Fast and fun swimming in paradise – the 44th annual Waikiki Roughwater swim featured a number of the world’s best open water swimmers and a huge dynamic field. The one common denominator was a love for the sport and a passion for the water. Here’s some images from this year’s event.
Honolulu local Steve Allnutt was one of the top finishers. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Johan Steiner of San Francisco rolls with the double shaka at the finish and grabs 3rd place in the 45 to 49 division. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Australia’s Rachelle King was smooth at the finish and took second in the 19 to 24 division (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Even folks from the famed Outrigger Canoe Club joined in to help serve as escorts along the 2.4 mile course. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Paulo De Paula from Brazil dolphin dives into the shallow water before the finish (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
settling into pace (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
swimmers underway at the start of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Open water star Luane Rowe has been ripping it up all summer and was the second overall woman at this year’s Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Lifeguard Ron Bregman was part of an amazing safety crew supporting the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Alex Kostich in his 21st Waikiki Roughwater Swim (he’s won it 4 times and has been a top 10 male finisher in every race) was 6th place overall. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
alone time at the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Australian Olympian (1996) Malcolm Allen took top honors in the men’s 40 – 44 division. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Australia’s Ridge Grimsey was third overall. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Waikiki Roughwater Swim Race Director Kaia Hedlund does a truly amazing job in overseeing a committed operations team. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Ridge Grimsey making his way to the final run up the beach at the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Hawaiian open water swimmer Meredith Novack has some big swims coming up in the coming weeks. The Waikiki Roughwater Swim is relatively short for this marathon swimmer. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
super aloha. Swimmers from Rainbow Aquatics do a phenomenal job every year in supporting the swimmers at both the start and the finish of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
get your marks before you take your marks in open water swimming. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Australia’s George O’Brien was a close second at the 2013 Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
It comes in waves. 5 waves comprise the start of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Australian Rhys Mainstone takes the title again in 2013. The open water swimming star won the race in 2012 too. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
underway at the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
strong finish by localsTaiyo Endo (winner in the boys 11/12) and Jessica Nohara. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
gotta have fun before the gun goes off. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Japan’s swimming superstar Kosuke Kitajima won the men’s 30-34 division. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Champion Rhys Mainstone feeling good at the finish. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
San Diego’s Jeff Milton relaxed at the start took 3rd in the men’s 55-59. (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
Any photos from awards ceremony?
love love love these pictures! this event looks awesome, definitely one to put on the calendar for the years ahead!
Great race, well organised—– pity about the “T” Shirts—– go back to cotton
Some cracking snaps there fair play
A strong field as usual with impressive performances by the top place getters. Amazing to see 3 men over 40 in the Top 10- with Mal (4th), Alex (6th) & Paul (7th) all up there. Inspirational.
These are such amazing pictures, providing great coverage of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. Each photo tells a brilliant and interesting story. This truly captures the encouraging and inviting atmosphere. Looks like a great day for swimming!
This event looks and sounds like an amazingly fun open water race
I don’t want to have to swim way-way behind Alex Kostich, but I will (happily) if you have 75 and older division? Thanks, pete