SANTA CRUZ – Hundreds of open water swimming enthusiasts gathered at Main Beach to participate in the two races of the Santa Cruz Open Water Weekend.
Trevor Gillis, 49, who is competing in the Quicksilver Masters in San Jose, was a double winner, taking first place in both the 2-mile Roughwater Cruise on Sunday and the 49th annual Roughwater 1-Mile Swim on Saturday.
He completed the 2-mile race in 38 minutes and 53 seconds and the 1-mile swim in 18:29.
A swimmer jumps into the ocean at the start of the 2-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer prepares to compete in the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” held off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Swimmers help each other prepare for the 2-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer participates in the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer participates in the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Athletes are briefed before the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” on Sunday off Main Beach in Santa Cruz. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer participates in the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Swimmers compete in the 2-mile “Cruz Cruise” open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Swimmers circle turnaround buoy two during the Cruz Cruise 2-mile open water swim Sunday off Main Beach in Santa Cruz. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Swimmers make their way toward the third turn buoy during the 2-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer participates in the 2-mile open water swim “Cruz Cruise” off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A swimmer approaches the second turn buoy during the 2-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
1 from 12
A swimmer jumps into the ocean at the start of the 2-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim off Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Expand
A total of 330 swimmers participated in the Roughwater Swim, including 30 for Santa Cruz Masters Aquatics, and 130 participated in the Cruz Cruise, including 18 Cruzers.
In Sunday’s race, John Chapman (41:11) from Felton and Tesla Profumo (42:31) from Santa Cruz were the best local riders. In addition, Profumo was the fastest woman and finished sixth overall.
Jeffrey Smith (41:20) and Helena Fabregas (44:01) were the fastest swimmers in wetsuits.
Suzanne Reidinger, 80, of Aptos, was the oldest competitor and won her age group.
In the Roughwater Swim, Madison Gruender, a UC Santa Cruz graduate student who hails from Mill Valley, was the fastest woman, finishing in 20:46 and placing 14th overall.
Former UCSC swimmer Jack Calhoun (18:39) took third place and was the best local swimmer.
Among those wearing wetsuits in the 1-mile swim, Micah Gay (19:45) of Chicago was not only the best woman but also the overall winner. Omer Baristiran (20:37) of San Francisco took second and was the fastest man.
