David S. Clark Talks Safety And The Catalina Channel Season On WOWSA Live
David S. Clark Talks Safety, Catalina Channel Season On WOWSA Live
Sponsored by KAATSU Global, Huntington Beach, California.
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Administrator David S. Clark has swum, kayaked, crewed, coached and coordinated over 150 channel swims around the world – including Catalina Channel, English Channel and North Channel – on today’s WOWSA Live program.
Clark has been long a leading figure as a coach, paddler, observer and safety guru of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation over the decades. He took part in over half of all Catalina Channel crossings between 1984 and 2004. He led the development of the safety practices/procedures and mandatory observer trainings which are world leading. He completed a 1986 crossing of the Catalina Channel in 12 hours 34
minutes and a crossing in 1988 of the English Channel in 9 hours 47 minutes.
The Californian has spent decades on the world’s ocean. During his interview with International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame chairperson Ned Denison, he recalled:
* remembering Lakewood Aquatics under the coaching of Jim Montrella and then meeting Penny Dean and John York
* swimming across 9 hours 47 minutes and kayaking for Catalina Channel record holders Peter Huisveld and Chad Hundeby as well as Carlos Costa and Jim McConica
* coaching, coordinating, kayaking over 150 Catalina Channel crossing
* using the Rule of 5 as a safety measure in a channel swim
* explaining the reasons for having two observers and for having quick feedings on a Catalina Channel
* explaining the reasons why the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation cancelled its 2020 season
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor – Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming’s Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University’s John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.