Dea Ann Joslin, A Master Juggler Of Excellence

Courtesy of WOWSA, Maui Channel, Hawaii.

Dea Ann Joslin has it all – and makes time for it with a disciplined lifestyle. A mother of 5 children, she also spends time coaching swimming in Petaluma, California. The dynamic coach from Westside Aquaducks has crossed the Maui Channel 6 times – with a few more crossings in the planning stages.

After growing up in Nevada and Colorado, she started open water swimming in California in her 30’s. She explains how she has juggled her channel swims with coaching, teaching, and raising 5 children.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: What were your times across the channel?

Dea Ann Joslin: My first solo crossing was 5 hours 31 minutes. My second solo was around 5 hours. My third solo swim was done to accompany a friend on his first crossing and it was a rough one that we finished in 6 hours 20 minutes. The double crossing was 9 hours 20 minutes; it took about 3 hours 57 minutes across and 5 hours 23 minutes back. My fourth solo swim was 4 hours 30 minutes.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: What attracts you to the Maui Channel?

Dea Ann Joslin: Originally, it was Bob Roper and Tim Spicer. They were friends who got me started in open water swimming and always kept guiding me to more challenging swims. Now, it is the beauty of it and the sense of challenging and conquering myself. And maybe growling at life a bit.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Why was your two-way crossing never ratified?

Dea Ann Joslin: It will never be important to me to swim for the acknowledgement of anyone else. I do it because it is how I find joy in life. Well, one of the ways.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: How were the swims different?

Dea Ann Joslin: Some crossings were calm. The double crossing was on a really nice day. Some were pretty rugged. I always train so that I can go out and really enjoy the swim. But some days the training allows me to survive the swim. It’s all good, but never the same. That’s part of what I love about it.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: How do you juggle it all?

Dea Ann Joslin: I run at 3:40 am, swim from 5:00 to 7:00 am, and then devote the rest of the day to the people I love: my family and the kids I work with. I start early, go hard, and sleep well. What I don’t do is anything that will keep me from being able to do what I do. I keep my body clean and healthy: no smoking, no drinking, and no staying out late.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: What are you doing now?

Dea Ann Joslin: I still train. This summer I will do the Maui Channel as a relay. I plan to solo next summer. I’ve had to have 5 surgeries on my hands. It is a long and sad story. And I will growl at those hands with next years’ crossing and at the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. I run a swim school and am head coach of the Westside Aquaducks in Petaluma. I have a daughter who will be married on July 5th, so I’m daily stressing over that. I could put together a meet for 500 swimmers with a lot more confidence. My baby is getting ready to drive and finishing her first year of high school. Oh, and I’m trying not to make my husband crazy. He is the sweetest man ever.

Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Have I done other swims?

Dea Ann Joslin: Yes, mostly in the Bay area. I have swum from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate a few times and done a bunch of other shorter swims. The water is 47-58ºF usually, so my fly weight won’t let me be in as long as I’d like. I’ve done the Trans Tahoe Relay. Honestly, right now, I train like something big is right in front of me, but my time is spent on other swimmers. I don’t race as much as I’d like. The time isn’t right yet.

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