A Bear Of A Swim By James Jonssons
James Jonssons set the Bear Lake crossing record in 8 hours and 53 minutes. Even with a comfortable 71°F (21.6°C) surface water temperature along the 30K course, James faced other problems – icy cold water just below the surface and 5,924-foot (1,806-meter) altitude in the beautiful blue lake straddling the border between the western states of Utah and Idaho.This was the third time that Bear Lake was crossed. Neal Phelps did it first with a wetsuit and fins in 13 hours and John Quackenbush, also in 2009, did it in 15 hours according to the traditional English Channel rules.
Read James‘ first-person account of his record-breaking swim here.
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
Latest posts by Steven Munatones (see all)
