A Perfect Score

The Catalina Channel Swim Federation announced that five men successfully crossed the Catalina Channel in September. Paul Lundgren completed the crossing 10 hours and 19 minutes. Peter Attia went from the mainland to Catalina Island in 14 hours and 8 minutes. Joe Locke crossed in 9 hours and 45 minutes. David Livengood crossed in 11 hours and 39 minutes. Stephen Autry crossed in 12 hours and 51 minutes.

Taking into account Todd Robinson's record-setting 8 hours and 5 minutes crossing set last month (photo shown above), the Catalina Channel Swim Federation swimmers have collectively achieved a 100% success rate.

The Catalina Channel Swimming Season

The Catalina Channel swimming season's early-entry deadline is May 1st. Solo swimmers and relays can enjoy a discount sanction fee by filing their forms by the deadline; however, the necessary paperwork can be filed at any time as long as it is 45 days in advance of the attempt.

Catalina Channel Swimming Federation's 2009 observer orientation and CPR training is scheduled for May 17th. This one-day event is both a refresher course for Catalina Channel Swimming Federation official observers and an introduction for those interested in becoming one. Every Catalina Channel observer must be CPR-certified. Here is an opportunity to update your life-saving skills.

Carol Sing, an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, will host the seminar and lunch at her San Diego-area home.

Additionally, swimmers and their support crew can join the La Jolla Cove Swim Club's free escort paddlers classes. These on-the-water training sessions are held June 13th and July 11th under the leadership of another International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee David Clark. David teaches the best techniques to escort long distance ocean swims including the essentials of safety, open water navigation and feeding marathon swimmers.

Photo of Tina Neill on her record-breaking double-crossing of the Catalina Channel by Peter Hixson.

Celebration of Channel Crossings in 2008

Although the 2008 season is not over for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the channel crossing season is over for those channel swimmers in the Northern Hemisphere. During 2008, the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation saw 24 solo swimmers and 3 relay teams successfully cross. Results can be seen here.

The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association saw 11 solo swimmers successfully cross the four different channels between the California coast and the islands of Anacapa and Santa Cruz. Additionally, four relays crossed the 42K (26 miles) channel during the 6x6 Santa Barbara Channel Relay race and 40 swimmers did a mass relay in the 42K (26 miles) Big Swim. Emilio Casanueva, Executive Director and a nominee for the World Open Water Swimming Male of the Year put together a typically visually graphic and detailed report for the 2008 crossings that can be seen here.

Photos and details of the celebration of the English Channel crossings sanctioned by the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation can be seen here on Paul Hopfensperger’s blog.

Information from other organizations and channels are forthcoming.

Catalina Channel - OC Style

James Fitzpatrick, a very supportive and experienced Catalina Channel Swimming Federation official observer, completed his second crossing of the Catalina Channel on October 1st.

His first crossing was in 2001 when he crossed from Catalina Channel to the closest point on the California mainland in 9:47:44. However, his second crossing was unique. Instead of swimming the shortest point between Catalina and the mainland, he swam 30 miles from Catalina to Newport Beach in 14:59:23.

According to John York, the most experienced swimmer/observer of the Catalina Channel, the early hours of James' swim were extremely difficult. But James stuck it out through the night and enjoyed an unusually warm swim into Newport Beach - the first time anyone has taken this route.

Documentation of a Channel Crossing

Christopher Roberts, a 37-year-old MIT engineer living in Orange County, became the 157th person to successfully cross the Catalina Channel.





Like many channel swimmers, Roberts had to overcome less-than-desirable conditions and had to face swimming at night before swimming in the beauty of the morning.

For the benefit of others who will attempt the Catalina Channel in the future, Roberts and his experienced crew of Jim Fitzpatrick, Ahelee Osborn, John Steed, Jen Schumacher, Lynn Kubasek, Ron Roberts, Jordon Roberts, Jan Roberts and Dave Clark, documented his effort in a wonderful, easy-to-appreciate visual manner. Roberts's effort across the Catalina Channel can be seen here.

Roberts' blog carefully documents in order his night start, the beauty of the early morning hours, the mind-numbing miles in the deep and his unprecedented arrival on the rocky California coast.

Congratulations to Roberts and his visual documentation of his successful channel crossing.

All photos from Roberts' site.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Celebrating the Catalina Channel Crossings of 2008

The Catalina Channel Swimming Federation is holding its annual celebration to honor the successful relay and solo swimmers of 2008 on November 1st in San Juan Capistrano, California. For more information, go to Catalina Channel Swimming Federation.

Crossing Galore in the Catalina Channel

A total of 152 solo swimmers have crossed the Catalina Channel since it was first swum in 1927. The busiest year to date was 2006 when a total of 13 swimmers were successful.

In August 2008 alone, 11 swimmers from 3 nations have already successfully crossed the Catalina Channel: Emily Evans, Kate Howell, Stephen Junk, Rendy Lynn Opdycke, Michelle Davidson tandem with Nancy Steadman-Martin, Pieter Christian Jongeneel Anderica, Sabrina Buselt-Carlon, David Galli, Erica Moffett and Michelle Deasy.

If you wish to become an official observer or kayaker, you can contact Paula Selby at Support@SwimCatalina.org. The season is still underway with at least another 12 swim attempts scheduled for September and October.

The last time the Catalina Channel was this busy was in 1984. One week after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation organized an international channel crossing race, won by John York, with swimmers from Egypt, England, Czechoslovakia and the U.S.

Swimming the Channel on Behalf of ALS

Hundreds of open water swimming adventurers are in the midst of crossing channels and lakes in solo and relay attempts throughout the Northern Hemisphere's summer months. Many individuals not only undertake the physical and mental challenge of a marathon swim, but also attempt to raise money on behalf of a variety of issues or charities.

Dave Galli is one such individual. He successfully crossed the 21-mile Catalina Channel this week in 10 hours and 30 minutes while raising funds for ALS Research. His adventure included visits by a whale, pods of dolphins and a lumbering hammerhead shark.


Upper photo show Dave Galli struggling up the rocky coast of Southern California to complete his quest on behalf of the ALS Association. Lower photo shows visiting whale.

Back in the Catalina Channel

Catalina Channel Swimming Federation reported that Tina Neill, a former All-America from the University of California Davis, completed a 10 hours 37 minutes crossing of the Catalina Channel doing backstroke. Neill, who did a double crossing 3 weeks ago, also crossed the English Channel doing backstroke in 2005 when she finished in 13 hours 22 minutes. Back in her home state of Minnesota, the Governor declared her swim day, Tina Neill Day, as a great tribute for her hard work.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Animal Planet

As the Catalina Channel swimming season begins, it appears channel swimmers may cross paths with blue whales, the largest animals on the planet.

Photo above by Wally Skalij of the Los Angeles Times shows a migrating blue whale surfacing off the coast of Long Beach which is near the popular Catalina Channel crossing. The blue whales have been passing unusually close to shore to feed on tons of krill.

Photo: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Catalina Channel Season

The 2008 Catalina Channel crossing season has begun.

The Catalina Channel Swimming Federation reported that more than a dozen solo swimmers are training for their summer attempts across the 21-mile (34K) channel off the coast of Southern California.

If individuals would like to become an official Catalina Channel crossing observer, the orientation and CPR training are scheduled for Sunday July 20th in Manhattan Beach, California. Please RSVP with Paula Selby at (619) 303-0423 or email plselby@cox.net.

The La Jolla Cove Swim Club is hosting a free on-the-water escort paddler's training class on Saturday, July 19th. Please RSVP with David Clark at (858) 453-0648. David Clark will instruct kayakers and paddlers on the best techniques to escort marathon ocean swims like the Catalina Channel crossings. Participants will learn the essentials of safety, open water navigation, and quickly feeding marathon swimmers.

The 2008 Catalina Channel Swimming Federation banquet will be held on Saturday, November 1st in San Juan Capistrano to honor the 2008 crossers.

For more information on Catalina Channel crossings, contact info@SwimCatalina.org (swimmers) or support@SwimCatalina.org (kayakers and observers).

Photo from the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation archives.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association