Translate DistanceMatters.com
Our Open Water Boot Camp offers comprehensive, training sessions tailored to meet your needs. Qualifying swims for the English Channel or Manhattan are possible in Florida during the winter. Temperatures at Clearwater Beach in January and February usually hover around 60F, so we can help you train for cold water swimming or we can help you do a qualifying swim for the English Channel or Manhattan. Our warm summer waters are great for open water training with a concentration on technique, navigation, and training drills. Private training sessions last 4 to 8 hours. Price: $30/hr - Group sessions are also available. Call or Email to reserve your date.
Call 727.531.7999 | Send Email
July 2010 - Playing Taiko w/ A(k)new opening for Marcy Playground
Using a collection of taiko drums made by themselves from discarded wine barrels, Tampa Taiko has developed a dynamic fusion of old and new styles of drumming, bringing a contemporary vibrance to an ancient martial artform.
Book Tampa Taiko:
Tampa Taiko has developed a reputation for impressive, exciting and artful performances; a strong choice in entertainment for corporate and festival events. We are available for entertainment during evening or daytime events. To inquire about booking Tampa Taiko, call 727.531.7999 or send an email to Ron@TampaTaiko.com.
September, 2004 - English Channel Swim News Report
Latest News from The Catalina Attempt:
More Information About The Catalina Island Swim:
SwimCatalina.org | Current Water Conditions | Weather Forecast | Support Boat
Support Kayaker | TripleCrownOfOpenWaterSwimming.com
SOURCE: Distance Matters, Inc.
CLEARWATER, FL--Ron Collins, 48, of Clearwater, FL will attempt to swim across the 20 mile channel between Catalina Island and the mainland of California on September 2nd. The Catalina Channel was first conquered by a swimmer in 1927, and is known as one of the world's greatest marathon swims, pairing up with the English Channel (23 miles) and Manhattan Island (28 miles) to be jointly known as the "Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming."
Collins is a member of St.
Petersburg Masters Swim Team and has been swimming competitively
for 37 years. His first marathon swim was on April 15, 1998 when he 
became the first to swim the 24 mile length of Tampa
Bay. He organized the event as a USMS (United States Masters Swimming) sanctioned event and remains the event's Race Director.
In June of 2002, Collins competed in the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in New York City, completing the challenge in 8 hours while finishing 2nd overall. Next was the gruelling English Channel swim which he completed in September, 2004. If Collins is successful in completing the Catalina Channel swim, he will add his name to a short list of swimmers who have completed all three. As of August 27, 2010, the list includes about 40 names, a Who's Who in marathon swimming:
| 1. Allison Streeter (UK)*** 2. Taranath Narayan Shenoy (India) 3. Rick Barthels (USA) 4. Bob West (USA) 5. Peter Urrea (USA) 6. Carol Sing (USA)*** 7. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico) 8. Nick Olmos-Lau (Mexico) 9. T. Scott Coleman (USA)*** 10. Rebecca Jackman (USA) 11. Kevin Murphy (UK)*** 12. Kathleen Wilson (USA)*** 13. Forrest Nelson (USA)*** 14. Andrew Hewitt (USA) 15. David Blanke (USA)*** 16. Elizabeth Fry (USA) 17. Marcia Cleveland (USA) 18. Bill Hoehn (USA) 19. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey Island, UK)*** |
20. James Pittar (Australia) 21. Scott Richards (USA)*** 22. Andrew "Alan" Voisard (USA) 23. Tina Neil (USA) 24. Rendy Lynn Opdycke (USA) 25. Michelle Davidson (USA)*** 26. Michelle Macy (USA) 27. Tom Hecker (USA) 28. Erica Moffett (USA)*** 29. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA)*** 30. Michael Miller (USA) 31. Nick Adams (UK) 32. Elaine Kornbau Howley (USA) 33. Stephen Autry (USA) 34. Jeffrey Cleveland (USA) 35. Sakura Hingley (UK) 36. Samantha Simon (USA)*** 37. Jim Barber (USA)*** 38. Craig Lenning (USA) *** 39. Mallory Mead (USA) |
*** Denotes swimmer has participated in the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim
"I think that about a third of the swimmers on this list have come to swim Tampa Bay, and they've brought me a wealth of knowledge as I've observed them both in, and out of the water." Collins said. "I'm exciting to think that my name may be added to this list soon." The Catalina Channel presents unique challenges and dangers that make it a daunting task. The swim starts at midnight in an effort to finish before the winds kick up the seas the following afternoon. The swimmer must swim until sunrise in pitch darkness, accompanied only by a 60 foot dive boat and thoughts of the active marine life in the surrounding water. Kelp can also be a mental challenge since, "Anything that touches you is spooky and creepy during one of these swims. And don't even talk to me about the little 'cleaning fish' that nibble on your toes."
The attempt should take 10 to 14 hours, depending on conditions, tides, and the attitude of the swimmer. "We're not trying to race across this Channel to set some kind of record. Like Manhattan and the English Channel, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm excited about doing it once, but I don't want to do it again."Ron Collins is available for media requests in the Tampa Bay area until he departs for California on August 30th. For updates, visit DistanceMatters.com for the latest GPS mapping, pictures, video and live event day commentary.
Sponsored by
SOURCE: Distance Matters, Inc.
| More Information and News: |
www.distancematters.com |
Email: collins@tampabay.rr.com |
|
Our next event will be in April, 2011. Please check back in September for entry forms and other information. Thank you for supporting this great event!
2010 Event Recap: Swimmers enjoyed near-perfect conditions at the 13th Annual Whiskey Joe's Tampa Bay Marathon Swim held on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Craig Lenning was overall champion, as he swam the Bay in 10 hours, 17 minutes, while a relay team of 6 UNC Tarheel swimmers were able to finish ahead of the entire field with a very fast time of 8 hours, 6 minutes.
The 24 mile ultra-distance race starts at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and ends at Whiskey Joe's Bar & Grill on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa in a race that covers the entire length of Tampa Bay. The event is held each year to celebrate Earth Day and the revitalization of Florida's largest estuary and is the longest race that is sanctioned by United States Masters Swimming. Since this event was first staged in 1998, it has drawn competitors from across the United States, Great Britain, Guatemala, Italy, Australia, Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. DistanceMatters.com is the official website for this event. The for more information, contact:
The Tampa Bay Marathon Swim |
Distance Matters, Inc. |
Ron Collins, President
PO Box 18004 |
Clearwater, FL 33762-9998 |
727.531.7999 | Email
Past Results 10 | 09 | 08 | 07 | 06 | 05 | 04 | 03 | 02 | 01 | 00 | 99 | 98
Search Past Race Results
| English Channel Crossing, September, 2004 | |||
Swimming Everest - by Terry Tomalin
|
| Mindshare Advertising Lea Ann's Garden USLA SE Regionals |
Warm Frogs Tabb HS '80 Reunion Matthew's Puppets |
||
