tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post1609839469890873690..comments2024-03-23T03:30:09.590-07:00Comments on The Daily News of Open Water Swimming: America's Top 50 Open Water SwimsSteven Munatoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-3411162830225074112009-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:002009-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:00Thank you very much for your comments and suggesti...Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions. They are helpful. I have done many swims, but I have not done or seen them all, so obtaining everyone's input is great. For example, I found out about the Idaho swim only recently and will definitely do a story on this Idaho race in 2009. Unfortunately, I am only limited by time. I have over 1,000 races now in my database and simply cannot keep up with all the new races coming online.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-33608499880192790042009-01-03T00:05:00.000-08:002009-01-03T00:05:00.000-08:00Steven - First, let me say great work with the web...Steven - First, let me say great work with the website. Please don't take any part of my post as criticism of your efforts - just the contrary. While a list of top anything is by nature subjective, I would certainly say degree of difficulty, number of participants, and level of competition as probably the three most important criteria for ranking open water swims. The Hermosa swim would definitely rival or possibly rank ahead of the Newport Pier to Pier for the above mentioned reasons, although they are very similar. You should look into the "Longbridge" swim in Sandpoint Idaho, which has been held for about 13 years and has grown to nearly 800 participants. I only thought the pier to pier swim should be ranked above the HB pier swim based upon distance and level of competition, and would put the Hermosa swim ahead of it as well for the same reason. Comparing S. CA swims to N. CA is a little more difficult, although Alcatraz should certainly be up there (based primarily upon difficulty: i.e. currents and water temp.). Not sure I helped at all, but it is a great topic for conversation!Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154013627744465908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-68383660995355292152009-01-02T20:32:00.000-08:002009-01-02T20:32:00.000-08:00Bryan,Out of curiosity, how do you define "premier...Bryan,<BR/>Out of curiosity, how do you define "premier"? Is it by the number of participants, the number of quality competitors, the number of years the race has been held or other parameter? Your input is greatly appreciated in order to make the list better in 2009. Also, where would you put the Hermosa Pier-to-Pier swim (which has more participants than the Newport Beach Pier-to-Pier)? How would be compare the Southern California swims with the Northern California races (e.g., Berryessa, Alcatraz, etc.)? Again, your opinions are appreciated.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-15188913994398833342009-01-01T19:59:00.000-08:002009-01-01T19:59:00.000-08:00Good to see La Jolla so far up the list; special m...Good to see La Jolla so far up the list; special mention should go to the 3 mile "Gatorman"; it is the premier race in Southern CA. Also, there should be a mention of the Newport Beach "Pier to Pier" (certainly above the Huntington Beach pier swim); the Pier to Pier swim (from the Balboa Pier to the Newport Pier) is a two mile swim, sponsored by the Newport Beach Lifeguard's Assoc., and is slso one of the premier Southern CA swims.Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154013627744465908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-83359166172369058932008-11-22T05:54:00.000-08:002008-11-22T05:54:00.000-08:00I am sorry. I did report on the 2008 Peaks to Por...I am sorry. I did report on the 2008 Peaks to Portland swim on July 24th. Check out http://www.10kswimmer.com/2008/07/joy-of-open-water-swimming.html.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-90704955247822076002008-11-22T03:43:00.000-08:002008-11-22T03:43:00.000-08:00I did not even know about open water swims in Main...I did not even know about open water swims in Maine. Thank you very much for alerting me. I will do a story on the Peaks to Portland swim. Do you have any photos from the race? Thank you very much for the information.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-34656552331110762062008-11-21T21:20:00.000-08:002008-11-21T21:20:00.000-08:00Nothing from Maine?! We have a few great swims ev...Nothing from Maine?! We have a few great swims every year...my favorite is the 2.4 mile Peaks to Portland (from Peaks Island off of Portland to East End Beach in Maine's biggest city).<BR/>http://www.mypeakmultisport.com/news/The_27th_Annual_YMCA_Peaks_to_Portland_Swim.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-91815834566803062182008-07-14T11:06:00.000-07:002008-07-14T11:06:00.000-07:00I vote for #10, anything American Swimming Associa...I vote for #10, anything American Swimming Association puts on because Keith and Sandy are so great. Plus I did their Quarry lake open water festival last year, taking men's 1st place 18-35 in the 1 mile swim and the 400 m swim!<BR/><BR/>I only wish there were more people there!<BR/><BR/>It was warm, approx. 82 F for the Quarry Lake swim. Sandy used these HUGE buoys, NEON ORANGE with german written on them, anyway they were VERY visible which is a big plus. They were nicer than the smallish TYR buoys we were straining to see at the couple's triathlon in austin yesterday!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-18086569881551925772008-06-24T07:17:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:17:00.000-07:00I'd drop #40 in favor of the Bridge-to-Bridge 5k (...I'd drop #40 in favor of the Bridge-to-Bridge 5k (Atlantic City) and/or the Rainbow Channel Challenge (2.6-ish miles). They are in the same area (exact same area in the case of Rainbow) but are much better courses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-12277663096613766642008-06-22T06:09:00.000-07:002008-06-22T06:09:00.000-07:00Thank you very much for these comments. Attemptin...Thank you very much for these comments. Attempting to put together a Top 50 list was difficult; I am now putting together a World's Top 50 List which is even more difficult because the number of swims outside the U.S. far outnumbers the swims within the U.S. Also, this list is simply the first step in a series of polls that will be published over the next several months. Other lists will include World's Best Open Water Swimmers, America's Best Open Water Swimmers, World's Toughest Open Water Swims, Pioneering Open Water Swimmers, Best Beach Finishes, Best Point-to-Point Swims, Greatest Swims around New York, etc. Your assistance in identifying these swimmers and events are greatly appreciated.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-48181865305384843512008-06-22T05:47:00.000-07:002008-06-22T05:47:00.000-07:00steve - super website... but your list of 50 top u...steve - super website... but your list of 50 top u.s. swims is little more than a list of 50 u.s swims.<BR/><BR/>for instance, ASA, nycswim and other swims need to be identified to the particular swim... the challenge and character of each of these swims is very different.<BR/><BR/>you fail to mention the envirosport's alacatraz sharkfest - easily a top ten swim, the burlington, vt YMCA lake champlain, charleston's low country splash, the donner lake 2.7 mile, pensacola 3-mile bridge, cascade swim series proximate to bend, or, and horsetooth reservoir 10k.<BR/><BR/>I have made considerable effort to identify open water swim destination and your list is excellent but as a top 50 it needs a ton of work.<BR/><BR/>your website rocks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-62526014419179956172008-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:002008-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:00charleston, sc's low country is a very cool 2.4 mi...charleston, sc's low country is a very cool 2.4 mile tidal-assisted swim<BR/><BR/>pensacola 3-mile bridge swim...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-25036082404641984262008-06-20T11:59:00.000-07:002008-06-20T11:59:00.000-07:00great effort but room for improvement - numerous a...great effort but room for improvement - numerous alcatraz 100 and ASA swims missing... alcatraz sharkfest, swims proximate to bend, oregon, and the horsetooth reservoir 10K<BR/><BR/>sharkfest has approximately 800 swimmers annually... whatever? perhaps I missed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-6993652398965589212008-06-19T16:04:00.000-07:002008-06-19T16:04:00.000-07:00Unfortunately the Lake George event in New York is...Unfortunately the Lake George event in New York is cancelled for 2008, according to their web site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-42561024326271711802008-06-18T10:43:00.000-07:002008-06-18T10:43:00.000-07:00Great list of swims--including some obscure ones. ...Great list of swims--including some obscure ones. The only two swims that seem like omissions from your list are the Hurricane Man Swim in St. Peter in May and the Fat Salmon in Seattle in July. Both of those get several hundred swimmers every year. <BR/><BR/>Looking at the list, I've done about 27 or so of the listed swims. Its hard to rate which are best however because they are so different. The Death Valley Swim Meet is a lot of fun, well run, etc. Its got very little that is comparable to a Catalina Relay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-21864043090958382862008-06-18T06:57:00.000-07:002008-06-18T06:57:00.000-07:00Yes, the Atlantic City Around the Island Marathon ...Yes, the Atlantic City Around the Island Marathon Swim is not only a highly competitive and challenging event, but it has a great history. Due to its cancellation, it was not added to this list, but it is truly one of the world's best open water swimming events.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-6226112117263598902008-06-18T06:55:00.000-07:002008-06-18T06:55:00.000-07:00We are organizing a Global Open Water Tour that wi...We are organizing a Global Open Water Tour that will be announced by August 20th (the date of the women's Olympic 10K Marathon Swim). Stay tuned.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-58958338198359577722008-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:002008-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:00Fantastic job on all of the swims! You also made ...Fantastic job on all of the swims! You also made sure that all geographic areas of the U.S. were represented as well.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps someone can organize a "check-off" challenge for people seeking to swim America's Top 50 OW swims.<BR/><BR/>Although it was canceled last year, the <A HREF="http://acswim.org/" REL="nofollow">Atlantic City Around the Island Marathon Swim</A> attracted an impressive field of international swimmers and garnered substantial media coverage. Many of the residents who live along the course have elaborate parties overlooking the swimmers.<BR/><BR/>Since the majority of my OW swims have been in the Mid-Atlantic, I always enjoyed the 1 mile <A HREF="http://www.seasideheightstourism.com/single_event.php?id=53" REL="nofollow">John Boyd Swim</A> in Seaside Heights, NJ. You get to swim parallel along the town's famous boardwalk and end at a great beach party with loads of food and beer.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06651575410413894565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-11134418780627891542008-06-16T21:39:00.000-07:002008-06-16T21:39:00.000-07:00SteveThank you for taking this on. It will help c...Steve<BR/><BR/>Thank you for taking this on. It will help countless swimmers, myself included, to find interesting and worthwhile swims all over the country.<BR/><BR/>RE THE ALCATRAZ CHALLENGE: The distance is 2.4 miles, current aided; started in 1981; and it is on the WEST coast.<BR/><BR/>Joe Oakesalcatrazjoe oakeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07029801909039054528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-41051456326499568212008-06-16T11:36:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:36:00.000-07:00I will confirm with the Ft. Myers race director.I will confirm with the Ft. Myers race director.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-51647163964278078872008-06-16T11:03:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:03:00.000-07:00After I posted the first comment I went back and f...After I posted the first comment I went back and found that you do have that information for most of the swims. That's very helpful. But, I was specifically wondering about the Open Water Festival at Ft. Myers Beach and the swim around Estero Island. I heard the water was very hot this year - 90 degrees at some points and I was wondering if it is normally that hot?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-70140997961934633602008-06-16T10:37:00.000-07:002008-06-16T10:37:00.000-07:00I have the average water temperatures for many of ...I have the average water temperatures for many of the swims, but I will ask the race directors to confirm this data.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-22069591786326413672008-06-16T10:22:00.000-07:002008-06-16T10:22:00.000-07:00Steve - Great Website! Is there any place to find...Steve - Great Website! Is there any place to find average water temps for these races? Thanks again for your great coverage of open water swimming!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com