Susan Simmons, Gordon Giesbrecht, Brian Hunt On Cold Water Swimming Courtesy of Vancouver Open Water Swimming Association. Susan Simmons, the Canadian marathon swimmer and coach, is busy managing her own career and leading other swimmers like the Spirit Orcas, a group of swimmers who did a 80 km stage swim in the Salish Sea.* She said, "There is so much
Kim Rutherford Achieves a Dream Across Strait of Juan de Fuca Courtesy of Terri Schneider, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington (USA) - Vancouver (Canada). Kimberly Rutherford likes hard. Really, really hard - and preferably cold. Really really cold. The 60-year-old California ice and marathon swimmer, coach and administrator was the third person in history
Chasing Amy, Where Perception And Reality Clash Courtesy of Andrew Malinak, Northwest Open Water Swimming Association. Among certain circles, the life of a housewife is not seen as difficult or strenuous as other walks of life or professions. The housewife is not seen as an athlete - especially one that requires grit, endurance, stamina and a rare
Courtesy of Northwest Open Water Swimming Association, Washington. The Northwest Open Water Swimming Association (NOWSA) is a non-profit corporation in the state of Washington that promotes interest in swimming in Pacific Northwest waters (including the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho). The swims that NOWSA oversees includes swims across the Strait of
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Steve Walker did an ice mile in 2.7°C (37°F) 20 years ago in 1996. With an attempt at the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland coming up in August, Walker attempted a swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca between America and neighboring Canada. But with the water dropping to 46°F (7.7°C),
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Steve Walker is very familiar with cold water. He did an ice mile back in 2.7°C (37°F) back in 1996 in Melbourne, Australia. With an attempt at the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland coming up in August, Walker attempted a swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca between America and
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. America is a very big country, but open water swims are now held in every state from New York to California, Florida to Alaska. But arguably the toughest waters in the open water are those of the Pacific Northwest which are always cold and frequently turbulent. Winds, fog, rain, marine life, and strong
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Canadian Caroline Walker transformed herself, admittedly, from being overweight to leading the life of an athlete. "This journey for me is about the process. It’s about who I become," she explains. Walker's dreams include swimming across Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island in Canada's British Columbia first
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Canadian Caroline Walker transformed herself, admittedly, from being obese to living the life of an athlete. "This journey for me is about the process. It’s about who I become," she explains. Walker's dreams include swimming across Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island in Canada's British Columbia first and
Bert Thomas was 17 years old during World War II when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After a tough boot camp typical of the Marines, he was sent to the Pacific theater and fought in the bloody battles in the Marshal Islands, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. Trained and experienced in amphibious assaults, Thomas quickly learned to swim in the ocean as a native of
