U.S. Masters Swimming and the Pacific Masters Local Masters Swimming Committee are jointly hosting the conference, gathering numerous open water swimming experts to discuss best practices, planning, protocols and guidelines at the world's first international Open Water Swimming Safety Conference.
Since the inclusion of triathlons at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and marathon swimming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a growing number of individuals of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are heading to the open water. Both at the grassroots level and elite competitions, there is a critical and immediate need for swimmers, coaches, race directors, organizations and governing bodies to share knowledge and experiences on all safety issues regarding competitive and recreational open water swimming activities.
Protecting Athletes: Open Water Swimming Safety Conference Conference Speakers Include
- Shelly Taylor-Smith, Member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee
- Steven Munatones Member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee
- Jim Wheeler, a recognized aquatic safety expert
- Morty Berger, president of NYC Swim
- Dr. Jim Miller, member of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee
- Benoit Amyot, race director of the Traversee International du lac St-Jean
- Chris Brewster, president of the U.S. Life Saving Association
- Chris Sheean, race director of Big Shoulders and U.S. Masters Swimming national championship event in Chicago
- Bob Placak, founder of the RCP Tiburon Mile in San Francisco
- Yutaka Shinozaki, founder of the Japan International Open Water Swimming Association
- Marcia Cleveland, English Channel swimmer and Masters open water national champion
- Suzanne Heim-Bowen, marathon swimmer and Masters open water national champion
- Lori Bosco, race director for the Swim Around Key West
- Kaia Hedlund, president of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim
- John Tucker, FINA Open Water Swimming Referee
- Maddy Crippen of the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation
- Dean Jackson, Executive Vice President of blueseventy
- Dale Petranech, Honorary Secretary of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- Malcolm Cooper, Safety Director of the Maui Channel Swim
- Nelson Vargas of the Acapulco 5K International Swim in Acapulco, Mexico
- Bruce Wigo, CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Karen Reeder, race director of the U.S. Masters Swimming 6-Mile Championship in Colorado
- Dick Sidner, race director of the U.S. Masters Swimming 25K National Championship in Indiana
- Liz Tucker, Race Director Certification Manager of USA Triathlon
Mark Gill, Director of Operations with U.S. Masters Swimming, sees the growth and risks of the sport first-hand: We host six open water championship events and sanction more than 50 open water swimming competitions from coast to coast. There are many people, including many of our 55,000 members, who swim primarily in open water or triathlons. We see a critical need and huge responsibility to bring in some of the world's most experienced safety experts to discuss open water safety issues.
Michael Moore, Chair of Pacific Masters LMSC, whose LMSC has 10,000 USMS members and sanctions many open water events comments: Our race directors have decades of accumulated know-how and practical experience in conducting events in lakes, oceans and other venues that range from 1-mile lake races to swims across the San Francisco Bay. We are tapping into their knowledge, documenting it and coming up with a series of recommendations for the sport.
The Conference will provide summary documents of the sessions and case studies that will help raise the standards of safety in the sport and will help race organizers and governing bodies worldwide understand optimal safety practices. The sessions will be video recorded and archived for viewing by interested parties.
