Channel Cats 2014 Catalina Relay

June 30, came very soon for Jacee. As she traveled to California once again to her second swim from Santa Catalina Island to Palos Verdes, a distance of 21 miles with a mix gender relay of all 14 year olds. We arrived at the La Jolla Cove for Jacee’s swims that would accumulate 6 miles in two days. She had fun seeing all of her La Jolla Cove Swim Club friends. Thank you to everyone who helped Jacee with her daily workouts.

On July 2^nd, Jacee traveled to San Pedro for the second time in one year. This would culminate into a second successful crossing of the Catalina Channel in a mix gender relay, as a 14 year old.  The energy filled the environment and the kids and parents prepared taking the necessary steps to avoid seasickness. Gathering at the local Mexican Food Restaurant, and taking the endless pictures for the memories.

Dan and Doug shared their wisdom and advice as they always have in preparing the teenagers for various swims. This swim would seem the same but it has all the new and excited teenagers that would enthrall the hearts of everyone as the set out for their journey.

Each swimmer had their own plans for the swim but each would become part of a successful relay crossing for the first time in their lives. Accept Jacee who has swum the first relay last August 12/13, 2013. The attention was endless and each child was set with their personal preparation for the swim. Of course, the goal was successfully completing the swim as one unit.

Jacee Frivaldo, AZ

Isabella, Back, CA

Carson Gossler, CA
Ethan McVeigh, CA
Cayden Pangelinan, CA
Valerie Chin, CA

Morgan Hartley, CA - Alternate
Colin Grubensky, CA – Alternate

Each swimmer entered the water to do their part as they encountered many jellyfish, currents and waves throughout each leg of the relay. Cayden, had the pleasure of swimming with the dolphins this year and stated, “That he could hear their clicking before he actually saw them.” It was a pod of dolphins the he would swim with most of the leg of his swim.

Jacee’s journey this year was successful because there was no seasickness and she enjoyed her time with the Jellyfish. As she says, “would you let these jellyfish just jump in your house and do what they wanted. Of course, they are going to sting you.” She also stated, “That the jellies that got in her suit were just going to visit their friends as she swam through them and they fell out of the suit.”

Bella, landed the team at 8:42.xx mark unofficially. The overall swim was relatively calm and the finish had a high tide which definitely helped at the end. These awesome swimmers including both alternates Morgan and Colin had the proper preparation and joined together for a successful crossing of the Catalina Channel. Of which only 92 successful relays have been swum since 1926 through 2013.

Congratulations, to our successful Channel Cats!

 

Special Thanks goes to Julie, Violet, and Jim! Julie and Violet kayaked and Jim was our second observer for the swim. The LA County Fire Rescue Unit attended the finale of the swim. Oh, maybe that is because it was Julie’s Husband. Thanks for the ride back to the boat! It was much warmer than swimming the way back.