Upolu Savai’i swim Your Guide to the Big Swim
By the time most of us get out of bed to face the day on Thursday, our brave swimmers, will already have started their journey across to Salelologa.
Here is your inaugural line up for the race across to Savai’i. The Upolu-Savaii swim is the longest Open Water race in the Southern Hemisphere. The race is the opening event of the inaugural Savai’i Games, 2016.
The five individual swimmers have all done an amazing amount of work to train for the biggest race of their lives. They have expended a lot of dollars in this dream of theirs, to swim from Mulifanua to Salelologa. The distance is 22.3KM, the longest race to be held here. Here are some race facts.
Swimmer Profiles
Bronwen Burmster, 60yrs
Mother / Business Woman
Whangamata, New Zealand
When she was 10yrs old, she told her father that she wanted to swim the English Channel someday. She has not gotten around to getting over to England to do that swim. This is her English Channel, the fulfilment of a 50yr dream.
Swim Captain, Moss Burmester (Olympic Swimmer, Commonwealth Record holder, Free diver)
Kayak, Cole Burmester
Start time, 6am
Expected finish, 3pm
Kate Sinclair, 37yrs
Intensive Care Nurse at John Flynn Private Hospital
Gold Coast, Queensland
Kate is on her way to swimming the English Channel. The Upolu-Savaii Swim is part of her preparations to fulfil that dream.
Swim Captain, Dr Katrina Sinclair (mother)
Kayak, Tino Fonesitino (Outdoor Samoa)
Start time, 6am
Expected Finish, 3pm
Todd Pritchard, 49yrs
Celebrates 50 years on Saturday
9th April
GP at City Med in Central
Auckland
Todd is swimming for Melanoma
New Zealand and to celebrate his
50th birthday on Saturday
9th April.
Swim Captain, Rosie Sharman
Kayak, Daryl Baker
Start time, 6am
Expected finish, 3pm
Abby Armstrong, 28yrs
Student, Health and Sport Science
Hamilton, New Zealand
Abby found her way back to discover much more to add to her amazing life with partner Sam and as a young Kiwi woman living the dream
Swim Captain, Pete Armstrong
(Dad)
Kayak, Jo Armstrong (mum) and
Pat Gallagher (training partner)
Start time, 9am
Expected finish, 3-4pm
Phillip Ryan, 25yrs
Swim Coach at Waterhole in West
Auckland
West Auckland, New Zealand
Phillip is building up to the qualifier for the Rio Olympics in June for the Rio Olympics in the 10km swim. This is his opportunity to put in some long racing across to Savai’i. Phillip has swum the Samoa Swim Series twice before, and raced here NZ in the Oceania Champs in 2010.
Swim Captain, Judith Wright (also coach)
Kayak, Lauaki Afifimailagi
Start time, 10am
Expected finish, 4pm
Team Samoa
Kim Taunga, Steve Nimarota and
Shane Taivai Paulo
The team is headed by Kim who is a regular at Samoa Swim Series and other Samoa Events activities
Swim captain, Greg Johnson
Kayak, Apisaloma Nimarota
Start time, 6am
Expected finish, 4pm
Team Savai’i
Mailata Iosia Leau, Daniel Afoa,
Sam Nimarota
Team team is headed by Iosia Leau who was the last person to swim to Savaii in 1988. That swim was Salelologa to Tafua peninsula
Swim Captain TBC
Kayak, Kolani Sekai
Expected finish, 4pm
Starting Venue, Aqua Samoa / Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort
Finishing spot, Salelologa Wharf
Race Director, Seti Afoa
Organisation, Samoa Events
Safety & Technical Director, Mike Cochrane
Forecast, for fine weather, light winds, perfect for the swim.
Thank you to the following businesses for their kind Support in this Event
Ford Samoa, Samoa Shipping Corporation, Savaii Samoa Tourism Association, Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Magik FM, Samoa Observer, Samoa Helicopters, Samoa Red Cross, Aiga Manaia Clinic (Lalomalava), Outdoor Samoa. Follow the Race with live updates on the UPOLU-SAVAII SWIM and SAVAII GAMES Facebook Pages. Live link.