Fraser Brothers Go 1-2 In Hometown

NCAA champion Shaune Fraser and his brother and teammate Brett Fraser captured the first and second in the Flowers Sea Swim, but they were well off the world record, finishing in 19:20. However, there are still over US$100,000 in prizes to give away after everyone finishes the swim. "I don't get to swim a lot in front of people at home," said Shaune. "So it is always great to win at home."

All Things Considered With Penny Palfrey

Penny Palfrey who will soon quietly attempt a marathon swim of significant merit, will be interviewed on National Public Radio between 4 - 5 pm New York time on Sunday, June 21st.

The marathon swimming specialist can be heard on National Public Radio's All Things Considered this weekend, a day after Cayrock 96.5 airs its live online radio coverage of several Olympians' record attempt to break the open water mile record in the Cayman Islands.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Listen Live To A World Open Water Record Attempt

The Flowers Sea Swim is really outdoing itself at Saturday's upcoming mile race in the Cayman Islands. Not only are numerous Olympic champions (including Ryan Lochte and other Olympics gold medalists) are attempting to break the men's and women's world record for a one-mile open water swim, but the event is also giving away US$30,000 if the record is broken.

The Flowers Sea Swim is also randomly giving away over US$100,00 in cash and prizes to participants in the 17th annual race.

But, most interestingly for open water swimmers and fans worldwide, DMS Broadcasting stations 96.5 Cayrock, Hot 104.1, 106.1 Kiss FM and X107.1 will cover this world record attempt live on Saturday, June 20th. Each radio station will be set up at quarter-mile marks along the Seven Mile beach and will broadcast live as the race unfolds starting at 2:30 pm Cayman Islands time.

To learn what time 2:30 pm in the Cayman Islands is in your time zone, click here.

"I am proud that this has become such a highlight of the local sporting calendar – it promotes healthy living and guarantees a fun day for all. Whether you are a recreational or competitive swimmer, you can still have fun – it’s about getting out there and participating," commented Dara Flowers. "Irrelevant of where you place, first or last – everyone is eligible to win from the fantastic prizes up for grabs."

We are almost tempted to grab an airline ticket to the Cayman Islands...but the live radio coverage is a great way to enjoy the great race online.

Open Water Wednesday on SwimNetwork

Today, Swim Network posted two Open Water Wednesday articles that focus on the Tools of the Trade and pro open water swims.



The pro swim article covers the US$25,000 Aqua Zone Portland Mile, the US$20,000 RCP Tiburon Mile and the pro-am Pagganck Mile in New York City in the US as well as the Midmar Mile in South Africa, the Great North Swim in England, the Flowers Sea Swim in the Cayman Islands, the 57K (35.4 miles) Maratón Acuática International Santa Fe - Río Coronda and the 88K (54 mile) Hernandarias-Paraná Swim in Argentina.

Go to SwimNetwork to read the Open Water Wednesday article.

Photo shows Fran Crippen at the 2007 Pan American Games 10K race.

A Must-Do Open Water Swim

The Flowers One Mile Sea Swim is bringing into big-time money and big-time swimmers to its 17th annual race in the Cayman Islands on June 20th.

NCAA champion Shaune Fraser, who will be swimming at home, is one of the pre-race favorites.


But Shaune will be facing an All-Star field including his NCAA champion teammate Bradley Ally, his brother and NCAA champion relay swimmer Brett Fraser and Olympic medalists Ryan Lochte, Anthony Nesty, Ian Crocker, Neil Walker, Rada Owen and Kristy Kowal.

Not only will these top swimmers compete for US$5,000 given to the individual who breaks and sets the current course record, but also for US$25,000 given to the individual who breaks the world's best open water swimming one-mile ocean record.

The world's best for the ocean one-mile is 16:00 minutes for the men and 17:21 for the women. American Olympian Chad Carvin holds the current men's Flowers Sea Swim record of 17:20 and 3-time Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett holds the women's course record of 18:13 (shown on the Wheaties cereal box).

Additionally, the Flowers Group is randomly giving away US$100,000 in cash and prizes to anyone who enters before race day on June 20th.

So even if you do not set the world or course record, you still have a chance at some valuable prizes. FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee chairman Sid Cassidy says, "The Flowers Family ALWAYS puts a GREAT race and celebration together ... if you've never been, put it on your list of must do's!" The prizes include trips to London, trips to Australia, trips to Toronto, cellular phones and 140 randomly drawn prizes.

The opportunities - to swim with the world's best and to compete for fabulous cash prizes and awards - is unheard of in today's open water swimming world.

A Pirate's Life For Me

The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association's Open Water Committee announced its 2009 schedule:


1st Annual LIME (800 meters) on April 4th
Cayman Brac (800 meters) on April 25th
7th Annual Butterfield Bank (800 meters) on May 9th
17th Annual Flowers Sea Swim (1 mile) June 20th
25th Annual Foster’s Food Fair (800 meters) on September 12th
21st Annual CUC (800 meters) on October 24th
28th Annual Pirate’s Week 5K on November 14th
3rd Annual Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association 10K on November 28th

Cayman Island Open Water Swims

Another large crowd came out for the 24th Annual Foster’s Sea Swim which was won by defending champion Seiji Groome in 10:31. The Foster's Food Fair Sea Swim is one of the open water races on the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association’s (CIASA) Open Water Sea Swim Calendar.

122 swimmers started the race on stunningly beautiful Governor's Beach and swam along the Seven Mile Beach coast on Grand Cayman Island.


The next race on the calendar will be the Zulu 2–mile sea swim on October 4th. Other competitive open water swims organized by the CIASA include the 22nd Annual Cable & Wireless 800-meter Swim in April, the Cayman National Bank Cayman Brac 800-meter Swim in April, the 7th Annual Butterfield Bank 800-meter in May, 17th Annual Flowers 1-Mile in June, 20th Annual CUC 800-meter in October, the 28th Pirate’s Week 5K in November and the 3rd Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association 10K in November.

Dale Neuburger, Vice President of FINA, recognized the CIASA as having developed the most improved competitive swimming program in the Americas. And, the CIASA's development has continued unabated since Neuburger announced that admirable designation in 2002.

Upper photo of Seiji Groome taken by Michael Yates of the Caymanian Compass, the Cayman Islands' leading newspaper.

Middle photo shows Dan DeMarco after winning the 2002 Pirate's Week 5K.

Lower photo shows the start of the 2008 Flowers Sea Swim.