The Orange River Challenges Extreme Open Water Swimmers
Extreme swimmers Ram Barkai and Andrew Chin (shown on left) first whet their open water swimming appetite on the Orange River Challenge. Characteristically, they did not simply dip their toes in the open water – then went full bore to the extreme.Their goal: to swim down the Orange River with a team of swimmers and cover a distance of 535K in 10 days.
Staring from Hope Town in the Northern Cape Province, the team started off on Day 1 in a fast 8K per hour current. On the first day, they swam 89K in 13 hours.
On Day 2, the swimmers entered the water at a rapid to start and then later slowed throughout the day to complete 59K. The blistering heat and strong winds of Day 3 did not stop the team from completing 70K. Day 4 was a 14-hour test of wills that resulted in a 75K swim. Day 5 was relatively short – 11 hours where the team traversed 63K.
Day 6 saw the team slowed by oncoming 30-knot winds completed 35K in 8 hours as they rotated every 30 minutes. On Day 7, s 60K day saw the swimmers navigating all kinds of rocks and trees in the narrow channels. Day 8 proved a challenge with the 38°C (100°F) water temperature and thousands of biting insects. Day 9 resulted in a 43K swim in rocky venue while Day 10 was a 28K finale. Staring from Hope Town in the Northern Cape Province, the team started off on Day 1 in a fast 8K per hour current. On the first day, they swam 89K in 13 hours.
On Day 2, the swimmers entered the water at a rapid to start and then later slowed throughout the day to complete 59K. The blistering heat and strong winds of Day 3 did not stop the team from completing 70K. Day 4 was a 14-hour test of wills that resulted in a 75K swim. Day 5 was relatively short – 11 hours where the team traversed 63K.
It was a challenge that took on a life of its own as it went along. Dealing with each other and Mother Nature, the group of adventurers enjoying pushing themselves beyond what they thought possible.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
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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