Who Is Phil White And What Is NEKOWSA?
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Phil White is an innovative open water swimming race director from Vermont, U.S.A. and founder of the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association (NEKOWSA) along with 11 other passionate supporters.
He is safety-minded, has drafted and formulated a number of safety documents. A visionary, he also focuses on the small details of the sport like issuing numbered safety vests for escort kayakers.
White will introduce Ned Denison at the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Long Beach, California on September 22nd on the Queen Mary. His ability to draw supporters and swimmers from Alaska and California to Ireland and India is a testament to his contagious enthusiasm for the sport.
He is an example of a race promoter helping shape the sport in his immediate area. He also created the Be Kind to Your Yacker Week where swimmers give praise and thanksgiving to their kayakers, support crew and pilots.
In 2012 NEKOWSA, a division of Indoor Recreation Orleans County, hosted 7 swims, with over 375 swimmers participating in majestic lakes, well supported by the local community. “We are pleased to announce our expanded schedule of swims for 2013. We are very excited to be adding a number of lakes to next year’s roster, plus an extraordinary seven days of open water swimming from August 10th through August 17th.“
June 15th: Son of a Swim — 2, 4,and 6 mile swims in Lake
Memphremagog. (Qualifier for Kingdom
Swim)(Cap 10)
July 6th: Kingdom Swim – 10 mile, 6 mile, 3 mile,
1 mile swims for adults and youth, plus ¼ mile and 100 yard swims for
youth. Kingdom Swim has been selected to host the
national 9+mile USMS Open Water Championship in 2013. There will be two 10 mile waves this
year. The Championship Wave and the non
championship wave (youth, wetsuits, and those not competing for the
championship.) The swim is held in conjunction with Aquafest, including the
internationally renowned Frontier Animal Society’s Pet and Swimmers Costume
Parade on Friday evening before the swim. (Caps: 100 per 10 mile wave; 100 per
6, 3, and 1 mile course; 50 for the youth short courses.)
August 3rd: Seymour Swim – 3.5 mile and 1.75 mile
swimming only option but also part of Kingdom Triathlon. (Cap 50)
August 10th: Crystal Swim – 4 mile swim under the
cliffs and around the shores. (Cap 50)
August 11th: Island Pond Swim – 3 mile swim from
Brighton State Park Beach around The Island and back. (Cap 25)
August 13th thru 15th
– Swim the Kingdom — Daily Swims,
short and long, at some spectacular venues (Cap 25)
August 17th: Willoughby Swim – a truly majestic, 4.75 mile swim. (Cap 75)
August 18th: Caspian Swim – 3 miles to Bathtub Rock
and back or 1.5 miles to the rock, with shuttle back (Cap 50)
September 7th: In
Search of Memphre – 25 Mile International
Swim the length of Lake Memphremagog
(Cap 20)
Unless otherwise
noted, during the remainder of 2012, each 2013 swim requires payment of a $25 registration
fee, plus a $100 minimum, tax deductible donation to IROC – a total of $125 per
swim. Kayak rentals are available for
$75. Yacker + kayak package is $200. Half of the yacker and kayak fees are
considered a tax deductible donation to IROC.
This year we are offering a
“Season Pass” for a $100 fee and a $500 minimum donation to IROC. THE PASS entitles you to swim in any and all
of the regular lake swims (including the three-day Swim the Kingdom) and
special STATUS and RECOGNITION at all NEKOSWA functions. Special pricing applies to In Search of Memphre ($500 fee plus a
minimum $1,000 tax deductible donation to IROC), and the three-day Swim the
Kingdom ($50 fee and $200 minimum donation to IROC). Youth fees are $25 for those 10 and under and
$50 per swim for those 18 and under with no minimum donation expected. Registration for all events (except for the
Championship Wave of Kingdom Swim) will open on September 1, 2012 at www.kingdomswim.org.
The caps for each event will be strictly enforced.
Copyright © 2012 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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