8 Bridges Hudson River Swim - 2014

david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
edited June 2017 in Event Announcements
The fourth annual 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim will take place from June 18-25 2014.

We are in the process of joining our website 8bridges.org to the greater CIBBOWS website, so there may be some period when the site goes down for a bit.... No worries though. I am here to answer any q's.

General info:
7 stages starting at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Carskill, NY... Ending at the Verrazzano Bridge in the NY Harbor.

Sttages are current assisted for the duration of the ebb tide which varies from day to day.

Distance per stage varies from 13.- 20 miles.

This is the longest swim event in the universe!

Www.8bridges.org

...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

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Comments

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    OMG! Another website that crashes?! ;)

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • For what it's worth, one of my MOST favorite vacations. Yes, I said vacation. REALLY well run, superb support, on land and on the water. Super safety conscious, incredibly supportive of ALL swimmers... just a wonderful event. If you can't do it all, do SOME of it. You will not regret a moment.
  • Leonard_JansenLeonard_Jansen Charter Member
    suziedods wrote:
    For what it's worth, one of my MOST favorite vacations. Yes, I said vacation. REALLY well run, superb support, on land and on the water. Super safety conscious, incredibly supportive of ALL swimmers... just a wonderful event. If you can't do it all, do SOME of it. You will not regret a moment.

    What she said times 2.

    People, just a word of (unsolicited by Dave or Rondi) encouragement to the community to get behind this event. It has EVERYTHING you could want in a marathon swim and you can swim one/several/all legs. The legs can range from relatively doable (stages 3 & 4) to beastly (stage 5). We need to support this and keep it viable! Please consider signing up and making the 2014 edition the biggest and best 8 Bridges yet. (I'm going after the dreaded stage 2 this year, so plan your vacation around that. In addition, I'm sure that she-who-cannot-be-named will swim the entire thing in record time unless she is swimming 150 miles in 48 hours in somebody's backyard Koi pond at the same time.)

    Sign up for 8 Bridges - all the cool kids are doing it!

    -LBJ

    “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde

  • I can't afford it!
  • @Leprechaunturd, Just do one leg maybe kayak another? You don't have to do the whole thing.... in fact not sure I could...
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    I can't afford it!

    Though I don’t know what your finincial situation is, I’ve always prioritized certain things that enhance my quality of life. At some point, I decided that some experiences are worth a lot more than dollars in my bank account.
    No, marathon swimming isn’t cheap. Travel isn’t cheap. Insurance isn’t cheap. Boats aren’t cheap. Etc.

    So... the fee structure for 8 Bridges is as follows:
    $700 per stage for stages 1-6
    $1,300 for stage 7

    For all 7: $5,000 (a $500 discount)

    At 45 - 50 hours of escorted, observed, and recorded swimming plus ground transportation, I’d say thats a pretty good value, and I base this on what the finincial costs are for many well established swims as well as assembling support teams for “off the grid” swims.

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Niek wrote:

    Now that's what I call a Dutch Treat!
    That's what I call subsidized.

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin
    @niek's comment would have ordinarily been removed due to irrelevance, but Barra's retort was so memorable that we'll let it stand.
  • KarenTKarenT Charter Member
    Not this year, sadly, but save me a spot for 2015...
  • "You only have to show up in Medemblik."

    Which Stage is Medemblik?
  • 8 Bridges is a GREAT DEAL.
    As I said, spend a few days... you don't have to swim ALL stages... participate as a kayaker.. and a swimmer... see how it all works and you will GLADLY pay. It's alot of behind the scenes work to make something like this go off safely and (hopefully) complete whatever stage or stages they choose. ( Stage 5 is a whole 'nother beast however, no guarantees!:).
  • Ok, after doing Stage 6 last year, I'm hooked. I will testify. What a fantastic swim! Now to decide on which of the stages to do for 2014...
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!! YES... IM YELLING!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • ChickenOSeaChickenOSea Charter Member
    Funnest swim ever
  • gregocgregoc Charter Member
    Bummer. I'm away that week. I will definitely swim between a few bridges in 2015.
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Relays:
    To date, we haven’t had any relay teams participate in 8 Bridges, but we are open to it.
    There are so many possible scenarios when you factor in a group of 2,3,4,6 swimmers and multiple stages that we haven’t really established protocol and rules.
    Any pioneering relays interested can participate in writing the rules with us.

    Power to the People!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Relay would be interesting. Would make it more affordable, as well.

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    8 Bridges received a nice donation from one of our swimmers that we would like to use to offset some of the fees for a junior or student swimmer.

    Interested parties should email Rondi and me.

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    STAGE 6 IS FULL.
    All other stages are open

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Enrollment for Stages 1,2 and 7 remains light. But... surprise! We’ve got a few swimmers that are going to take on Stage 5, The Great Bays aka “the Beast”.

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • I'm in and praying for a nice warm up over the next few months to thaw out the water. Really looking forward to the event! I've heard so many great things about it.
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Stage 4 is now full.

    Welcome to Ed RIley and Heather Carmargo, both swimming the upper half.... Stages 1-4!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • ?ui=2&ik=c57809a50c&view=fimg&th=145a5214fbaae1e7&attid=0.5&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-zeNXtWdyimPT9zxgJam5jsqAyTVWj54-fze-9PVAhVpWTJjFTQ9FZiS6IAUa_DVDEYZxU9jK2EftBvvLn0ZbOrYl56f8MgOyJtbvFYD74RBXLcRJgkcy8EP0&ats=1398696591975&rm=145a5214fbaae1e7&zw&sz=w1231-h604

    Driving over the Hamilton Fish Bridge (Newburgh Beacon, AKA bridge 4) and my daughter caught this rainbow landing at the Beacon Landing!

    Hope you enjoy it.

    I don't know if I'll be in town that week. If I am I am looking forward to meeting you at the finish line! What an incredible event this looks to be!
  • malinakamalinaka Seattle, WACharter Member
    [An open letter to the organizers of 8 Bridges]

    Dear 8 Bridges,

    How do you expect me to swim 120 miles without a solid breakfast? Your lack of foresight and preparation both confuses and concerns me. Luckily, your loyal followers have stepped forth to pick up the slack. Please accept and use this map I've made of the 8 Bridges course showing the nearest and most highly-recommended places to get bagels and other delicious breakfast foods. Note that you will not find a single Dunkin' on this map - there is a reason for that.

    Link to map

    I've personally vetted about half of the 22 recommendations on here, and look forward to vetting and re-vetting them all with you in three weeks.

    Viva la waffle,
    Andrew

    I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.

  • gregocgregoc Charter Member
    Andrew, do they all serve waffles and beer?
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    malinaka wrote:
    [An open letter to the organizers of 8 Bridges]

    Dear 8 Bridges,

    How do you expect me to swim 120 miles without a solid breakfast? Your lack of foresight and preparation both confuses and concerns me.

    Viva la waffle,
    Andrew

    Well done Andrew.
    Back in the old days of 2010, I thought it would be fun to team up with a bunch of italian restaurants along the way and fuel up with 8 bowls of pasta... but the latest american dietary fads (gluten free, paleo, etc) have brushed aside my beloved noodle; From celebrated main course to “don’t tell my wife you saw me eating this”. Had Marco Polo been able to see this sad future, he would have certainly left the lo mein out of his carry-on luggage.

    If you want to win points with Clare, you will have to find 8 cupcake joints....

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • jcmalickjcmalick Wilmington, DEMember
    @david_barra, for Clare....

    EIGHT CUPCAKES
    -BRANDO'S ALLEY BAKERY (Catskills, NY)
    -JJ'S ROCKIN CUPCAKES (Kingston, NY)
    -JACQUELYN HOAG'S CAKES (Pleasant Valley, NY)
    -YUMMEE CUPCAKES CAFE (Newburgh, NY)
    -BAKE ME A WISH BAKERY (Peekskill, NY)
    -COFFEE LABS ROASTERS (Tarrytown, NY)
    -CRUMBS BAKE SHOP (Manhattan, NY)
    -BROOKLYN CUPCAKE (duh!)

    I Challenge @gvanderbyl to a cake off to see who can eat one cupcake from each place the fastest in one sitting (perhaps this could be a side challenge at the end of the swim celebration!)

    sharkAttack.jpg

    (BTW, I know this is a cake, but when searching swimmer & cupcake in google, this came up and it's priceless...wish I got this for my 16th birthday!!!)
  • edited May 2014
    best to all participating

    Pic reminds me, aren't you swimming right past Hoboken? Home of Cake Boss? (The lobster tails and the crumb cake are the best things they have there.)
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    UA4EGLGDTQDA.jpg
    We are ordering black Patagonia Adze jackets with this beautiful and colorful logo embroidered on the back... 12" high. All 8 bridges! Email me within the next two days if you want to order one. dvdbarra1-at-gmail.com

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    That's pretty awesome @david_barra!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Stage 1 results:
    1. Andrew Malinak 4:44:41
    2. Heather Camargo 4:55:47
    3. Ed Riley 5:03:27
    4. James Penrose 5:33:42

    Beautiful sunny day with a little tail wind!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    Congrats swimmers!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member
    Yay Andrew! Wooooohooo!

    I was thinking about you while I was swimming today and that motivated me to one more 1000.

    I hope you feel great and good luck for the rest of the week.
    :-bd

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    @Andrewswims Malinak is our guest blogger for the week. Here's his first post from Stage 1 today.
    http://www.8bridges.org/more/blog/
    http://andrewswims.com/

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Stage 2 Results:
    Andrew Malinak 5:50:53
    Heather Camargo. 6:07:46
    Ed Riley. 7:10:51
    James Penrose 8:03:13

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • Does anyone know what time they left Poughkeepsie this morning? Any predictions what time they'll be getting into Beacon?
  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Stage 3 results:
    1. John Humenik 3:39:51
    2. Heather Camargo 3:52:26
    3. Frank Levy 3:53:40
    4. Ed Riley 4:04:25
    5. John Royer 4:08:53
    6. James Penrose 4:18:30
    7. Martin Turecky 4:22:15
    8. Mo Siegel 4:24:37
    9. Mark Watson 4:32:07
    10. Andrew Malinak 4:38:38
    11. Charles Bender 5:15:11

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin
    edited June 2014
    @malinaka, you alright buddy?

    nice record, John H!
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member
    @evmo beat me to it!

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • malinakamalinaka Seattle, WACharter Member
    At the risk of jinxing things, I'll keep it brief and tell you the whole story after the story ends. Yesterday was not my best day. I awoke nauseous and it only got worse from there. Today's forecast looks better.

    I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    Stage 4 results:
    1. Dave Farrell 4:12:26 (men's record)
    2. Heather Camargo 4:39:57
    3. Michele Walters 4:40:52
    4. Andrew Malinak 4:46:12
    5. Ed Riley 5:10:08
    6. Melissa Kretschmer 5:33:16
    7. James Penrose 5:36:21
    8. Mo Siegel 5:57:34
    9. Jia Jung. 6:05:57
    10. Wilson Hong 6:07:43
    11. Gen Wanatabe 6:11:08

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • malinakamalinaka Seattle, WACharter Member
    edited June 2014
    Launch 5 captain Greg Porteus has posted some awesome photos on The Facebook, for those of you who do that sort of thing. https://facebook.com/AmandaPorteusFilms

    I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    The longest Stage saw some tough conditions this year. Additionally, construction of the replacement Tappan Zee narrowed the approach to the bridge to the main channel

    Stage 5 Results:
    Andrew Malinak 9:22:41
    Lynne Ascione/Susan Kirk relay 10:30 DNF
    James Penrose 9:40 DNF
    Yuta Tsuboi 8:00 DNF
    Mike Genelli 6:00 DNF

    A southerly headwind diminished the current enough to make it difficult to make headway to the Tappan Zee within the ebb tide.

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    From the splash at the Tappan Zee, we were hammered by wind and chop. Historically, Stage 6 is the “fast one”.... not today. We called it at 6.5 ours when the flood became overpowering. For some of the swimmers, this was their longest swim to date. Celebration followed at La Marina.
    Stage 6 Results:
    1. Andrew Malinak 5:03:47
    2. Janet Harris 5:12:30
    3. Lynn Ascione 5:19:49
    4. Hannah Borgeson 5:29:40

    Rick Shanley, Susan Kirk, Laura Picardo, James Penrose & Jaimie Monahan swam within a mile of the bridge. Janine Serrell and Capri Djatiasmoro were a little further back. After over six hours of swimming, these swimmers were pulled because of the opposing flood current.

    For the second day, strong southerly winds significantly reduced the push of the ebb current. And so it goes with open water swimming...

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    It wasn’t smooth sailing today, howling wind and white caps at the Verrazano. Can’t wait to read the swimmer blogs.

    A special shout out to @Andrewswims... first male, and 3rd human to complete all 7 in a week. He joins Gracie Van der Byl and Rondi Davies.

    Triple Crowner #75 James Penrose, while coming up short on a couple of bridges, logged more swim time in the Hudson than anyone else I know. We wish him great good luck on his North Channel attempt later this season.

    Heather Camargo and Ed Riley tackled Stages 1-4

    Janet Harris, Hannah Borgeson, John Humenik, Mo Siegal, Yuta Tsuboi, John Royer, Capri Djatiasmoro, Richard Shanley, and Jaimie Monahan.... all 8 Bridges alum returned for more Hudson River H2O.

    What a great week. Thanks to all who made it possible!

    Stage 7 results:
    1. Lori King 5:43:11
    2. Andrew Malinak 5:57:58
    3. Kenn Lichtenwalter 7:05:55
    4. James Penrose 7:15:24

    Great job all swimmers from Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member
    Congrats Andrew! That's a long time to have your face in the water. Impressive!

    Next time you come to Colman Pool, hit me up for a free trip down the slide. You totally earned it! :)

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    http://www.8bridges.org/more/blog/
    Some thoughts from @Andrewswims on stages 5 and 6

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • david_barradavid_barra NYCharter Member
    The following blog post is from my good friend Harris Silver, an ideas man. Harris joined 8B 2014 as Agent Orange’s First Mate. The company and conversation were always good.http://inmyowndamnwords.blogspot.com/2014/06/lets-swim-that-bridge-when-we-get-to-it.html

    I like the idea of combining the three “COney Island Inlet” options as a swim.... tricky though, since one would want to time the tide change around passing Seagate.... another job for Rondi!

    ...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

  • edited June 2014
    Not to put too fine a point on it but... In the bridges count, Harris didn't even mention that the Beacon Newburgh and the Newburgh Beacon (from the north) are counted as 1 bridge. :ar!
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