Forward Ho For the Billson Sisters

Chad Ho completed a three-peat at the Spar Redhouse River Mile. Meanwhile, Carmel and Lauren Billson went 1-2 in the women's division of the oldest open water swim in South Africa, now in its 87th version this year.

1 Chad Ho, 15:26.9
2 Andrew Fischer, 16:46.7
3 Christopher Van De Sande, 16:48.8
4 Tyrone Venter, 16:50.8
5 Adam Stevenson, 16:53.6

1 Carmel Billson, 17:29.9
2 Laurem Billson, 17:31.3
3 Jessica Liss, 17:33.8
4 Genna Greevelink, 17:40.9
5 Christie Vaughan, 17:48.5

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Santa Barbara Beckons

Scott Zornig, president of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association that sanctions swims in seven islands off the coast of Southern California, announced the new website of the Association.

Additionally, Dave announced, "With a very lively debate, the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association has adopted a wetsuit policy primarily due to some legacy issues.

Our new policy reads, The SBCSA discourages the use of wetsuits, but understands that certain individuals will feel the need to wear one during their swim. SBCSA will recognize "wetsuit assisted" or "performance enhanced" swims. However, these swims will not be eligible for any records or firsts. Wetsuit assisted swims will be labeled as such and will be listed separately from other successful Channel swims. The SBCSA will not promote the use of wetsuits, but wetsuit assisted swimmers will not be denied unless it appears there is a lack of preparation or safety issues."

If individuals are interested in observing a swim, they must attend a Catalina Channel Swimming Federation training and have experience in observing channel swimmers. "We are in need of assistant observers who can receive on-the-job training. The SBCSA compensates observers and assistant observers who can contact Dave Van Mouwerik for follow-up.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Family DNA In Open Water Swimming

Next week, Trent and Codie Grimsey may make their parents particularly proud if they both qualify to represent Australia at the 2011 World Swimming Championships in Shanghai and then go on to the 2012 London Olympics.

The brothers, elder Trent and younger Codie, are both among the fastest open water swimmers in Australia and the world, but the road to the 2012 London Olympics 10K Marathon Swim is difficult. Having two Olympic 10K Marathon Swim finalists coming from the same household will be quite a story.

If there is a brotherly duo who can do it, it will be the hard-working Grimsey brothers. While the closely-knit brothers harbor the same deep-seated Olympic dreams and genetics, realizing their mutual goals will require two great swims at both next week's Australian Open Water Swimming Championships in Sydney and in Shanghai at the World Swimming Championships in July.

The lead pack in Sydney will undoubtedly include Trent and Codie, but it will also include defending champion Rhys Mainstone from Perth and Australian legendary Iron Man and 2008 Beijing Olympian Ky Hurst.

Fortunately, bloodlines occasionally run deep in the open water. Not only have American Olympians Klete and Kalyn Keller proved themselves in the open water, but brother-sister duos like Tammy and John Van Wisse of Australia and Sid and Marian Cassidy of America have done well. Additionally, the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame has inducted individuals such as the British twins Carole and Sarah Hunt, father and daughter Robert and Christine Cossette of Canada, father and son Ted and Jon Erikson, and mother and daughter Freda and Alison Streeter. Family roots even extend out of the open water in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame with Reg Brickell Sr. and brothers Reg Brickell Jr. and Ray Brickell as well as Roger and Valerie Parsons and Ray and Audrey Scott - as well as the Cavill Family of Fred, Ernest, Charles, Percy, Arthur, Syd and Dick. Of course, there is also the Lurz brothers: coach Stefan and world champion Thomas.

So while the road may be extraordinarily difficult, open water swimming's DNA seems to be on the side of Trent and Codie.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

A Long List Of Hawaii Channel Swimmers

There are nine main channels between the largest islands in the state of Hawaii. Eight of which have been successfully crossed by solo swimmers with one giant channel remaining and more and more marathon swimmers trying to overcome the large swells, raw tropical beauty, strong currents and abundant marine life at the channels. To date, the successful swimmers in the following channels include the following.

The names of Linda Kaiser, Mike Spalding, Bill Goding, Quinn Carver, Carl Kawauchi, Harry Huffaker, Mike Miller and Chris and Penny Palfrey that seem to frequently pop up:

1. The Kaiwi Channel, 26 miles (42K) from Molokai to Oahu:
1961: Keo Nakama
1967: Harry Huffaker
1972: Harry Huffaker (Oahu to Molokai)
1974: Johnathan Ezer
1979: Mike Miller, Ian Emberson
1994: Robin Isayama (first female)
2006: Forrest Nelson (Molokai to Oahu), Forrest Nelson (Oahu to Molokai), Bill Goding
2007: Mike Spalding, Kelly Gleason, Linda Kaiser
2009: Mackenzie Miller (shown above)
2010: Chris Palfrey
2011: Penny Palfrey

2. The Kalohi Channel, 9.3 miles (14.9) from Lanai to Molokai:
1978: Bob Justman, Jody Pollack
1989: Harry Huffaker (Molokai to Lanai), Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Lanai), Terry Chodosh, Ulrich Klinke
1991: Linda Kaiser (Molokai to Lanai), Janice Vierra
1995: Carl Kawauchi, Bill Costello, Alton Motobu
2007: Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Lanai), Mike Spalding (Molokai to Lanai), Laurie Foster, Kelly Gleason, Tom Burke

3. The Alalakeiki Channel, 7 miles (11.2K) from Kahoolawe to Maui:
1977: Bill Lawrence, Solomon Fernandez
1992: Carl Kawauchi, Ulrich Klinke, Alton Motobu
2001: Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding
2006: Carl Kawauchi, Alton Motobu
2011: Penny Palfrey, Chris Palfrey

4. The Palilolo Channel, 8.5 miles (13.6K) from Maui to Molokai:
1973: Jim Caldwell
1989: Linda Kaiser, Mike Spalding, Janice Vierra
1989: James Jonsson
1990: Harry Huffaker
1993: Carl Kawauchi (Molokai to Maui), Dennis Blake, Vernon Knight, Joe Nagi
1998: Carl Kawauchi, Bill Costello, Alton Motobu
2004: Ginny Walsh
2005: Jim Sorensen
2006: Billy Brown, Karen Finnerty, Joe Glenn
2008: Bill Goding, Quinn Carver
2009: Carl Kawauchi, Chris Palfrey

5. The Alenuihaha Channel, 30 miles (48.2K) from Hawaii to Maui:
1970: Harry Huffaker
2009: Penny Palfrey (first female), Linda Kaiser
2011: Mike Spalding

6. The Kaulakahi Channel, 17 miles from Kauai to Niihau:
2003: Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding, Tom Robinson
2010: Quinn Carver, Bill Goding, Brian Denaro and Jen Schumacher

7. The Kealaikahiki Channel, 17 miles (27.3K) from Kahoolawe to Lanai:
2005: Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, Mike Spalding
2009: Quinn Carver, Bill Goding

8. The wildly popular Auau Channel, 8.8 miles from Lanai to Maui:
1970: Jim Caldwell
1977: Bob Luce, Bob Justman, Judy Collins, Doug Rice (Lanai to Maui), Steve Bobko, Gary Niemeyer, Richard Merritt, Bill Goding, Jim Roumasset, Archie Hapai.
1983: Jim Cole, Marc Feizner, Mike Spalding, Jim Krueger, Carol Lee.
1984: Steve Bobko, Ian Emberson, Rick Heltzel, Mike Miller, Doug Rice.
1987: 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.
1988: Sarah Burch, Mike Sullivan, Cliff Pollard, Jeff Conner, Amy Williams, Bill Tucker, Elizabeth Kent.
1989: 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.
1990: Rick Heltzel, Mike Miller.
1991: Katie Anderson, Langley Frisell, Chad Harrison, Leif Johnson.
1993: Robin Isayama, Tom Billings.
1995: Chana Motobu.
1996: Mike Coyle, Jeff Hawk.
1997: John Dunbar, Cheryl Loomis.
1999: Jim Mellon, John Derr, Bruce Wetta.
2000: Anne Cleveland, Debbie Collins, Shane Collins, Ken Harmom, Dave Matthews.
2001: Bill Goding, Dan Veatch, Dave Matthews, Patrick Mcmillan, Deaann Joslin, Anne Cleveland, Richard LeBolt, Laura Colette.
2002: James Sorenson, Adrienne Mason, Bill Goding, Dave Matthews, Mason Bailey, Craig Taylor, Emily Evans, Becky Jackman, Laura Colette, Christiana Tangora, Mike Miller, Malcolm Cooper.
2003: 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.
2004: 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.
2005: 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.
2006: 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.
2007: Todd Robinson, Robert Breitel, Bill Goding, Quinn Carver, Lisa Hazen, Chloe McCardel, Peter Worland, Gregg Shields, Teague Soderman, Kevin Smith, Gabriel Mecs, Michelle Santilhano.
2008: 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.
2009: 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.
2010: Elizabeth Schlicher, Bill Goding, Steve Lowe, Elizabeth Wood, John Becker, Dave Matthews, Brad Schindler, Billy Brown, James Barnman, Joanna Cain, Rebecca Neavitt, Barbara Held, Marcella MacDonald, Jennifer Stabrylla, Bret Barasch, John Gomersall, Martin Palfrey, Dave Barra, Terry Laughlin, Willie Miller.

9. The Kaieiewaho (Kauai) Channel, 63 very challenging nautical miles between Oahu and Kauai that was attempted by solo swimmers Jonathan Ezer in the 1970s and by Penny Palfrey in 2010 twice. The relay team of Linda Kaiser and Mike Spalding from Oahu, Billy Brown from Kauai, Michelle Macy from Portland, Oregon and Randy Brown and Joel Swartz from California completed the first crossing in 2010 of the Kaieiewaho Channel from Oahu to Kauai.

If there are any updates or corrections to this Hawaii channel swimmer list for the Kaiwi Channel, the Kalohi Channel, the Alalakeiki Channel, the Palilolo Channel, the Alenuihaha Channel, the Kaulakahi Channel, the Kealaikahiki Channel, the wildly popular Auau Channel and the Kaieiewaho (Kauai) Channel, please email the Editor In Chief of the Daily News of Open Water Swimming.

Photo of Mike and Mackenzie Miller.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Mother Nature One, Mike Spalding Nine

63-year-old Mike Spalding has seen it all during his nine channel crossings throughout the state of Hawaii.

Shark attacks, Portuguese Man-o-War wounds, huge surf, pounding waves, relentless sun, beautiful star-filled nights in the middle of the largest ocean in the world, tropical reefs and colorful marine life.

But it isn't often a marathon swimmer gets his flesh eaten out of him and then chooses to return back to that same channel. But Mike is no ordinary individual. He completed the Alenuihaha Channel from the island of Hawaii (Upolu Point) to the island of Maui (Nu'u Bay) in 19 hours and 43 minutes.

32 miles of massive water. Blue, clear, but massive. "The winds started out very calm, but it started to build later in the day reaching 20 knots by mid-afternoon as he approach Maui," said fellow ultra-marathoner Linda Kaiser. "By sunset, the winds dropped back to light. Mike encountered an 8-foot oceanic white tip shark about ten miles from the start."

Mike and his crew could be forgiven if they thought the worse and chose to get out. But he didn't. Mike ignored the fact that he was previously gored by a cookie cutter shark and forged on, but not before a massive scare.

"Mike had the shark at his toes. He was headed for the ladder, but the shark turned before Mike touched the ladder. Mike just hung in the water at the ladder and watched while the shark cruised by. Then the shark left and Mike continued on. But the shark returned and the crew watched it as this time it just hovered around."

"The shark chased him around a bit and then left, but returned a short time later. All hands kept a close eye on it and the shark eventually left," recalled Linda who was on the Kialoa (which means long, light and swift) with a crew of five. But all was not clear yet. Not with Mike. "About 6 miles from the finish, Mike got tangled in a big Portugese Man-of-War. Despite being in extreme pain and experiencing stomach cramps with spasms in his right leg, Mike characteristically decided it would hurt worse to get out than to continue."

As he entered Nu'u Bay on the Maui side, Mike faced an outgoing tide, but hit full throttle when a 'soft sausage-like fish' grabbed his arm. Flushed with adrenaline, Mike picked up his pace and sprinted the last mile to shore.

With his last sprint, Mike became the fourth person to swim Alenuihaha Channel and the second person (along with Linda Kaiser) to successfully cross all nine major channels in the state of Hawaii (inclusive of both solo swims and relays).

Mike now has done the following channels: 26-mile Kaiwi (Molokai-Oahu) Channel 8.8-mile Auau (Maui-Lanai) Channel, 9.3-mile Kalohi (Lanai-Molokai) Channel, 7-mile Alalakeii (Kahoolawe-Maui) Channel, 8.4-mile Pailolo (Maui-Molokai) Channel, the 17-mile Kaulakahi (Kauai-Niihau) Channel, the 17-mile Kealaikahiki (Kahoolawe-Lanai) Channel, the 32-mile Alenuihaha (Hawaii-to-Maui) Channel and the 72-mile Kaieiewaho Channel (Oahu-Kauai) with a relay.

For a full list of Hawaii Channel swimmers, click here.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source channel