Waikiki Roughwater Swim lives up to its name

The 50th annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim held true to its name as rescue crews assisted hundreds of struggling swimmers to shore.

More than 350 race participants were plucked out of the water by crews from the Honolulu Fire Department and Ocean Safety & Lifeguard Services; 15 lifeguards from Aloha Surf Lifesaving, an agency hired by race organizers; members of the Outrigger Canoe Club; and good Samaritans.

The 2.4-mile race with approximately 1,000 swimmers started shortly after 8:30 a.m. at Sans Souci Beach fronting the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel and ended at Duke Kaha­namoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village. There were five “waves,” or heats, with approximately 250 people in each.

“The ocean conditions were really tough. We were heading straight into a current for the whole race,” said race champion Ollie Signorini, 22, of Sydney, who finished in an hour and three minutes. Defending his 2018 win, this was Signo­rini’s fourth time participating and his third win. In 2018 he finished in 44 minutes and 53 seconds, and in 2016 he won the event in 59 minutes and 48 seconds.

Signorini described Monday’s race as the toughest. “I feel like I’m close to the fittest I (have) ever been this year and the slowest I (have) ever been, so it was definitely the hardest just in terms of course navigation and strength,” he said.

At about 9:45 a.m. nearly 30 firefighters responded to Waikiki and used Jet Skis to help hundreds of swimmers return to shore “due to strong currents and rougher than expected conditions,” said Honolulu fire spokesman Capt. Scot Seguirant.

Shayne Enright, spokeswoman of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, said many swimmers were picked up from waters on the Diamond Head side of Kaimana Beach.

Monday’s event was similar to past Waikiki Roughwater Races requiring the assistance of firefighters and lifeguards for hundreds of participants. Organizers had warned swimmers of the strong currents before the start of the race.

“We were prepared to bring people in,” said race director Kaia Hedlund.

In 2005 the race was canceled due to strong currents, and huge surf led to cancellation in 2015. The 2014 race was heartbreaking for organizers and swimmers when Punahou School teacher Daniel Mindich, 48, died in the 45th annual competition after he ran into trouble halfway through the race.

Jim Cotton, founder of the Waikiki Roughwater, held the first one in October 1970 with about three dozen swimmers, primarily Hawaii residents. A swimmer and surfer, Cotton modeled the race after the La Jolla Roughwater Swim in California where he grew up.

In 1978 the Waikiki Roughwater was interwoven into an Ironman competition for athletes who wanted to further challenge their endurance. That triathlon included the Roughwater race, the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon and the 112-mile Around-Oahu Bike Race.

Cotton, 86, a retired structural engineer, swam in Monday’s race for about a half-hour before he sought assistance to return to shore. “It was just too much for me,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said, “I’m so happy how this swim is so popular. Even though bad currents happen, I think a lot of people would keep coming because it’s a charming swim.”

The Waikiki Roughwater attracts swimmers from ages 7 to 80 worldwide.

“Everything is beautiful here from the sand out,” said Cotton, who hopes the race will continue for another 50 years.

Defending 2018 female champion Ashley Twichell, 30, a member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Swim Team, finished first again Monday at an hour and four minutes. This was her second time at the Waikiki Roughwater.

At one point she said it felt as though she was swimming in the same spot for a while.“We were looking at the same building for a long time,” she said.

“The current was crazy,” said Becca Mann, 21, who in August became the first swimmer to finish the Maui Nui Triple Channel Swim, and placed fourth Monday. During the course, Mann said, she came across a group of turtles.

“I saw like 10 turtles swimming together. I’ve never seen that many turtles all together in one pack,” she said.

Alex Kostich, 49, of Los Angeles, who has won the race three times, said Monday’s was one of the most challenging for him.

“Out of the 27 times I’ve done it, I rank this in the top three in terms of difficulty. There were periods where I was just swimming as hard as I could and I was going backwards,” said Kostich, senior vice president of creative marketing of Participant Media, a film company that produced “Green Book,” which won the Oscar for best picture, and “Roma,” which won the Oscar for best foreign language film.

He first competed in the Waikiki Roughwater in 1993 and has entered the race every year since then. “There’s no other event like it. You’re not only battling the elements, but you’re also in the most recognizable and one of the (most) iconic places in the world,” Kostich said. “It’s one of the most beautiful ocean swims in the world, and I’ve done many.”

Kostich, who recently bought a condominium in Kona, said, “I intend to be at the 100th event even though I’ll be swimming a lot slower. If nature allows, I’ll be there.”

To view the race results of the 50th Waikiki Roughwater Swim, visit 808ne.ws/2019WaikikiRoughwaterSwim.