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The Global Open Water Swimming Conference was held to great acclaim on June 5th at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel where an international gathering of open water swimming and triathlon athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, race directors, physicians, commentators, scientists, fans and enthusiasts arrived from around the world. Over two dozen presentations and panel discussions covered every aspect of the vast world of open water swimming. The conference was an unprecedented opportunity for open water swimming enthusiasts and decision-makers from all over the world to network, share information and learn the latest and most up-to-date training, tactics and techniques for open water swimming as a solo swimmer, competition athlete, masters swimmer, triathlete or multi-sport athlete.
The Conference kicked off with two engaging speeches: In addition to the keynote speeches, attendees enjoyed 24 presentations, panel discussions, video analysis of world-class open water swimmers, awards ceremonies, a unique Open Water Swimming Almanac, an Italian dinner and could participate in the Drafting, Positioning, Navigating and Pacing Clinics held in Santa Monica Beach, Corona del Mar Beach and in Marine Stadium in Long Beach. The Conference also included an unprecedented post-race video analysis of the USA Swimming National 10K Open Water Swimming Championships presented by The Athlete Village. Join world champion Shelley Taylor-Smith, two-time world masters champion Gerry Rodrigues and USA Swimming National Team coach Steven Munatones in a comprehensive review of the close-up video footage of some of the world's best open water athletes as they discussed and analyzed the swimming technique, race tactics and subtle strategies used during the USA Swimming National 10K Open Water Swimming Championships. The exciting finish to the men's 10K race was analyzed and is shown here. The tactical positioning and pacing in the women's 10K race was analyzed and is shown here. The action at the floating feeding station was analyzed and shown here. Photos from the championship races are shown here.
The Conference was divided in four tracks from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel & Convention Center with an optional networking breakfast that started at 8:00 am. Training Business Racing Lifestyle
The Training Sessions included the following presentations and speakers: The Business Sessions included the following presentation and speakers: The Racing Sessions included the following presentations and speakers: The Lifestyle Sessions included the following presentations and speakers:
USA Triathlon offered seven Continuing Education Units for USAT certified coaches who attend the Conference. USA Triathlon described the conference as "...bringing together the world’s foremost experts on open water swimming including prominent triathlon coaches and personalities. World open water swimming champions, English Channel world record holders, top professional marathon swimmers and some of the most decorated Olympic coaches will share their experiences, insights and recommendations on how to prepare optimally, train intelligently and race well in the open water."
In addition, based on a global poll sponsored by blueseventy of over 35,000 open water swimmers from 153 countries, the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year (to Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria), the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Women of the Year (to Poliana Okimoto of Brazil) and the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year (to Andrew Smilley of Cayman Islands) were officially announced and recognized by their peers. The results of the poll are at The Water Is Open. blueseventy has also donated elegantly designed trophies to recognize their remarkable achievements. These awards were followed by a special announcement of Lifetime Achievement Award winners (Siga Rose, Greta Anderson and Dan Empfield) and an Italian dinner in the hotel. Conference attendees included accomplished individuals from Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago and throughout the United States.
Speakers and VIP Attendees included:
Anne Cleveland (California): a single-crossing and double-crossing English Channel swimmer, Catalina Channel swimmer and motivational speaker with Wish Upon A Star Productions. Will attempt to become the first person to do a double-crossing of both the English and Catalina Channels in the summer of 2010. Bill McFarland (Cayman Islands): Past President and Board Director of the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association and Open Water Committee. Specialist in open water course design, set-up and risk management. Co-Course Officer for the Flowers Sea Swim.
Bob Placak (California): Pan American Games medalist and Founder and Race Director of the world-famous RCP Tiburon Mile. Coach and organizer of numerous victorious teams in the Maui Channel Swim and Trans Tahoe Relay events over three decades. Founder of Robert C. Placak & Associates.
Brennan Lindner (California): Founder of Generic Events that produces over 20 sporting events throughout the world including triathlons in Bali and biathlons in California.
Captain Adam Smith (California): Director, Naval Special Warfare Recruiting, United States Navy SEALs (Sea, Land, Air), a renowned stealth and clandestine branch of the U.S. military forces.
Chris LaBianco (Colorado): Chief Development Officer for USA Swimming Foundation Christiane Fanzeres (Brazil): Pro swimmer and English Channel swimmer and Marathon Swimming Supervisor for the Brazilian Swimming Federation. Colin Hill (England): English Channel swimmer and inspirational leader of the Great Swims, a colorfully and brilliantly produced, televised open water swimming event that draws newcomers and several Olympic medalists to one-mile swims around the United Kingdom.
Dan Empfield (California): Inventor of the triathlon wetsuit and Founder of SlowTwitch, one of the world's largest and most popular multi-sport websites. David Clark (California): Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and Catalina Channel and English Channel swimmer, paddler, coach and observer Dean Jackson (England): Global Sales and Marketing Manager for blueseventy Doug Woodring (Hong Kong): Founder of Project Kaisei and Race Director for the Clean Half Extreme Swim and Sheko Challenge. An environmental and technology entrepreneur who created a framework for a global environmental technology fund, he works with a variety of renewable energy technologies and promotes carbon-neutral escort boat options for open water swimmers. Fernando Vargas (Mexico): CEO of Aqua Zone
Forrest Nelson (California): Endurance swimmer who has conquered the English Channel, Catalina Channel twice (including once in December), Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the Cook Strait (between the North and South Islands in New Zealand), Molokai Channel (between Molokai and Oahu in both directions), 24 miles in Tampa Bay and other feats of endurance. Frank Flowers (Cayman Islands): Founder and namesake for the Cayman Islands Flowers Sea Swim, one of the most successful open water swims in the world with numerous Olympians and an annual cash and prize purse worth over $100,000. Offers $25,000 to break the world’s best time in the ocean mile.
Gerry Rodrigues (California/Trinidad & Tobago): Renowned open water swimming and triathlon coach, 2-time World Masters Open Water Swimming champion, masters swimming world record holder (800-meter freestyle), former publisher of Swimming World Magazine, creator of SwimInfo.com, 1992 U.S. Masters Swimming Coach of the Year, founder of Tower 26 and coach of numerous professional triathletes and elite open water swimmers. Gordon Borde (Trinidad & Tobago): Visionary leader of the Trinidad & Tobago swimming community Greg Towle (Australia): The visionary Swimming Australia Open Water Swimming head coach who has coached two world 5K champions (in 2004 and 2009) and several FINA World Cup and World Championship medalists. He coached the Australia national team at the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 world championships and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Greta Andersen (California/Denmark): Olympic gold and silver medalist, a 5-time English Channel swimmer record holder, one of the top professional marathon swimmer in history with wins in Lake Michigan (50 miles), Salton Sea, Mexico, Canada and the English Channel. An International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer and International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, and the active owner of the Greta Andersen Swim School. Jeff Moxie (California): President of U.S. Masters Swimming Jen Schumacher (California): Fastest female Catalina Channel swimmer in 2009 who has developed a unique and easy-to-use GPS navigational system for open water swimmers.
Jim Miller, M.D. (Virginia): FINA Sports Medicine Committee member, USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Team physician, U.S. Masters Swimming President, U.S. Masters Swimming Coach of the Year and multiple award winner, and Co-Chair of the FINA World Sports Medicine Congress. Jim Vance (California): A USA Triathlon Level 2 and Elite Coach for TrainingBible Coaching and Tri Club of San Diego. A two-time age-group world champion for XTERRA and ITU with an Ironman PR of 8:37:09. He became a front-pack swimmer only 3 years after learning how to swim. A monthly contributor to Competitor Magazine and a featured coach for both Active.com and TrainingPeaks.com, he was the 2009 Tri Club of San Diego Coach of the Year. John Dussliere (California): 2008 USA Olympic Swim Team coach and coach of Olympic 10K Marathon Swim athlete Mark Warkentin. Chairman of the USA Swimming Club Develompent Committee. John Flanagan (Hawaii): Fastest pro triathlon in the water. 4-year member of the USA Swimming National Open Water Team, 2001 World Swimming Championship 4th-place finisher in the 10K, swam two of the Top 10 fastest Ironman swim legs in history, winner of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim and member of the 1997 NCAA Championship Team from Auburn University.
John York (California): English Channel swimmer, record-holding Catalina Channel (single-crossing, double-crossing, relay), a board member of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation and an honor swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
Jon-Paul St. Germain (Massachusetts): Director of Special Olympics International and Director of World Games and Competitions at Special Olympics, Inc., Special Olympics International Project Lead at 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and 2005 Special Olympics Winter Games, and Liaison at 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Julie Smithwick (Mississippi): Originator of StingMate
Kaia Hedlund (Hawaii): President of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, Associate Director of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and Director of Athletics of Chaminade University. Larsen Jensen (California): A two-time Olympic medalist and two-time world championship medalist in the distance freestyles who is currently training to become a Navy SEAL. Linda Kaiser (Hawaii): History's most prolific channel swimmer in the Hawaiian Islands having successfully crossed the 26-mile Molokai Channel, the 9-mile Kalohi Channel, the 7-mile Alalakeiki Channel, the 8.5-mile Palilolo Channel, the 30-mile Alenuihaha Channel, the 17-mile Kaulakahi Channel, the 17-mile Kealaikahiki Channel and the 8.8-mile Maui Channel. Lisa Wemhoff (Colorado): Performance Support Coordinator at USA Swimming Liz Tucker (Colorado): USA Triathlon Race Director Certification Manager responsible for Race director certification that provides in-depth education on the latest and safest race directing methods, insurance/risk management trends and USAT sanctioning compliance. Mariejo Pasion (Colorado): Sports Performance Consultant with USA Swimming and member of the USA Swimming Performance Science and Technology Services Team Mark Randall (Maryland): Founder and President of The Athlete Village.
Mark Perry (Great Britain): British Swimming's Open Water Performance Manager and Team Leader at numerous FINA World Cup, Olympic Games and World Championship events. An open water swimming visionary and creative strategist with proven national and international coaching success.
Mark Schubert (Colorado): One of the world's most renowned swimming coaches with unparalleled Olympic coaching experience in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. Currently the USA Swimming National Team Head Coach and General Manager, he has coached numerous Olympic medalists, world record holders, world champions and NCAA champions.
Matt Dixon (California): Exercise physiologist and leading triathlon coach of several Ironman champions, including Chris Lieto and Luke Bell. Founder of Purple Patch Fitness and Contributing Editor to Inside Triathlon Magazine, Matt is also a highly sought after fitness consultant to professional athletes, elite and amateur endurance athletes and Fortune 500 company CEO's and corporate executives.
Mallory Mead (Indiana): Recipient of the Robert Lyle Memorial Trophy for being the Channel Swimming Association’s Fastest American of the Year and the Sotiraki Trophy for being the Fastest Lady of 2008. Currently embarking on the most difficult goal - and historically unprecendented feat - for marathon swimmers: The Ocean's Seven. Michael Collins (California): U.S. Masters Swimming Coach of the Year (1990) and co-producer of history's top-selling open water swimming DVD, Open Water Swimming: Skills, Techniques and Racing Mike Doane (Colorado): USA Triathlon Resident Program swim coach and 2007 USA Triathlon Coach of the Year. Coached Andy Potts to gold at the 2007 Pan American Games, victory at the 70.3 World Championships and USA Triathlon Elite National title in 2004. CEO and head coach of the Colorado Springs Swim Team, USA Triathlon Assistant Team Teach (Beijing World Cup) and USA Triathlon coach certification course presenter. Morty Berger (New York): President of NYC Swim and race director for the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, NYC Pro Swim, Great Hudson River Swim, Park to Park Swim, Liberty Island Swim, Aquathlon: Stars & Stripes, Riverside Park Tune Up Swim, Governors Island Swim, Brooklyn Bridge Swim, Little Red Lighthouse swim and the Ederle Swim. Naya Higashijima (California/Japan): Representative of the Japan International Open Water Swimming Association and the University of California, Santa Barbara assistant swim team coach. Nelson Vargas (Mexico): Mexico's former Minister of Sport and Director of CONADE (National Sport Commission), author of More Hits Than Errors, owner of the Acuatica Nelson Vargas, a nationwide chain of fitness centers and swimming pools, Mexican national swim team coach and former president of the Mexican Swimming Federation and multi-time Mexican representative at Olympics. Nelson Vargas, Jr. (Mexico): All-American swimmer at Arizona State and Chief Executive Officer of Acuatica Nelson Vargas, the largest and most prominent fitness center and swimming pool chain in Mexico. Race Director the the Acapulco 5K International Open Water Swim. Paul Hekimian (California): Founder and President of the LA Tri Club, one of the largest triathlon clubs in the western United States with over 1,600 members, who spreads his message of enthusiasm, inspiration, creativity and time management by his Paulsitive attitude. A director for the professional Distance Swim Challenge and creator of The Paulsitive Movement and Me, Inc. Paul Homer (Trinidad & Tobago): Leader of the Trinidad & Tobago swimming community, responsible for the open water swimming committee Paul McCoy (Fiji): Founder and Race Director for innovative ocean swims, sea safaris and island and volcano runs in Fiji and Vanuatu that attract athletes from all over the Pacific Rim and Europe. Paul Ortolano (New York): Director in the Event Management Department of the New York Road Runners.
Pedro Rego Monteiro (Brazil): Founder and President of EffectSport, co-founder of the televised 10K professional King of the Sea Challenge (Rei do Mar Desafio) in Brazil and Portugal. Penny Lee Dean (New York): Set the overall world record for the English Channel crossing record in 7:40 that stood for 16 years until her own athlete broke it. 1979 world professional marathon swimming champion with four Catalina Channel crossings and 12 world records for marathon swimming. Long-time head coach for USA Swimming National Open Water Swim Team and former Pomona College head women's swim team coach. Author of the authoritative Open Water Swimming book. Peter Ciaccia (New York): Vice President of Event Development and Production Technical Director of the New York Road Runners who oversees the ING New York City Marathon. Philip Rush (New Zealand): Renowned marathon swimmer and holder of the fastest double- and triple-crossing of the English Channel. Former professional marathon swimmer with a number of unprecedented marathon swims to his credit, including swims in the Cook Strait and Lake Taupo in New Zealand. An honor swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, he is currently the Open Water Programme Manager for New Zealand Swimming with an unparalleled record of coaching athletes across the treacherous Cook Strait.
Pierre Lafontaine (Canada): Renowned coach and administrator. Currently, the National Swim Team Coach and CEO of Swimming Canada.
Ram Barkai: (South Africa): Adventure swimmer with swims in Antarctica, Lake Zurich (in winter) and Cape Town, founder of the Cadiz Freedom Swim in Cape Town, benefactor of open water swimmers, CEO of Cadiz Holdings of South Africa. Richard Witt (California): Lieutenant Commander of the United States Navy SEALs (Sea Land Air), a renowned stealth and clandestine branch of the U.S. military forces. Rick Curl (Virginia): American Swim Coaches Association board director and Coach of the Year (1994), coach of the Curl Burke Swim Club that has won 10 national championship team titles, produced 13 Olympians and 11 world records. Sergiy Fesenko (Azerbaijan): 3-time Olympic swimmer and leading FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup competitor.
Shelley Taylor-Smith (Australia): International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, 7-time World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation champion, English Channel swimmer, former Secretary-General of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, coach and clinician. Author of Dangerous When Wet and founder of Champion's Mindset in Australia.
Sid Cassidy (Florida): Recipient of the highest honor given by USA Swimming. Past Chairman of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee. Professional marathon swimmer and long-time USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Team coach. Starter at the men's and women's Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
Steven Munatones (California): Technical Open Water Swimming Delegate for the Special Olympics, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, solo swimmer with 5 unprecedented swims, FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee member, USA Swimming National Open Water Swim Team coach, creator of The Daily News of Open Water Swimming, World's Top 100 Open Water Swims and the Open Water Swimming Dictionary.
Sultan Aziz, Ph.D. (Bangladesh): Member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and former Vice Chairman of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee. Served as Secretary General of the Asian Continental Swimming Federation and Asian Amateur Swimming Federation. Current Chairman of the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation Medical Committee and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
Attendees enjoyed the unique opportunity to meet listen learn get inspired network ask questions take photos make new friends around the world see and practice essential open water skills test new open water swimming products
with thought-leaders, established coaches and accomplished athletes in the open water swimming and triathlon worlds. The collegial open water swimming community shared its mutual challenges, camaraderie, joys and beauty with swimmers and multi-sport athletes of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
REGISTRATION Registration was accepted here for the Global Open Water Swimming Conference on Saturday, June 5th. The fee for the Global Open Water Swimming Conference was $175. This fee included: - admission to all presentations and the awards ceremonies
- an Italian dinner served in the hotel (garlic bread sticks, caesar salad, seasonal fruit, grilled vegetables, parmesan chicken with marinara sauce, fettuccine with alfredo sauce, tiramisu, coffee and iced tea)
- participation in any or all of the five Drafting, Positioning, Navigating and Pacing Clinics that will be held on May 22nd and May 29th in Santa Monica Beach, on May 23rd and May 30th in Corona del Mar Beach and on June 5th in Marine Stadium in Long Beach
- special gifts from Smithwick's Stingmate and TRI-SWIM
- a special almanac of information including The Top 100 Open Water Swims in the World, the Open Water Swimming Dictionary, Rules of Open Water Swimming, America's Top 50 Open Water Swims, The 50 Most Amazing Open Water Swimming Websites, Great Open Water Swimming Books and Movies, Cool Open Water Swimming Products and Technology, and New Open Water Swimming Events around the World.
Special discount pricing was available for young athletes and students. The Conference speakers provided great motivation and education for the next generation of open water swimmers and triathletes. - $35 for junior high school students and below (ages 14 and under)
- $45 for high school students (ages 15 - 18)
- $55 for college students (undergraduate and graduate)
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 5th | 9:30 am | Drafting, Positioning, Navigating and Pacing Clinic at Marine Stadium in Long Beach - taught by two world open water swimming champions | | | | | 11:00 am | Registration at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel and Convention Center | | | | | 11:30 am | USA Swimming National 10K Open Water Swimming Championships post-race video analysis presented by The Athlete Village. | | | | | | Join in the panel discussion with Shelley Taylor-Smith, Sid Cassidy, Gerry Rodrigues, Penny Dean and Steven Munatones | | | | | 12:00 pm | The Art of Open Water Swimming by Shelley Taylor-Smith | | | | | 12:30 pm | The Magic of Open Water Swimming by Ram Barkai | |
CONFERENCE SESSIONS
Location The location of the Conference was at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, just north of the 405 Freeway across from the Long Beach Airport in Long Beach, California, approximately 30 minutes south of the LAX International Airport and 20 minutes north of the John Wayne International Airport. The hotel is less than 10 minutes away from the site of the 2010 USA Swimming National 5K and 10K Open Water Swimming Championships on June 4th and June 6th in Marine Stadium. The address is 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, California, 90815 U.S.A. Hotel Discount A special Conference price of US$119 per night between Friday, June 4th and Sunday, June 6th was extended to guests who made their reservations here for the USA Swimming Nationals discounted price. Twitter Tweets from the Conference can be found at Twitter.com/swimopenwater. Requests, Questions, Comments or Complaints? Email
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Munatones at
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Photos of Speakers  |  | | Matt Dixon of Purple Patch Fitness | Sid Cassidy officiating at the 2008 Beijing Olympics |  |  | | Shelley Taylor-Smith of Champion's Mindset | Ram Barkai diving into the waters off Antarctica |  |  | | Colin Hill, the visionary and leader behind the Great Swim series | Greta Andersen finishing her Catalina Channel swim |  |  | | Dr. Jim Miller of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee | Penny Dean, English and Catalina Channel record holder | | | | | Paul Hekimian, founder of the LA Tri Club | |  |  | | Dan Empfield, founder of SlowTwitch and inventor of the triathlon wetsuit | Pierre Lafontaine, CEO, Swimming Canada | | | |
 | | | Frank Flowers of the Flowers Sea Swim in Cayman Islands | |  | | | Paul Hekimian, founder of the LA Tri Club | | | | |
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