Laguna Bay in Noosa. We especially like the event descriptions of the various age-groups; Tadpoles for the under 13 year old crowd, Rookies for the 13-15 year old, Fossils for the 60-69 veterans and Pioneers for those over 70.

Marathon Swimmers to Compete in the Geo Bay Swim

28.Oct.09   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  

More than 50 swimmers are expected to compete in the 20K Geo Bay Swim, an eco-friendly ocean race held in the pristine waters of Western Australia’s Geographe Bay on November 15th. The Geo Bay Swim open to solo, duo and 3-5 member teams.

The race follows the beautiful coastline and finishes at the 2K-long Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere.

In keeping with its eco-friendly mission, the course follows the coastline where no powerboats are permitted for competitors.

Instead, human power is all that is required: paddlers will be used for all swimmers and teams. Interestingly, the course has four changeover points located on the beach at pre-determined locations between 3.2-4.3K in distance. These points allows the duos and teams to do a relay exchange while solo competitors continue on unimpeded.

President Mick Bray said, "Geo Bay Swim is a great way to challenge yourself and is ideal as a warm-up for anyone entering the Ironman. The event is three weeks before the Ironman and you can practice swimming the full distance of the Ironman as part of a duo. If you are interested, then contact us or go online and sign-up.

"We are aiming high and hope that one day this swim will rival the Rottnest Channel Swim [one of the World's Top 100 Open Water Swims]. The pristine waters of Geographe Bay is the perfect location for open water swimming."