Vito Bialla
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A self-made business entrepreneur, author and extreme athlete who got into the open water world in his adult years, he is one of the primary drivers of the Night Train Swimmers in the San Francisco Bay area.
Bialla is also one of the founding members of the Farallon Islands Swimming Federation and an experienced pilot for the Farallon Islands Swimming Federation. He also wrote an autobiography Happiness Is A Sharp Chainsaw.
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Happiness Is A Sharp Chainsaw
The autobiography of a German immigrant who survived Vietnam, founded an executive headhunting firm, sailed on the edge, and found love and satisfaction while meeting the challenge of the greatest Ultra endurance tests on the planet. 100% of proceeds donated to Semper Fi Fund.
Escort Pilot
Vito has skillfully escorted swimmers on this 30-mile course, renowned to be one of the two most difficult, coldest, most perilous marathon swims in the world. Water temperatures can range from 50°F (10°C) to 55.4°F (13°C), but temperatures have been recorded lower on several occasions. The water conditions are usually extremely rough with cresting ocean swells up to 20 feet. Currents and tides often exceed the speed of the fastest swimmers. It is a swim not lightly attempted and expertly guided by Vito in his SEQUEL.
Vito uses his SEQUEL, a Grand Banks East Bay 43, to escort solo and relay swimmers. Photos and videos of swims conducted by Vito are posted on the The Farallons Islands Swimming Federation website. Vito provides real-time GPS tracking of solo and relay swimmers here on the Farallon Islands Swimming Federation website.
History of Swims in the Farallon Islands
Relay Swimmer for the Night Train Swimmers: Vito was a member of a relay from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands. May 20, 2011, covering 26.4 nautical miles. Time finished: 14:45:08. The team members were Phil Cutti, Darin Connolly, Dave Holscher, Vito Bialla, John Mathews and Kim Chambers.
Escort Pilot for the Night Train Swimmers: Vito guided an all-female team from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands. June 4, 2011, covering 26.4 nautical miles. Time finished: 16:29:08. The team members were Kim Chambers, Laura Vartain Horn, Cathy Delneo, Melissa King, Patti Bauernfeind, and Lynn Kubasek.
Other Marathon Swims
Bialla has participated in marathon relay swims in the English Channel, Catalina Channel, Sea of Cortez (Mexico) and Lake Powell (Arizona-Utah). He has set a world record as part of the Mexican American Unity Swim in Lake Powell for the longest non-stop lake relay record and completed a 5:41 Strait of Gibraltar swim in 2010.
SF to SB Relay
Bialla captained the Night Train Swimmers that attempted the world's longest non-stop ocean relay swim attempt (339 miles or 545.4km) in September 2012, raising US$1.2 million for Semper Fi, together with Phil Cutti, Patti Bauernfeind, Dave Holscher, Joe Locke, Kim Chambers and Zack Jirkovsky. It was halted after 6 days due to bloom after bloom of venomous jellyfish.
California Coastal Relay Swim
The Night Train Swimmers will attempt to set the world record for the longest non-stop ocean relay swim in history with its planned 228-mile (367 km) attempt to swim down the California coast from Point Conception to Coronado in August 2013. Under the direction of captain Bialla, its relay members include Phil Cutti, David Holscher, Zach Jirkovsky, Luane Rowe, Blair Cannon, and Grace van der Byl.
Videos
Contact
Contact information for Bialla can be found here.
External links
- Bialla & Associates
- Night Train Swimmers
- Farallon Islands Swimming Federation
- Interview with Ted Erikson and Vito Bialla
- Vito Bialla with Ted Erikson and Greta Andersen
- Vitality and Vigor with Vito
- Making Time for Breaking Records and Helping Others
- Night Train Swimmers On Course To The Farallones
- Happiness Is A Sharp Chainsaw
- High and Live on Lake Tahoe
- Escort Pilots On The High Seas
- Night Train Swimmers website
- Night Train Swimmers Are Looking Good
- Night Train Swimmers Head Off In Reverse
- Making Time for Breaking Records and Helping Others
- Night Train Swimmers On Course To The Farallones
- Night Train Swimmer Are Off Radar
- Open Water Swimming website
- Drive Up, Swim Down, An Unprecedented California Adventure
- Kraving For Food In The Open Water
- 2012 World Open Water Swimming Offerings of the Year Nominations
- Night Train Swimmers Announce World Record Relay Attempt
- Not Since 1967 Has This Swim Been Done
- Joe Locke Swimming, Come Hell Or High Water
- You Can't Make It If You Don't Try
