Published January 31, 2011 04:48PM
With the sports of triathlon and open-water swimming growing every year, the need to make sure the proper safety standards are in place is at an all-time high. The issue of safety in the open water was brought into an International spotlight when U.S. Open Water Swimmer Fran Crippen passed away during a race in Dubai. A group of industry experts will be convening in San Francisco, Calif. for the first Open Water Safety Conference from March 18-20.
“The sport now has over 3,600 open water swims in the world – plus an ever greater number of triathlons, charity swims, solo swims and relays,” Steven Munatones, the conference co-host and editor-in-chief of the Daily News of Open Water Swimming, said in a press release. “Open water swimming presents significant challenges for participants, race directors, coaches and administrators. How do we keep everyone safe – and anticipate everything that might occur in the open water? That is what we are discussing at the conference.”
The conference will play host to several speakers including:
– Shelly Taylor-Smith and Steven Munatones, both members of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee
– Jim Wheeler, a recognized aquatic safety expert
– Morty Berger, president of NYC Swim
– Dr. Jim Miller, member of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee
– Benoit Amyot, race director of the Traversée International du lac St-Jean
– Chris Brewster, president of the U.S. Life Saving Association
– Chris Sheean, race director of Big Shoulders and U.S. Masters Swimming national championship event in Chicago
– Bob Placak,founder of the RCP Tiburon Mile in San Francisco
– Yutaka Shinozaki, founder of the Japan International Open Water Swimming Association
– Marcia Cleveland, English Channel swimmer and Masters open water national champion
– Suzanne Heim-Bowen, marathon swimmer and Masters open water national champion
– Lori Bosco, race director for the Swim Around Key West
– Kaia Hedlund, president of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim
– John Tucker, FINA Open Water Swimming Referee
– Maddy Crippen of the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation
– Dean Jackson, Executive Vice President of blueseventy
– Dale Petranech, Honorary Secretary of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
– Malcolm Cooper, Safety Director of the Maui Channel Swim
– Nelson Vargas of the Acapulco 5K International Swim in Acapulco, Mexico
– Bruce Wigo, CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
– Karen Reeder, race director of the U.S. Masters Swimming 6-Mile Championship in Colorado
– Dick Sidner, race director of the U.S. Masters Swimming 25K National Championship in Indiana
– Liz Tucker, Race Director Certification Manager of USA Triathlon