Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Cross Channel Event Goes "Swimmingly"

HOOD RIVER, OR - Despite having to relocate the place where all Roy Webster Columbia River Cross Channel Swim participants boarded the sternwheeler "Columbia Gorge" due to the new Hood River delta blocking access to the cruise ship dock, and several other changes in the morning registration process, the staff at the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce happily report that the 65th Annual Swim went off "without a hitch."

"We can't thank all of our volunteers and sponsors -- and swimmers -- enough for all that they did to make this year's swim such a success," said Chamber Board President, Ray Felton. Felton specifically cited The Best Western Hood River Inn, the Portland Spirit staff and everybody onboard the sternwheeler "Columbia Gorge," the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration, Radio Amateurs of the Gorge, the Hood River Valley Swim Team, HRCCC's Leaders for Tomorrow, the Hood River Yacht Club, Hood River WaterPlay, Big Winds, the US Coast Guard, Hood River City Police, City of Hood River Fire Department, the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Wasco County Sheriff's Office, and Master of Ceremonies Mary Brenneman with credit and thanks for the event's success. He also wishes to thank all of the individuals who arrive early in the morning on their labor day holiday to volunteer on foot, kayak, longboard, and boat to help make the event well-organized, fun, and above all safe for all the participants.

"Sheriff Joe Wampler deserves a special mention of thanks for all that he does to control the safety situation on the water. He did a terrific job bringing in help from Wasco County and the Coast Guard. He coordinates with the Yacht Club and the Swim Team to create the swimmer safety "picket line" and we had a fantastic line this year." says Felton.

2007 Cross Channel Swim Quick Facts:

494 people swam the Columbia this year, comprised of 216 male and 278 female swimmers.

Oldest person to make the swim this year was Admiral Horton Smith of Seattle, Washington at 82 years of age. Margaret Euwer of Parkdale was the oldest female swimmer at 71 years of age.

Joe Sullivan of The Dalles once again took the award for the Most Consecutive Years swimming in the event, with this marking his 36th consecutive swim. Hood River resident Norberto Maahs is the closest behind Joe from the Columbia Gorge area with 29 consecutive swims. Jeff Gudman of Lake Oswego and Doug Brenner of Portland are both sitting ahead of Maahs, however, each with 34 consecutive years swimming under their belt.

Thomas Olsen of Coral Gables, Florida took the award for the furthest distance traveled to make the swim, making a 3,251.10 mile trek to Hood River. Almost tied for second place in that distinction were Ruthe Farmer and Elizabeth Marker, both of New York City. Farmer beats out Marker by 47 city blocks.

The largest team swimming together this year came, with family pride, from The Fruit Company with Roy's grandsons, Scott and Addison accompanied by 19 other friends and family members. The next largest team at ten fewer swimmers were the NORM team from Salem.

The largest family group this year was the Euwer Family of Hood River, with 6 family members swimming together.

Background information:

Presented by the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, this year's swim continues an annual tradition begun in 1942 by orchardist Roy Webster. Webster, accompanied by a few friends and family members, began the watery tradition simply to get more exercise. Now, the swim has grown into an event that today draws teams and individual swimmers from throughout the Northwest and the nation.

In the early dawn hours of Labor Day, the swimmers are ferried to a spot near the Washington shore by the sternwheeler "Columbia Gorge". They then depart in ten-person "flights" to swim approximately 1.1 miles across the Columbia River to the Oregon shore.

This event is not a race. Nearly all that attempt it complete the swim, in their own time and at their own pace. Those few who tire are quickly plucked from the water by a fleet of safety boats, kayaks, and assistants on longboards.

The entire swim is overseen by the Hood River County Sheriff's Department and the US Coast Guard, who observe weather and water conditions as they relate to swimmer's safety. Should conditions reach a potentially dangerous stage, those agencies could determine to cancel the swim. The swim has been cancelled only twice in it’s sixty-five year history, both times due to rough water and high winds. Additional assistance is provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers by regulating the stream flow through the Bonneville Pool during the swim, and by all the barge lines who use the Columbia by notifying their captains of the times swimmers will be in the water.

Many who will be taking to the water on Labor Day have made the swim a number of times, considering it an annual tradition in an especially beautiful place. All swimmers receive a souvenir swim t-shirt.

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