your three favorite open water swims...

My three favorites (out of a whopping six I've done so far): 1) Dart 10K in Dartmouth, UK. First 10K, non-competitive, with a wonderful current to push you along. Although I didn't partake, I think it funny that the Brits had two feeding stations (rubber boats in the water at 4K and 8K) where they served crumpets and tea. 2) Christiansborg Round, Copenhagen, Denmark. Easy 2K around the parliament building. Cold water (14-15C) and friendly people. 3) Cyprus 5K. Despite some peculiarities for me (see my personal non-USMS blog for info), still a wonderful experience. Can you beat swimming in the Med? My bucket list, in no particular order: 1) Donner Lake. Don't know why, just think it would be neat to swim at that elevation and location; 2) Salt Lake marathon, for historical reasons (see Gord's blog); 3) Swim the Suck (which I'll be doing in October); 4) Pennock in AK. Because I miss Alaska; 5) Highland Lakes Challenge, for the 5 in a row; 6) Loch Ness OW swim, because Scotland is wonderful and the Scots are awesome, and their beer ain't half-bad either; 7) 3 10Ks in 3 seas of Israel. History, again. I could go on...and on...

In 1956 I had a couple of beers at a bar in Sydney Australia. It was known as the longest stand up bar in the British Empire. I cannot recall what it was called, but it was pretty famous at that time. haha do you remember what part of town it was?

Right across the street from Bondi Beach. They also had a great lemon crush with whisky. haha do you remember what part of town it was?

From reading his autobiography, Des Renford likely frequented the establishment. When I think Aussie OW, I think of his 19 EC crossings in 19 attempts (while residing in Australia, no less). The other thing Sydney brings to mind is the easy and cheap access to the uber-beautiful waters a short flight away in New Caledonia, which offers the 22 mile diameter coral atoll of Ouvea, the 9 mile width of Lifou's Baie du Santal, the 28 mile channel between the two, and the 28 between Lifou and Mare.

I'm also an expat Aussie who took up swimming after leaving Oz, but I'm using OWS events as a good excuse for trips home :) I did the Rottnest Channel swim as a relay last year (rottnestchannelswim.com.au/) which an awesome event - 800 teams, solos and duos make for an incredible flotilla of support boats on the water. The water is clear enough to see the ocean floor for pretty much the whole swim, and with plastic Aussie money you can slip a 50 in your suit and walk straight into the pub for a beer or two after crossing the finish. I'm heading back in May for my first solo distance swim (a 10K) with southheadroughwater.com/ very much looking forward to that. Nice!!!!!! shouldn't be a problem getting a beer in Watson's Bay after the swim either! The shark nets go all the way around, right? :) I'm gonna have to find a way to sneak back for a swim while the kids are in school....

In 1956 I had a couple of beers at a bar in Sydney Australia. It was known as the longest stand up bar in the British Empire. I cannot recall what it was called, but it was pretty famous at that time.

Chesapeake Bay Swim - where I got my start Kingdom Swim the swim in Sandpoint, ID, very nice location and super clear water. I don't know that I have done any I DISliked, but those three are my favorites.

I think the only one I ever disliked was the one in Miami. Having said that I'm thinking of doing it this year because there's not much else on in April

On the pure open water swims not necessarily connected to races I loved adventure swimming on the North Shore of Oahu. Watching the sea life, following turtles, climbing up on out cropping and diving/jumping back in, is just priceless. I've swam the La Jolla Roughwater swim six times. La Jolla is an awesome extended weekend get-away and yea and they have this big race :-) Plus I just like swimming there even when no racing is involved, it's beautiful and again abundant sea life to keep the swim interesting. The http://www.horsetoothswim.com/ in Colorado, nothing like swimming a mile high right up against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Honarable mentions: Aquatic Park, San Francisco - Just love getting in cold water swims here and then hanging out in the Sauna of one of swim clubs. I'm always a bit envious of the folks who live there and get to do it all the time. Speaking of the Bay, like the Alcatraz Challenge race, kinda short but I won in it in 09 and although they may get tired of me telling the story ;-) It's fun to say you swam from Alcatraz and won it as well. Home training area Chatfield State Park, southwest of the Denver metropolitan area. Another lake tucked up against' the foothills, it's getting crowded with all the interest in OW these days but in that golden evening sun, swimming with your best swim pals, it's always nice.

Interesting question. I am going to exclude relays because its just a different event swimming with friends--otherwise Trans Tahoe and Maui would be first--or maybe just behind the Fiji 18k relay. But for open water races, in no particular order, my favorites are the Waikiki Roughwater, and the Bondi to Bronte Race--I've only done the latter once but its a great event. Superbly run, great and interesting course. It takes some strategy and skill to do well. Same for Waikiki except that I have done it more times. For a 3rd, its a hard choice--it might be the Liberty Island Swim. Well run, very interesting course doing a tight circumnavigation of Liberty Island. Worth a trip to NYC. Having said that, St. Croix, the La Jolla Roughwater(with all its quirks and complications), Around the Rock(Alcatraz), Corona Del Mar in Orange County, the Santa Barbara 6-mile, the Elk Lake swims in Bend, Oregon, the Bermuda swims, the New York Aquarium 5, Big Shoulders(on a nice day) and the Fiji solo swim are all close behind those 3.