Open water swim benefit makes waves Saturday
The inaugural Crippen Mile Open Water Swim, hosted by the Gulf Coast Swim Team and Lee County Parks & Recreation, will take place off the shoreline at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Beach this Saturday (June 11).
The event will be in remembrance and celebration of the life of Fran Crippen, who tragically passed away in a World Cup Open Water 10k Race in Dubai, U.A.E. on October 23, 2010. The race is part of the Fort Myers Estero Open Water Festival happening both Saturday and Sunday.
Swimmers of all ages and ability level are encouraged to participate in the fun and competitive “drag race” benefit in the Gulf. All participants must have a valid USA Swimming or US Masters Swimming Membership. One-day memberships will be available for participants to purchase on race day. Check-in time is 5 p.m., and the race begins at 6:30. The format includes age-group categories.
Just prior to the “Crippen Mile” is a 500-yard swim for younger children. The start of that race is roughly 5 minutes before the benefit race.
According to Gary Ewen of Lee County Sports Authority, the race will benefit the newly created Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation, established by the Crippen family to “empower athletes who exemplify the principles Fran embodied as they journey to elevate themselves, by providing aid and advocating for safe competitive environments.”
The one-mile “drag race” style course will start and finish close to shore and will go in one direction, from north to south. Prior to the start of the race, the swimmers will walk to the starting area and swim back towards the festival area. There will be no wet suits or flotation devices and paddles allowed in the race.
“The swimmers in the Crippen Mile are no more than 40 to 50 meters offshore,” said Race Director Gregg Cross of Gulf Coast Swim Team. “It’s pretty much open to anybody, but participants will need the one-day membership for insurance purposes.”
Crippen was a member of the U.S. National Team and recently captured a silver medal in the 10-kilometer at the Pan Pacific Championships in August. He also took a bronze medal in the 10k at the 2009 World Championships and won a gold medal in the 10k at the 2007 Pan American Games as well as in numerous national championships.
Although Crippen trained in Texas and was from the Philadelphia area, he was a big supporter of the annual Open Water Swim event on the Beach, said Cross. He graduated from Germantown Academy in Philadelphia, Pa. and the University of Virginia.
“He was one of the top open water swimmers in the world,” Cross said. “He actually got his open water start at our swim event and participated every year. He loved Fort Myers Beach and was planning on coming back for this year’s event. His family is coming to the event this year.”
The “Crippen Mile” involves a $20 registration fee or $30 on race day, and 100 percent of race proceeds goes to the Elevation Foundation started by the Crippen Family.
“Fran was just a great advocate of open water swimming. He just had that spirit about him that made him a big part of the sport. The sport misses him as do a lot of his friends,” said Cross.
During the festival, there will be awards, autographs and dining on the beach as organizers and participants look to enjoy the sport of swimming and commemorate Crippen.
Go to www.elevation-athletics.com or www.openwaterfestival.org to register for the event. The open water swim is being hosted in conjunction with USA Swimming. For volunteer information, please contact Gregg Cross at CoachGregg55@aol.com or 462-3322.
-information provided by Gary Ewen, Business Development Director for Lee County Sports Authority
2011 Open Water Festival
Friday
6 p.m. Tech meeting, Swimming Canada and interested USMS
Saturday
6:30 am: Check-in opens
7:53 am: Swimming Canada 10K World Team Trials
8 am: USMS 10K National Championships (4 hour time limit to finish)
12:15 pm: USMS awards
3 pm: FL Swimming/FL Gold Coast Swimming Open Water Clinic
6:30 pm: Crippen Mile (for USA Swimming and US Masters Swimming)
Sunday
7 am: Check-in opens
8 am: FL Swimming Seniors OW Championships, FL-Gold Challenge (4K)
9 am: FL Swimmng 13-14 OW Championships, FL-Gold Challenge (4K)
10:15 am: FL Swimmng 11-12 OW Championships, FL-Gold Challenge (2K)
11:15 am: FL Swimmng 10&U OW Championships (800m)
11:45 am: FL Swimming awards