A Mini-Channel Swim?

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

Hello Kal Lake Swimmers:

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the ATLS in Kelowna on Saturday! Nature threw us a huge curveball with strong winds blowing up the lake from the south. While the bridge acted as a breakwater sparing us from the wave action on its other side, it had set up a strong current as the wind was pushing water under the bridge's pontoons. As a result, we all got a taste in miniature of what Robynne and Kylie were facing as they had to buck even stronger currents around Cap Gris Nez on their Channel swims. Like in the Channel, the current was strongest as we approached the finish when many of us were physically and mentally drained.

Tragically, one of the swimmers lost his life during the swim, a first in the seventy-seven year history of the ATLS. The swimmer was a member of OMSC and, I believe, is known to some of you OMSC swimmers in this email group. My heartfelt condolences go out to you, as well as to his family and friends.

I have no doubt that ATLS will undergo a thorough review of their processes to determine if there are any changes that can be made to keep the odds of any similar incidents as miniscule as possible. No matter what steps are taken the risks cannot be reduced to zero. 

While the cause of death is listed as drowning, further medical investigation would be necessary to determine if this was the primary cause. The fact that he was a competent swimmer, and that he was found near Tugboat Bay would make this unlikely.

We should expect to see some changes to future swims as ATLS will do everything reasonable to keep this from happening in the future. The fact that this is the first loss of life after tens of thousands of successful swims over the years stands as a testament to ATLS's excellent safety record. One of the anticipated changes we are likely to see is the mandatory requirement for Swim Buddies. To date these have not been required for the Kelowna Swim as ATLS has numerous powerboats patrolling both sides of the swimmers' corridor to keep recreational boaters away from the swimmers. Under Saturday's conditions, where currents pushed swimmers north and spread us out over a five square kilometre area, this was not possible. Swim Buddies will ensure safer swims if difficult conditions recur. (See Gary's picture above)

This incident serves as a sobering reminder for our group as we do our swims in Kal Park. Because personal risk is elevated when swimming alone, our email group facilitates communication that better enables us to swim with one or more partners. We must always be cognizant of the fact that open water swimming is never a zero-risk activity. I thought it would be timely to share a set of guidelines in the hope that by following them we can keep our swims as low risk as is reasonably possible:

• Swim with a friend. Juniper Bay is fairly remote and Cosens Bay even more so. While I have occasionally swum alone between Juniper Beach and Rattlesnake Point, I have not gone around the corner alone into Cosens Bay. Besides the remoteness, it is far more difficult to exit the water on the Cosens Bay side.
  
• Always wear a Swim Buddy. Our swims take us out into areas where we share the water with boaters, paddlers, wave-riders and even cliff-jumpers, especially on the Cosens Bay side. They are often travelling very fast, too fast to avoid us if they don't see us well in advance. Having bright-coloured Swim Buddies on our backs gives us that visibility to help other water users steer clear. Bright coloured swim caps make us even more conspicuous. A Swim Buddy can also be used as a floatation device to allow for support in the event of cramps, nausea, hyperventilation or exhaustion. The "Cruiser" models also have a practical place to secure valuables like wallets and keys.
  
• Be aware of surroundings. When we swim in open water it is imperative that we stay alert to our surroundings. We should sight often to check where we are, what is near us, what might be a hazard, or are there conditions that are changing. While we may be very conspicuous, we can't assume that boaters are always looking. My colleagues never miss an opportunity to remind me about the time I swam headfirst into a boat, or when I got mauled by big friendly dog.
  
• Respect the conditions. "What a crazy stupid idea! What time do we start?"  We joke about some of the antics and challenges that we put ourselves through, especially if they are fun or very helpful with training and performance (less fun). At the same time, we need to be vigilant in assuring that these activities are not inherently dangerous to ourselves or our colleagues. The following are the kinds of questions that we need to ask ourselves when we face less than perfect conditions or challenges (as happens so often):

• Am I capable of handling this?
• What are the consequences and procedures if not?
• Is there smoke?
• Is there a risk of thunderstorms?
• Can I handle the water temperature? (Hypothermia OR Overheating)
• Can I get back safely from where I'm going?
• What if the waves get worse?
• Can I handle the currents?

• Maintain medical fitness for the activity. Especially for those of us who are older, we should be getting regular medical checks sufficient to receive assurance from a medical professional that we are healthy enough to undertake open water swimming without undue risk to ourselves.

As long as we are fully aware that our activity is not without some risk, and that we act accordingly to keep it to a minimum, there is no reason not to keep swimming, keep enjoying each other's company, and keep enjoying  the privilege of swimming in one of the most beautiful spots in the province.

I hope everyone took this evening off and that we'll have clearer conditions for our next swim on Thursday at 5:30pm. (Hope is not a prediction!)

Cheers,

Mike