A Celebration of Open Water Swimming - WOWSA

As I sit down to write this, it is difficult to fully express how I feel. I am extremely grateful for the amazing support that has been shown to me during this year’s WOWSA awards. I thank each and every one of you for this recognition. I am beyond inspired, feel truly blessed and am very proud to be named World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

I would first like to congratulate all the nominees in each of the WOWSA categories, as well as the hundreds of others that were equally deserving of nominations. I am proud to be in the company of so many people who embody the true spirit and diversity of open water swimming. I would also like to thank the World Open Water Swimming Association for honoring these amazing people and promoting this great sport.

I do not believe there are winners or losers when it comes to awards like these. I see these awards as a Celebration of Open Water Swimming. This is a time to honor the achievements and the many directions in the open water swimming world, a world that is increasing in popularity and diversity. I am proud to be a small part of this incredible community.

When I was notified in November of my nomination, I felt tremendously honored. To be included with a group of people that I consider true visionaries, superior athletes, and leaders in the sport was surprising and exciting. To be named with individuals such as Petar Stoychev (Bulgaria), who is considered to be one of the greatest professional open water swimmers in my lifetime and who has dominated the open water swimming world for close to a decade, to Doug Woodring (USA, currently living in Hong Kong), founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance which focuses on bringing innovative remedies, technologies and policies to improve the health of our oceans, and all those included in this celebration of open water swimming has been a privilege in itself. The accomplishments of all the swimmers in each category are incredible - from Forrest Nelson (Performance) to Penny Palfrey (Woman) who each completed two of the most amazing swims in 2011. We are not just talking about swimmers - these people are heroes, heroines and role models who I have cheered for and followed along with in their own pursuits. I hope that you too see the greatness in all of the nominees, and that you congratulate each of them as you have congratulated me. These awards embrace the diversity and passion of open water swimming. It’s not about being the fastest or the first. It’s not about records set. It is about the love and respect we all have for open water swimming.

There is one thing that I can and will compare myself to in these truly remarkable people: my passion for what I do. I thank you all for seeing that, since I do things a little differently than most. I am an Adventure Swimmer. I choose to test myself mentally, physically, and spiritually by swimming extreme distances. I create, design, plan and execute swims based on how I want to accomplish them.

Many of my extreme swims are done wearing a wetsuit. My latest 111 mile swim down the Sacramento River was my greatest adventure yet. This 31 hour non-stop journey pushed me beyond what I had done before and has inspired me to go to the next level. To quote Dane Rauschenberg (ultrarunner) ”I know what I can do – I do not know yet what I cannot do.” I will continue to push myself to find this place, and once I find it, I will work to get past it. I do not hold any records except for those on a personal level. I will continue to test myself and live life as much as I can at water level. I strive to go beyond what I have done before and enjoy every aspect of it. I swim for the pure adventure of it. I thank you all for realizing and supporting me on this quest. I thank you for following me. It is a huge part of what gives me my inspiration.

I must also say thank you again to my crew who guides me through these adventures. Our motto is to Have Fun, Be Safe, and Live the Adventure. I love each and every one of you. There is no way I could do these things without you. I thank you for believing in what we do and for sharing these life changing experiences with me. You mean the world to me. I also want to thank two other people, without whom I would not be doing these crazy things. My beautiful wife, Terry, who still after 11 years is trying to figure out why I am drawn in some of the directions I am, but has never left my side. She is with me every stroke I take. I love her and cherish her willingness to embrace my passion. And to my six year old daughter, Hadley, who I hope one day will see that her dad does these things to become a better father. Seeing her at the finish of all my swims is what helps me push on. I am truly blessed. I am also very fortunate to be associated with some amazing companies, whose support I also could not do without. Finis - the greatest swimwear and equipment company on the planet. Endless Pools – a product every open water swimmer should have. Fox Sports/Yardbarker - your unwavering support and friendship is beyond imaginable. Sailfish - a wetsuit like no other. E21, Yurbuds, Patrick & Co., Metabender, Brian Hayes Photography, Kinesys, The Secret Drink Mix, Cornish & Carey, Colton Commercial and Homerun. I thank all of you for understanding what I do and supporting me in my swimming endeavors.

I thank everyone who voted in this year’s WOWSA awards, even if it was not for me. It’s truly wonderful to see so many people interested in open water swimming. I hope most of all that this inspires you to do something great for yourself in 2012. I would love for it to be something in the water, but whatever it is - Do Something Beyond What You Thought Possible. Create your own adventure. Plan it, dream about it, prepare for it and then live it. I will continue to do things that seem out of reach and live my adventures. I will push myself, have fun, and embrace others on their quest, however they choose to pursue it. Along the way I will protect, promote and cherish our oceans, lakes and rivers.

I will continue with the Adventure Swim Contest to help those live their swim dreams. As a dear friend says “Dream it....Swim it” – K.R. With help from others, we will strive to grow this contest to aid people in their quests in the water. It shall support marathon swimmers, adventure swimmers, triathletes, first time open water swimmers, and all those who want to live their adventure in the oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Through this journey, you have all made me a better person. I have shed more than one tear in thankfulness for your support. I am honored beyond words. I hope that you continue to follow my adventures, create some of your own and support others as they dream big. As the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Peace is always found in the Water!!!

Jamie Patrick

Adventure Swimmer

My Next Adventure www.thetahoe360.com

Here is a short video of a short swim I did under the Golden Gate Bridge. See video below for my adventure to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge

Here is a short video of a tour I was lucky enough to go on. We took an elevator to the top of the North Tower and spend a good hour taking in the sights.

I have created The Adventure Swim contest to help someone with their dream swim. There is no catch, just money. You do not have to be an expert swimmer, just the desire and passion to live an adventure in the water. Please click the link below for more information. Winner will be announced on the daily news of open water swimming November 14th, 2011.

Entry Form - Click Here

Life's an Adventure - Swim it!!!!

News Clips From Swimming California

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6164977

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6169318

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6169292

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6172559

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6172622

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6188981

http://www.news10.net/video/1116581046001/0/Competitive-swimmer-tackless-111-miles-of-Sacramento-River

http://tv.swimmingworldmagazine.com/shows/the-morning-swim-show/morning-swim-show-episodes/11981

Follow Jamie LIVE at www.jamiepatrick.com

Peace Will Be Found On This River

111 miles. That’s the distance from London to Nottingham. The in-air distance between the airports in LA and San Diego. And, as the river flows, the distance from Princeton, California, to the capital city of Sacramento.

Jamie Patrick is going to swim those 111 miles, beginning on Friday August 19 at 12 noon. His journey down the Sacramento River will last somewhere around 32 hours, and will take him past bucolic farmlands, wasteful power plants, and plenty of unknown territory. His 11-man crew will be following him along the riverbanks in an RV, and will help to guide him, nourish him, and encourage him in their kayaks and by swimming alongside him.

Jamie is not driven by fame or fortune or one-upsmanship. He is merely an adventurer, who wants to know just how far we can go. And he revels in the unique togetherness that arises from tackling epic distances. In the summer of 2010, he swam across Lake Tahoe, twice. 44 miles of swimming, in around 25 hours. Very few people have ever swam 25 hours consecutively. With this newest adventure, Jamie is going to do it again.

Adventures of this proportion bring people together with a sense of awe, pride, and disbelief. The crew and spectators will wince through the difficult moments, and cheer during the moments of celebration. Best of all, the crew will be live-broadcasting Jamie’s swim so that you too can feel connected to this incredible feat.

As Jamie said to his team, “peace will be found on this river.” We hope you join us for the adventure.

www.jamiepatrick.com - Follow Live

-Mark Lukach

Thank you to all those who have been a part of this journey leading up to my Sacramento Swim..

Living your dream...I have done some pretty cool things in my life. Ironmans, Ultramans, Ultraruns, marathon swims, but to me doing something for the first time has got to be the most rewarding. Even more rewarding is seeing someone else do something for the first time.

Last week I was fortunate enough to witness a friend swim Lake Tahoe (wetsuit) - 22 miles for the first time. As I used this swim as training swim, Brett Blankner conquered a swim that was his longest by far. Seeing him reach the beach, watching the joy of him and his family was awesome.

Tomorrow, my friend Mark Luchak will do his first Ironman. He has be preparing, planning and worrying for many weeks now. I will go an witness this for two reasons. One feeding off the other. As I understand the time, commitment and sacrifice that goes into preparing for such an event, I want to be there to celebrate this experience with my good friend. Being able to witness someone, especially a good friend conquer his dreams is ultimately what motivates me to do the things I do.

Mark has become a huge support of my ultra adventure swimming. He has crewed many times on my training swims, constantly giving my moral support and most of all just being a good friend. It means a great deal to me to have people like Mark in my life and I can not wait to be there every inch of the way.

What Mark does not realize is that every stroke, pedal and step he makes motivates me. I will be there for him, but what he does not understand is that the inspiration I will pull from him is what drives me to be better, get faster and go longer.

I am the kind of person who cries while watching ironman on TV. Everybody has a story. Mark has a story. Similar in many ways as the rest of the athletes that will toe the line tomorrow, but also incredibly different. Throughout the day weather it is 8 hours of 17 hours, Marks story will add another chapter to it. One of becoming an Ironman and to me this is amazing. This chapter will be written culminating in what I have felt and seen as life changing.

Thank you Mark for writing this chapter in your life, you are also helping all of us write chapters in our life.

Respect the day, enjoy the journey, and most of all have fun. Thank you for letting me be apart of this magical day. AND KICK SOME ASS

I will be sending out updates, photos and videos throughout the day. Please send Mark good mojo.. Tomorrow he becomes and Ironman.