2014 Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Swims

It was an excellent day for an open water swim and Alcatraz was the swim of the day. Approximately, one hundred swimmers entered the water that beautiful day. The water was moving swiftly and the chop was substantial. The swimmers jumped in one at a time, to promote safety first. The water was a warm 56 degrees that day and wonderful for the swimmers that did the practice swims in the very cold Scottsdale Lake. Each swimmer entered the water with their personal goal in mind.

The swift current from Alcatraz is always an issue but with the professional help of Bob Roper and his pilot Paddy and the awesome crew and staff, the swimmers knew the plan and were ready to tackle the intrepid waters of the San Francisco Bay. The reason for the swim was the Annual Swim from Alcatraz for F.A.S.T.  (The Foundation for Aquatic Safety and Training). To promote drowning prevention each year for many people that still need to learn to swim.

Jacee and Cole Whitener were two swimmers that have come back year after year, swimming this extremely fun and fast swim. The challenge is always at a personal level because there is a first place finisher that does not mean there is only one first place finisher. The main goal is for each person to add to their community. Making a difference in their community becoming and community leader by focusing on helping others  learn to swim, also encouraging a water safety mindset that will and does help save lives.

This year the first place person was Jacee and Ryan was the first place male, her challenger from last year. It was interesting Jacee commented, “The swift choppy water was the toughest in years for Jacee.” She also stated, “This swim was one of the most enjoyable swims, she has encountered.”

One special guest that Jacee was able to befriend was Liz Hunter our official Coast Guard entry. Along with Liz, there are so many individuals that make it a national and international event. It creates a goal for many swimmers to focus on during their daily training. The swimmers will take the experience back to their friends and family to encourage others to focus on swimming and drowning prevention. Enabling each swimmer to swim the “impossible swim”!

The day after the infamous Alcatraz Swim, a wonderful weekend of swimming continued with the Golden Gate Bridge Crossing (GGB).  You ask why? The best answer I can think of and have heard from several swimmers is “Why not”.  Well, yes the current is swifter, yes, you can find yourself swimming in place for several minutes and yes, you never know what to expect out there. Once again Bob Roper, Paddy and crew know how to handle the entire process. There are many safety precautions even in the toughest situations.

This year’s GGB had its stopping point for Jacee. Jacee and Liz Hunter were off and swimming together once they jumped. Starting in the middle of the pack Jacee took off passing the entire field to what looked like a first place finished until the moment came where the destination and current came together to stop the swimmers. Ryan and his friend found the way out of the current and finished the race first. Jacee finally, got to her destination and completed the swim as the first female. This year the focus would be touching the rock. Having fun in these swims is truly the goal and of course, first place is in the heart of each swimmer.

Thank you again for the wonderful event planners and organizers of these annual events!

If this article has piqued your interest here is the link for this swim. The event planners will help you through the process.

http://thefastfoundation.com/

First Graders that Excite and Dream Big!

Once again, Jacee was invited back to Mrs. Horton’s first grade class to speak about goal setting and leadership. Her main focus is sharing her life to enable the kids to see a goal and achieve their individual goals in their lives. There is always much excitement from these young folks that truly inspire Jacee to see herself in new ways she could only see through the excited and encouraging eyes of these children.

Jacee has a very interactive session with these first graders as they begin to see that they can make a difference at a young age. Keep in mind Jacee was only in the second grade when she swam her first Alcatraz swim and she keeps these children close to her heart. She decided at the end of her first grade year to make this “impossible swim”.  Knowing anyone of them could become an “overnight” success, by making the choice to be challenged.

Jacee shares her life experience with the children and they respond in such positive ways. Sharing their hopes, dreams, and presenting their goals. Even though Jacee’s main focus is swimming, music and school.  Her desire is to help make excellent children of all ages. Helping others see their individual potential is the main focus.

Imagine being six again..

Someone comes into your classroom and helps you see you can make a difference in others’ lives. How far do six year olds dream? How long can they hold on to that dream with encouragement?

Building good citizens that will make a difference is the key in the succeeding. Knowing deep down no matter what, you will make a difference. That is the secret that is parlayed to approximately thirty students each year.

As always Jacee, is asked if she will swim in the Olympics by one of these bright first graders. The answer is always yes, that is a goal and I have to keep working really hard to reach that goal.

This year Jacee shared her steps and the process of swimming across the Catalina Channel with a great group of six relay swimmers. Setting the record for the first 14/15 year old relay team to be recorded by the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation the name of the relay team is “The Children’s Crusade Relay”. Oh, by the way that is a 21 mile swim from Santa Catalina Island to Los Angeles.

If you would like Jacee to speak at your group or organization please go to the link on the follow me and enter you information and she will get back to you!

The TikiSwim is an exciting swim that is just the right distance...you have two choices!

 The Tiki Swim, now in its fourth year, is southern California's premier open water event taking place in conjunction with the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Harbor Days Festival. With over 400 vendors, kid's zone and our Double Decker shuttle buses, TikiSwim4 is without a doubt the most family friendly endurance event taking place on the west coast. While all swimmers are provided a complimentary pancake breakfast from the Oceanside Firefighters Association, family members can also enjoy breakfast with a small donation at their booth.

 The 2.4 mile swim starts south of the Oceanside Pier, rounds the pier and heads north for the still waters inside the Oceanside Harbor to finish at the small craft launch ramps. There is an aid station provided by the Oceanside Outrigger and Canoe Club that will have Hammer Nutrition hydration and fuel products.  The 1.2 mile swim starts on the sand of the harbor beach across from the finish, merges into the 2.4 mile course and then too finished at the launch ramps.

Remember all athletes receive:

Free Pancake Breakfast
Finisher Lei
Finisher Medal
Custom TikiSwim4 bucket hat
Course marked with 10+ buoys and an on-water aid station
Complementary Double Decker Shuttle Bus Ride
and one amazing experience

Awards go to:

Overall winner in the 2.4 and 1.2 mile swim for both Wetsuit and Traditional divisions(no swim snobbery here!)
Top 3 in the 2.4 mile age group finishers for both Wetsuit and Traditional divisions.
Top age group finisher in the 1.2 mile swim for both Wetsuit and Traditional divisions.

For all of our multi-sports friends, this is a perfect opportunity to work on your Ironman or Half Ironman swims. As you may know WTC has decided to implement some changes to the swim portion at a number of events for safety reasons. Don't short change your swim training, gain experience and confidence with your swim by participating in TikiSwim4!!
  Register now at www.tikiswim.com

The Next Alcatraz Swim

This year’s training has begun for the Alcatraz Swimmers for Drowning Prevention Awareness. Jacee has been out with each cold water swim to help the kids adapt to the differences of cold water versus the warm pool water.

One swimmer that is exceptional because she is determined to be successful is Annie. Yes, she has a goggle issue and yes the water is cold. Annie decided to brave the cold water and had a technical difficulty like many. Learning to be an overcomer does help you succeed.

Annie, made over one hour of the swim and her goggles got discombobulated and she had to get out. She will take the challenge on January 4^th to work out the goggle issues.

As Annie overcomes this goggle issue she will find herself having more fun than she ever thought possible.

Here is a story of Jacee’s goggles getting lost in the ocean.

Jacee was swimming her first Optimis Sport Challenge and was coming into a check point when a very large wave came in and rolled her as she headed to shore. She lost her cap and goggles that day. A fellow swimmer grabbed her, as he saw her having difficulty and helped her get into the check point. She was of course crying. Well, when the safety folks told her she did not have to swim any longer she cried harder. They asked what wrong she said, I do not have a cap and goggles and I want to finish the swim. The safety team ran to their perspective cars and got her goggles. You see she was not crying because took a tumble she was crying because she couldn’t swim any more.

That day looked like it was all finished and the safety team was concerned that they had an injured child on their hands.  To their chagrin they had a child that did not know what to do because she lost her goggles. You see her pair of goggles at the start of the race broke so; she had a double surprise when she lost a second pair of goggles that she had borrowed. The lesson learned that day was to bring extra goggles and when you have enough, bring another pair.

Every open water swim can be fun and challenging. Isn’t that why you are out of the pool anyway? For the challenge!  The first step to knowing you will be an open water swimmer is being willing to give it one more try.

The Alcatraz swim is to raise money for children who may not know how to swim or need water safety classes. This swim affords you the swimmer to make a difference in the life of another person who does not know how to swim. Make it through this swim and you have not only become an open water swimmer but you get to help someone else have an opportunity to swim that may never have a chance if you do not swim.

Jacee (center) and Lilli(right) teaching Water Safety

To get involved it is not too late.

Here is the link:     http://thefastfoundation.com/swim-fast/

 

 

LJ Kids Take the TikiSwim Prize

It was a beautiful morning for a swim, The TikiSwim 2013 excitement could be felt from the parking lot. Entering check-in was busy, for the volunteers. The swimmers were excited moving from the check-in to the start line of the race.

As with all ocean races the current dictates the position of the start. The race organizers picked the best position for these athletes to begin their 2.4 mile journey as they gather for the start. Each competitor had prepared for this race with their own goals in mind. Three competitors had their own plans that would be revealed at the start and finish of the race. The horn sounded and three hundred swimmers hit the 5-6 foot surf. Several were tentative but a few headed for the first buoy as if they had been there before.

The spectators boarded the double-deck buses as they watched the first swimmer hit the second buoy past the pier.  The spectators were taken to the finish area. As with each TikiSwim this was the Oceanside Harbor Days, an event that brings together a community for fun events throughout the day.  The 1.2 mile event start takes place on the west side of the harbor. 

By the time the 1.2 mile event began the first 2.4 mile swimmers were already passing the starting shoot. Heading to the corner of the harbor is a special place for spectators that desire to walk their swimmer into the boat launch of the harbor, which is the finish line. The first swimmers came around the final turn in the harbor, in approximately 45 minutes. The second place swimmer looked strong working to chase down the lead swimmer. The third place swimmer was pressing into the race narrowing the distance from the second place swimmer. The fourth place swimmer was directly on the feet of the third place swimmer. This was going to be a fun finish, which swimmer would have the stamina to finish third.

The first place swimmer finished in 51:17. Congratulations, to Luke Weniger the first place finisher and top wetsuit finisher. The second place swimmer completed his race Ben Bleichwehl his time was 52:26. He was the top traditional swimmer also the first LJ Kid Team Member. The third swimmer held on for third, Jacee Frivaldo she was the first female in the traditional category with a 53:34 finish, the second LJ Kid Team Member. And Carson Gossler finished out the LJ Kid Team in the traditional category with a 57:35. Let’s not forget the best kid training partner ever Doug Burleigh. Super job, LJ Kid Team Members!

Jacee (right) Ben (Center) and Carson (left)

 

Who is the LJ Kid Team they are from La Jolla Cove Swim Team and they won the prize for the fastest traditional swimmers relay.  Yes, this is year two! The kids take it again!  Doug, Carol, Toni, Steve and other team mates from La Jolla Cove Swim, Known as LJ Cove Too each had their Tiki’s when they went home! Let’s hear it for the La Jolla Cove Swim Club!

Once again the TikiSwim was a blast! An absolutely a fun event for the whole family including the dog!

Keep up the great work Brian and John!

We’ll Be Baaaack!

Congratulations, to Mateusz Sawrymowicz and Ashley Twichell the prize winners for the Tiburon Mile.

 Jacee

Balancing School, Music and Swimming?

As Jacee continues to swim open water successfully, the secret is out how she balances it all. She also plays viola with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony of Mesa, Arizona. And swims competitively in the pool with Swim Neptune.

Here is her secret -


http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/AZVABacktoSchool/prweb11067280.htm