Linda Kaiser, Respecting And Conquering The Channels

One of Hawaii's most accomplished marathon swimmers and member of the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame, 58-year-old Linda Kaiser, notched another channel under her belt last year - her longest and most difficult channel swim to date.

Like Penny Palfrey in March 2009 and Harry Huffacker back in 1970, Linda crossed the 30-mile (48K) Alenuihaha channel in September in 17 hours from the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui.

Her track record in the Hawaiian Isles is unprecedented.

Linda has also crossed the 26-mile (42K) Molokai Channel in 2007, the 9.3-mile (15K) Kalohi Channel from Molokai to Lanai Island in 2001, the 7-mile (11K) Alalakeiki Channel from Kahoolawe to Maui in 1991, the 8.5-mile (13.6K) Pailolo Channel from Maui to Molokai in 1990, the 17-mile (27K) Kaulakahi Channel from Kauai to Niihau in 2003, and the 17-mile (27K) Kealaikahiki Channel from Kahoolawe to Lanai in 2005. "You've got to respect the ocean. You've got to come prepared. If you're not serious, and you're not focused on what you're doing, you're bound to have trouble. The ocean doesn't put up with any wimps."

Linda should know. It was during her 1990 Pailolo Channel swim from Maui to Molokai when she noticed a dark shape in the water beneath her. According to her interview with Honolulu Magazine, the shape was "no larger than a fist at first, but was growing quickly and racing straight for her."

"All of sudden I thought, 'Oh, that's a shark.' He just kept coming straight up, and I said to myself, 'Ooh, this may not be good.'"

Fortunately, after the 12-foot shark circled her a few times, the shark lost interest.

But that scare obviously has not slowed her down during her lengthy career which also includes hundreds of local swims.

"It's a great feeling of accomplishment. I don't do it for anybody else. I do it for me."

Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source

Oldies But Goodies In The English Channel

Julian Critchlow's database of successful English Channel swimmers showed an interesting statistic: there have been dozens of individuals over the age of 50 who have completed the English Channel.

These adventurers prove that some things do get better with age.

The oldest of the group is the venerable George Brunstad, the youthful-minded 70-year-old who crossed in 2004 in 15 hours and 39 minutes. A former pilot and one of the numerous residents of Connecticut who seem to be draw to the Channel, he remarked upon his finish, "I am tired, but this is it. I've got the world record and I feel wonderful. When I arrived I just said 'Praise the Lord', stood on the beach and raised my arms in a V sign."

The Great 50 List includes the following swimmers:

1. George Brunstad (USA), 70, England-to-France in 15:59 in 2004
2. Clifford Batts (Australia), 67, France-to-English in 18:37 in 1987
3. Ashby Harper (USA), 65, E/F in 13:52 in 1982
4. Roger Allsopp (England), 65, E/F in 15:30 in 2006
5. Sue (Australia), 65, E/F in 17:11 in 2010
6. Michael Read (England), 63, E/F in 15:29 in 2004
7. Veljko Rogosic (Croatia), 63, E/F in 11:27 in 2004
8. Robert West (USA), 61, E/F in 15:35 in 1996
9. Jean-Paul Madelenat (France), 60, E/F in 14:46 in 2002
10. Linda Ashmore (England), 60, E/F in 15:11 in 2007
11. Vijaya Claxton (USA), 59, E/F in 22:27 in 2007
12. James (Doc) Counsilman (USA), 58, E/F in 13:07
13. Carol Sing (USA), 57, E/F in 12:32 in 1999
14. Kevin Murphy (England), 57, E/F in 15:14 in 2006
15. Alan Macleay (England), 57, E/F in 22:14 in 2006
16. Peter Urrea (USA), 56, E/F in 14:38 in 1996
17. Kevin Murphy (England), 56, E/F in 13:35 in 2005
18. Duke Dahlin (USA), 55, E/F in 14:37 in 2003
19. Christopher Blakeslee (USA), 54, E/F in 14:44 in 2004
20. Michael Miller (USA), 54, E/F in 16:10 in 2008
21. Otto Thaning (South Africa), 53, E/F in 10:29 in 1994
22. Klaus Stutzer (Germany), 53, E/F in 14:09 in 1997
23. Morris Finkelstein (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2003
24. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 53, E/F in 17:18 in 2004
25. Bill Hoehn (USA), 53, E/F in 15:53 in 2004
26. Hugh Tucker (South Africa), 53, E/F in 13:37 in 2004
27. Tom Hecker (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2005
28. Steven Smith (England), 53, E/F in 14:28 in 2005
29. Henry Eckstein (USA), 52, E/F in 14:24 in 2000
30. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 52, E/F in 14:57 in 2003
31. Dennis Dressel (USA), 52, E/F in 12:08 in 2003
32. Jorge Rikarday (Mexico), 52, E/F in 20:24 in 2003
33. Tim Cheesman (England), 52, E/F in 15:07 in 2007
34. Kevin Murphy (England), 51, E/F in 14:29 in 2000
35. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 51, E/F in 17:08 in 2002
36. Anne Cleveland (USA), 51, E/F in 11:33 in 2007
37. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA), 50, E/F in 11:20 in 2004
38. James Fitzpatrick (USA), 50, E/F in 14:32 in 2005
39. Frank Chalmers (Scotland), 50, E/F in 16:48 in 2005
40. Timothy Cheesman (England), 50, E/F in 16:14 in 2005
41. Terry O'Brien (Australia), 50, E/F in 15:50 in 2006
42. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), 50, E/F in 12:54 in 2009

We were initially struck how few women (Linda Ashmore, Vijaya Claxton, Carol Sing, Anne Cleveland and Nancy Steadman-Martin) were included in this list given that women outnumber men in all population groups in nearly every country in the world.

But like the significant increase in women in the sport of marathon running, as the opportunities for older women to participate in endurance sports increases, we imagine that this list will swing to include many more females over the next 20-30 years.

In a sign of this future, we note that 51% of the 14,000+ individuals who participate in the Great Swims in England are female - and we suspect some of these individuals will be cracking this list over time.

Photo of George Brunstad by Gareth Fuller.

Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source

Stoychev Re-establishes His Dominance In Santa Fe

23 top professional marathon swimmers from 9 countries competed in the always difficult 57K 37th Maraton Acuatica Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda on Sunday, swimming before thousands of supportive fans in the quick-moving Coroda River in Argentina.

Prior to the main race, a promotional sprint race was held at the finish area in Coronda, followed a parade of the athletes through the town in speedboats on trailers. The crowds turned out to watch the parade and support the athletes with excellent TV, radio and print coverage of the sprint race. The 57K race - which connects that communities of Santa Fe and Coronda - is truly a special event that is enjoyed by tens of thousands of local people who treat the swimmers like stars.

The river was at a high level, significantly higher than previous years so the course was very fast when the athletes were swimming downstream, but conversely much harder for the athletes when they swam in the portions of the race that went against the current.

According to FINA Delegate John West, Gabriel Villagoiz and Guillermo Bertola, both of Argentina took off and lead the pack at the start, but several lead changes occurred between the Argentinian teammates and Rok Kerin of the Czech Republic and Edoardo Stochino of Italy. Also in the lead pack were Alexander Studzinski of Germany, Damien Blaum of Argentina, Andrea Volpini and Rodolfo Valenti, both of Italy.

At the six-hour mark, Alexander forged a 50-meter lead, but was chased by Peter Stoychev of Bulgaria and Rodolfo. Peter continued to eat away at Alexander's lead and took over the lead with 600 meters to go as over 200 boats followed the swimmers along the course, creating a festive, but safe, atmosphere throughout. Petar, as he has so consistently and dramatically done over the past decade on the professional circuit, held on to a 7-second victory over Alexander as the top three men broke the existing record

28-year-old Esther Nunez won her second race in Santa Fe with a comfortable victory of Australian Shelley Clark and Argentina's Pilar Geijo.

As thousands of spectators lined the river banks wildly cheering the athletes, live television and radio coverage put the professional marathon swimmers in a very positive light.

Men's Results:
1. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 6:57:52.04
2. Alexander Studzinski (GER) 6:57:59.49
3. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA) 6:58:58.56
4. Damián Blaum (ARG), 6:59:25.51
5. Andrea Volpini (ITA), 7:00:30.24
6. Libor Smolka (CZE), 7:00:42.70
7. Guillermo Bertola (ARG), 7:01:44.85
8. Edoardo Stochino (ITA), 7:01:52.81
10. Martín Carrizo (ARG), 7:02:25.34
11. Rostislav Vitek (CZE), 7:04:44.49
12. Rok Kerin (SLO), 7:10:46.62
13. Albericco Mattia (ITA), 7:16:43.43
14. Gabriel Villagoiz (ARG), 7:20:29.84
15. Evgenij Pop Acev (MAC), 7:23:34.41

Women's Results:
1. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP), 7:26:08.10
2. Shelley Clark (AUS), 7:28:45.54
3. Pilar Geijo (ARG), 7:31:05.34
4. Laura La Piana (ITA), 7:36:52.56
5. Marianella Mendoza (ARG), 7:38:54.59
6. Noelia Petti (ARG), 7.52.10.16
7. Vanesa Garcia (ARG), 7.53.13.88
8. Shereen Mansour (EGY), 7:59.30.27
9. Camilla Frediani (ITA), DNF

International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer Diego Degano explained the 37th edition of the Santa Fe - Coronda river race in Spanish here:



Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source

Looking At The Results In Santos

The difference between first and second in the FINA 10KM Marathon Swim World Cup race (Maratona Aquática Internacional de Santos) in Santos, Brazil was ever so close.

Russia's Evgeny Drattsev finished in 2:14:12:03 over Chad Ho's 2:14:12:44 and Allan do Carmo's 2:14:13:00.

From first-hair reports, Chad was coming in strongly, but slightly misjudged his touch in the ocean, givin Evgeny the ever-so-slight edge.

Globsport TV's coverage of the close finish can be seen here. Stay tuned for the final results that may be posted today after confirmation by FINA.

Photo of Evgeny Drattsev courtesy of Satiro Sodré of the Brazilian Swimming Federation.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones