Swimming With Aloha
12.Jan.10 | posted by: steve munatones | filed under: History | (0) comments
One of the Ocean's Seven channels is the Kaiwi Channel, a 26-mile (42K) challenging swim from Molokai to Oahu in Hawaii. There are nine main channels in the Hawaiian Islands - eight of which have been successfully crossed.
These include the following channels and swimmers (including the year crossed):
1. The Kaiwi Channel, 26 miles from Molokai to Oahu:
Mackenzie Miller (shown above in 2009), Mike Spalding, Kelly Gleason, Linda Kaiser (2007), Forrest Nelson (Molokai to Oahu), Forrest Nelson (Oahu to Molokai), Bill Goding (2006), Robin Isayama 1st Female (1994), Mike Miller, Ian Emberson (1979), Johnathan Ezer ( 1974), Harry Huffaker (Oahu to Molokai in 1972), Harry Huffaker (1967), Keo Nakama (1961)
2. The Kalohi Channel, 9.3 miles from Lanai to Molokai:
Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Lanai), Mike Spalding (Molokai to Lanai), Laurie Foster, Kelly Gleason, Tom Burke (2007), Carl Kawauchi, Bill Costello, Alton Motobu (1995), Linda Kaiser (Molokai to Lanai), Janice Vierra (1991), Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Lanai), Terry Chodosh, Ulrich Klinke (1989), Harry Huffaker (Molokai to Lanai in 1989), Bob Justman, Jody Pollack (1978)
3. The Alalakeiki Channel, 7 miles from Kahoolawe to Maui:
Carl Kawauchi, Alton Motobu (2006), Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding (2001), Carl Kawauchi, Ulrich Klinke, Alton Motobu (1992), Bill Lawrence, Solomon Fernandez (1977)
4. The Palilolo Channel, 8.5 miles from Maui to Molokai:
Carl Kawauchi, Chris Palfrey (2009), Bill Goding, Quinn Carver (2008), Billy Brown, Karen Finnerty, Joe Glenn (2006), Jim Sorensen (2005), Ginny Walsh (2004), Carl Kawauchi, Bill Costello, Alton Motobu (1998), Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Maui in 1993), Dennis Blake, Vernon Knight, Joe Nagi (1993), Carl Kawauchi, Ulrich Klinke (1991), Linda Kaiser, Mike Spalding, Janice Vierra (1990), Harry Huffaker, Jim Jonsson (1989), Jim Caldwell (1973)
5. The Alenuihaha Channel, 30 miles from Hawaii to Maui:
Harry Huffaker (1970), Penny Palfrey, Linda Kaiser (2009)
6. The Kaulakahi Channel, 17 miles from Kauai to Niihau:
Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding, Tom Robinson (2003)
7. The Kealaikahiki Channel, 17 miles from Kahoolawe to Lanai:
Quinn Carver, Bill Goding (2009), Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding (2005)
8. The wildly popular Auau Channel, 8.8 miles from Lanai to Maui:
Todd Robinson, Peter Worland, Bill Goding, Jeff Cleveland, Laurin Weisenthal, James Paisley, Hudson Slay, Scott Berek, Barbara Held, Greg Kearney, Matt Smart, Alastair Hulbert, Bob Lowney, James Goins, John Farrington, John Derr, Tom Heckler, Samantha McIntosh, Chris Palfrey, Penny Palfrey (2009), Peter Attia (double crossing), Elise Baker, Mark Baker, Carey Colbert, Katie Dalgamouni, Patrick Haluptzok, Colin Hortman, Erin Kirley, MacKenzie Miller, Nick Pederson, Rachel Randall, Chance Usrey, Garrett Usrey, Bill Goding, Alan Voisard, Sam Worden, Moby Coquillard, Steve Lowe, Dea Ann Joslin, James Barkman, Doug Pritchard, David Rich, Pam Dickson, Mark Cibula, Becca Mann (age 10), Steve Green (2008), Todd Robinson, Robert Breitel, Bill Goding, Quinn Carver, Lisa Hazen, Chloe McCardel, Peter Worland, Gregg Shields, Teague Soderman, Kevin Smith, Gabriel Mecs, Michelle Santilhano (2007), Todd Robinson, Bill Goding, Forrest Nelson, Matt Smart, Alex Knibbs, Chis Day, Rance Boren, Dea Ann Joslin, Michelle Deasy, Laura Jenkins, Andrew Davis, Ian Murray, Donielle Chitterden, Kawikanoron Cook, Jennifer Locke, Vladimir Dyatchin, Dana Atkins (2006), Marcos Diaz (Lanai To Maui), Bill Goding, Alan Bell, Michelle Deasy, Brad Horner, Kevin Polansky, Shery Kitrell, Shane Collins, Debbie Collins, Amer Rhett, Chad Schneider, Steve Royce, Alice Wong, Steve Diforte, Elise Baker, Kaylen Baker, Aaron Schmaltz, Sean Schmaltz, Jorge Gago, Michelle Vawer, Rachel Randall, Terry Richmond, Mark Baker, Tommy Randall, Billy Brown (Maui to Lanai), Joe Glenn (2005), Bill Goding, Alan Bell, Abel Tong, Bruckner Chase, Bill Dick, Graham Johnston, David Harrison, Bernd Straehie, Deann Joslin, Aaron Schmaltz, Paulo de Azevedo, Mike Miller, Jessa Baker, Elise Baker, Mackenzie Miller, Mark Baker (2004), Bill Goding, Paul Lundgren, Bob Childs, Douglas Bosley, Kevin Smith, Kak Cook, Kiko Aumond, Shane Collins, John Farrington, Rick Avila, Carol Sing, Debbie Collins, Laura Colette, Carl Kawauchi (Maui to Lanai), Alton Motobu, Bill Costello, John Nielsen, Jim Emmons, Billy Brown (2003) James Sorenson, Adrienne Mason, Bill Goding, Dave Matthews, Mason Bailey, Craig Taylor, Emily Evans, Becky Jackman, Laura Colette, Christiana Tangora, Mike Miller, Malcolm Cooper (2002), Bill Goding, Dan Veatch, Dave Matthews, Patrick Mcmillan, Deaann Joslin, Anne Cleveland, Richard LeBolt, Laura Colette (2001), Anne Cleveland, Debbie Collins, Shane Collins, Ken Harmom, Dave Matthews (2000), Jim Mellon, John Derr, Bruce Wetta (1999), John Dunbar, Cheryl Loomis (1997), Mike Coyle, Jeff Hawk (1996), Chana Motobu (1995), Robin Isayama, Tom Billings (1993), Katie Anderson, Langley Frisell, Chad Harrison, Leif Johnson (1991), Rick Heltzel, Mike Miller (1990), Janice Vierra, Linda Kaiser, Gary Morita, Tony Rivera, Peter Kang, Alton Motobu, Keith Arakaki, Alfie Calpito, Ham Homan, Steve Watkins, Mari Okazaki, Tina Niell, Charlie Hansen, Gary Gibo, Bruce Jamieson, Harry Huffaker, Harry Huffaker (1989), Sarah Burch, Mike Sullivan, Cliff Pollard, Jeff Conner, Amy Williams, Bill Tucker, Elizabeth Kent (1988), Harry Huffaker, Carl Kawauchi, Ulrich Klinke, Terry Chodoshi, Bruce Sloan, Chris Cox, Ken Frank, Vernon Knight, Jim Krueger, Tim McNulty, Steve Rudolph, Peter Schegel, Diane Stowell (1987), Steve Bobko, Ian Emberson, Rick Heltzel, Mike Miller, Doug Rice (1984), Jim Cole, Marc Feizner, Mike Spalding, Jim Krueger, Carol Lee (1983), Bob Luce, Bob Justman, Judy Collins, Doug Rice (Lanai to Maui), Steve Bobko, Gary Niemeyer, Richard Merritt, Bill Goding, Jim Roumasset, Archie Hapai (1977), Jim Caldwell (1970)
9. The ninth and as-yet-uncrossed channel is the Kaieiewaho (Kauai) Channel, 63 very challenging nautical miles between Oahu and Kauai that was attempted in the 1970's by Jonathan Ezer who faced literally a wall and sea of water with tremendous winds and giant ocean swells. While the maximum depth of the Auau Channel (Lanai-Maui) is 108 feet (33 meters), the depth of the Kaiwi Channel (Molokai-Oahu) is 2,300 feet (701 meters) and the depth of Alenuihaha Channel (Hawaii-Maui) is 6,100 feet (1,900 meters), the depth of the Kaieiewaho Channel (Kauai-Oahu) is over 10,000 feet (3,040 meters).
In our opinion, if anyone crosses the Kaieiewaho Channel, it will surely be one of the great moments in open water swimming history.
Chris Guesdon, Putting in the Airmiles
9.Jan.10 | posted by: steve munatones | filed under: History | (0) comments
If the world of open water swimming has a man behind the scenes, certainly Chris Guesdon is that man who has been selflessly and passionately devoted to the sport for over 44 years.
Chris Guesdon, the mastermind behind the vision of the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim and its inclusion in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics has been involved in the sport as an organizer, administrator, official, escort, lobbyist, swimmer, historian and documentor-extraordinaire.
Internationally, there are probably few individuals who have raked up as many airmiles as Chris has on behalf of the sport.
Tireless, fair, relentless and visionary, he has truly traveled the world.
Chris Guesdon was a FINA-accredited Open Water Swimming Referee between 1992-2008 and manager of the Australian Open Water Swimming Team between 1991-1996, member of the FINA Open Water Swimming Technical Committee between 1996-2000.
He is also a life member and representative of the English Channel Swimming Association. He was the referee at the 1998 Perth World Championships and organized the open water events at the 1998 Brisbane Oceania Championships, the 1999 Melbourne Pan Pacific Championships, 2003 Fiji South Pacific Games, 1991-2008 Tasmania Open Water Swimming Championships and the 2007 Darwin Arafura Gamesas as well as lectured at the Argentina International Open Water Swimming Clinic, the Fiji Technical Officials Clinic, the Mombassa, Kenya Technical Officials Clinic. He also refereed, managed swimmers or lectured in Dubai, Hawaii, Suva (Fiji), Cairns, Melbourne, Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Rotorua (New Zealand), Tasmania, Bali (Indonesia), Lac Chibougamau (Canada), Rosario (Argentina), Lac Memphramagog (Canada), Lac St-Jean (Canada), Saguenay River (Canada), Chicoutimi (Canada), Nile river, Suez Canal, Atlantic City (New Jersey), Lake Michigan, Capri-Napoli (Italy), Lake Ontario, Atlanta (Georgia), San Felice & Crotone (Italy), Terracina (Italy), Evian (France), 90K Relay from Malta to Sicily and Lac La Tuque, an epic 24-hour race in Canada. Airmiles are definitely piling up based on his devotion and knowledge of the sport.
In his home country of Australia, Chris was the Secretary of Australian Open Water Swimming Technical Committee between 1988-2001, partly for which he received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000. He was the founder of the Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation, which he started to lead from Tasmania in 1973, and a bureau member of the International Long Distance Swimming Federation, which existed between its founding in Paris in 1953 until 1974.
But his legacy will be as the chief architect of - and passionate lobbyist for - the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim which he designed - along with Sid Cassidy and Dennis Miller - to be acceptable as an Olympic Games marathon swimming event. He initially presented the plan - initially sketched out on a napkin - the idea to the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee in 1997 where it was accepted as the optimal blueprint for the good of the sport and ultimately adapted for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
But he also completely understood the perspective of the athletes as he pioneered the Hong Kong Lifeguards Repulse Bay Round Silver Island & Return swim in 1977 (now a FINA 10K World Cup event) and participated in the Daugo Island to Ela Beach Marathon Race (Papua New Guinea), Isle of Capri (Italy) Circumnavigation Swim, Lac La Tuque 24-hour relay, an English Channel attempt and a slew of swims throughout Tasmania: 30K New Norfolk to Cadbury Point Swim, Constitution Dock to Kingston Beach Swim, Howrah Beach to Long Beach Sandy Bay and Montague Bay to Wrest Point Swim.
He co-authored with Bill Ford the comprehensive and authoritative Australian Long Distance and Marathon Swimming Manual and helped draft the FINA Open Water Swimming Manual.
A man of the world and a superstar of our sport.
The Danger and Beauty of Swimming Near Rocks
30.Dec.09 | posted by: steve munatones | filed under: History | (0) comments
Swimmers know the dangers of swimming near the rocks while in the open water. Bruises, bumps and scraps are generally things for open water swimmers to avoid. But, swimming near these rocks is TOTALLY cool.
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas in Mexico is a distinctive rock formation at the tip of Cabo San Lucas at the southern end of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.
The Giant's Causeway (Clochán na bhFómharach) is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. A World Heritage Site and a National Nature Reserve, the Giant's Causeway is one of the greatest natural wonders in the United Kingdom.
The Externsteine is a distinctive rock formation located in the Teutoburger Wald region of northwestern Germany.
The formation consists of several tall, narrow columns of rock which rise abruptly from the surrounding wooded hills. The name probably means "stones of the Egge".
Preikestolen or Prekestolen, is also known as Preacher's Pulpit or Pulpit Rock, and by the old local name Hyvlatonnå.
Preikestolen is a massive cliff 604 metres (1,982 feet) above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau, in Forsand, Norway.
The top of the cliff, approximately 25 by 25 metres square is a famous tourist attraction in Norway.
The Twelve Apostles are located in Port Campbell National Park, nestled among Victoria, Australia's most spectacular coastline scenery.
Nanya Rock are fantastic rock formations and sea-eroded coral shore in Taiwan. The coastline epitomizes the beauty of weathering and wave action on stone.
Nanya was created by the weathering of the sandstone that lines the shore. The oxidation of iron ore within the striations of the stone has given it a beautiful striped pattern.
Percé Rock is one of the largest natural arches in the world. It rises sheer from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec near the village of Percé, Canada.
It is a massive limestone stack 433 metres long, 90 metres wide and 88 metres at its highest point.
Known as James Bond Island, Koh Tapu is one of the most renowned islands in Thailand, located at Phang Nga Bay in Phuket.
Featured in the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun", it soon became a major tourist attraction.
Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach on the Otago Coast on South Island in New Zealand have been eroded by wave action from the cliffs of soft, black mudstone.
They originally formed on the sea floor when the mudstone was accumulating during the early Tertiary period some 60 million years ago.
Pyramid Rock in Pyramid Lake, an artificial salt lake, in Nevada, USA.
It was formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek, near Castaic, California.
Diddo Clark used to organize a swim starting at Point Bonita, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco.
More photos by San Francisco Axis of the area here.
Goa, India's number one beach tourist destination, is on the western coast of India and the site of the India International Triathlon where the weather is especially pleasant and sunny from November to March.
Ponta da Piedade in Lagos is a jewel of the Portuguese southern coast.
