Bridgette Hobart Gets A Surprise From 31 Years Ago
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Bridgett Hobart finished her Cayuga Lake crossing in 20 hours 33 minutes, her longest swim in the Nazareth College Finger Lakes Challenge.
Claire deBoer, the first woman to cross Cayuga Lake 31 years ago in 1984, came to town to support Hobart in her attempt and surprised me in the last hour by jumping in as a support swimmer. “She hitched a ride from the boat launch on a stranger’s boat, asking to be dropped off on our support boat,” recalls Hobart. “She kept in contact with my crew chief Linda Annable, planning it all. I was beyond excited and honored. It was a touching moment I’ll forever remember.
She was then pulled near the finish since her time was up, but then ran over to the finish to greet me as I finally balanced myself and managed to clear the water.
Overall, I managed to stay in a happy place for the entire swim and really felt good energy right through the end, yet there was no denying my upper body was sensitive and stiff. My crew was beyond amazing, again. It was great to have my Naz buddy as crew chief, and another Kama Way as support swimmer. I also have new crew join our team as observer – Cathy Ciganek, and pilot Betty Billings, and then support swimmer Russ Perrin. Russ connected with Naz that week offering to help us in any way he could and his love of the Finger Lake and team spirit had me calling him and offering for him to join our crew. We also had great land crew of Jim and Walt to manage our boat logistics. Louise Adie from Ithaca Paddlers arranged so much local support and paddlers to come out and cheer us on.
It’s been so much fun swimming these lakes and seeing more and more of the local communities involved and following us from lake to lake too. I’m already feeling really good, and we look forward to Seneca Lake.”
Hobart has now completed the following swims in the Nazareth College Finger Lakes Challenge: 15.5-mile swim in Canandaigua in 7 hours 38 minutes, a 19.8-mile swim in Keuka in 9 hours 7 minutes, a 16-mile swim in Skaneateles in 7 hours 27 minutes, and Cayuga in 20 hours 33 minutes.
Copyright © 2015 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.
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