The Deep Enders

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The Deep Enders, including Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, and Stacey Warmuth swam 112.8 km (70.1 miles) between San Nicolas Island and the California mainland, escorted by Greg Elliot and supported by Theo Schmeeckle and observed by Lynn Kubasek and Jax Cole, were nominated for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year for their 33 hour 37 minute relay
The Ventura Deep Enders included Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, and Stacey Warmuth who swam 70.1 miles (112.8 km) in 33 hours 37 minutes on 12-13 October 2015
The Deep Enders' San Nicholas Island crossing is nominated for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year for recognition of their extraordinarily difficult swim of 33 hours 37 minutes

The Ventura Deep Enders are a group of open water swimmers in Ventura, California ages 29 to 64 who embrace the freedom of the ocean and the power of friendship. The Deep Enders members include Jim McConica, Tamie Stewart, John Chung, Theo Schmeeckle, Stacey Warmuth, Thomas Ball and Donald Stafford.

San Nicolas Island Swim

The Ventura Deep Enders including Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, and Stacey Warmuth swam from San Nicholas Island in the California Channel Islands to Point Vicente on the California mainland, a distance is 70.1 miles (112.8 km) under the auspices of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association on 12-13 October 2015 in 33 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds.

Their crew consisted of support crew chief Theo Schmeeckle, escort pilot Greg Elliot, kayakers Allen Ball, Jill Ball, Bob Howell, Patty Howell, Pam Jirkowsky and Carol Lacy together with Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association observers Lynn Kubasek and Jax Cole. Their efforts were nominated for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

Ventura Deep Enders from San Nicholas Island to San Pedro


Courtesy of Lynn Kubasek of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
The Ventura Deep Enders relay swam from San Nicolas Island to San Pedro, California on 12-13 October 2015 on an unprecedented 112.8 km crossing of 33 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds. Coached by Theo Schmeeckle, the team comprised of Zach Jirkovsky, Jim McConica, John Chung, Stacey Warmuth, Tom Ball and Tamie Stewart. Escort kayakers and support crew included Allen Ball, Jill Ball, Bob Howell, Patty Howell, Pam Jirkowsky and Carol Lacy. The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association observers were Lynn Kubasek and Jax Cole. The swim was guided by Bottom Scratcher with captain Greg Elliot, Craig and Danny.

2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nominee

The Deep Enders are nominated for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association along with the following nominees:

1. Andreas Fath (Germany) Swim for Science
2. Andrea Fazio (Italy) Like Father, Like Son
3. Christian Reichert (Germany) FINA World Cup Champion
4. Dan Projansky (U.S.A.) Butterflying Marathoner
5. Jim Clifford (U.S.A.) Oldest Triple Crowner
6. Fast and Frozen by Henri Kaarma (Estonia), Ryan Stramrood (South Africa), Anna Carin-Nordin (Sweden), Patrick Corcoran (Ireland), Zdeněk Thalmika (Czech Republic), Elina Makïnen (Finland) Two-way North Channel Relay
7. Ganga Avahan by by Paramvir Singh, Gullupilli Narahari, Saripilli Srihari (India) Stage Swimmers
8. Jordan Wilimovsky (U.S.A.) Olympian & World Champion
9. Kelly Gneiting (U.S.A.) Sumo Swimmer
10. Kimberley Chambers (New Zealand) Farallon Freestyler
11. Matthew Moseley (U.S.A.) Trifecta Lake-Ocean-River Swimmer
12. Mike Arbuthnot (South Africa) Midmar Mile Founder
13. Nejib Belhedi (Tunisia) Camel Swim
14. Night Train Swimmers by Grace van der Byl, Dave Holscher, Kimberley Chambers, Adam Eilath, Ashley Horne, Vito Bialla (U.S.A./New Zealand) NT300 Relay
15. Oceans Seven Relay by Rick Gaenzle, Chris Kraus, Brian Ross (U.S.A.) Triumphant Trio
16. Susan Simmons (Canada) Swimming with Multiple Sclerosis
17. Swim The Eden Expedition by Calum Hudson, Jack Hudson, Robbie Hudson (Great Britain) Brotherly Wild Swim
18. Team Nadadores Locos by Amy Appelhans Gubser, Kirk McKinney, Les Mangold, John Sims, Jeff Everett, Andrew McLaughlin (U.S.A.) Two-way Farallon Islands Relay
19. The Old Men And The Sea Relay by Don Baker, Dr. Bill Spore, Dave Radcliffe, Graham Johnston, Bob Best, Bob Beach, Norm Stupfel (U.S.A.) Catalina Cruisers
20. The Deep Enders by Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, Stacey Warmuth (U.S.A.) San Nicholas Channelers
21. Theodore Yach (South Africa) Robben Island Swimmer
22. Trent Theroux (U.S.A.) Comeback Circumnavigation
23. Wendy Trehiou (Jersey) Saint Malo to Jersey

2015 WOWSA Award Nomination

The Deep Ender's 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year nomination reads as follows:

The Deep Enders by Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, Stacey Warmuth (U.S.A.) San Nicholas Channelers
 Far, far offshore from the California coast, an uninhibited island made famous by the 1960 novel Island of the Blue Dolphin rests. Despite the plethora of ocean swimmers around the Pacific Rim, no one had yet attempted to swim the 112.8 km (70.1 miles) between San Nicholas Island and the California mainland. But The Deep Enders, a passionately serious group of masters swimmers in Ventura, took on the challenge. The sextet (64-year-old Jim McConica, 55-year-old Tom Ball, 45-year-old John Chung, 34-year-old Zach Jirkovsky, 42-year-old Tamie Stewart, and 59-year-old Stacey Warmuth), escorted by Greg Elliot, battled rough conditions and marine life to complete the unprecedented relay in 33 hours 37 minutes. For their long swim back from over 100 km out to sea, for their triumphant effort and logistics to get the swim accomplished, and for their ongoing pioneering spirit that spews enjoyment when they hit the ocean, The Deep Enders’ San Nicholas Crossing is a worthy nominee for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

External links

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