Since deciding to complete this challenge, a wonderful bunch of talented people have rallied around me.
My Family
My wife has been very supportive of my challenge, and without this and the love of my three wonderful girls, I would not be able to work towards this goal.
As well as looking after us all, she's a key swimming support crew, paddler, and planning to be in the boat on the day.
As well as looking after us all, she's a key swimming support crew, paddler, and planning to be in the boat on the day.
Frosty Nuts
Since starting swimming for this challenge and meeting the Bold & The Beautiful in Manly (see below), a group of us have become particularly close and rally around long distance swims.
The Nuts are the swimmers, supported by a bunch of squirrels. You know who you are - you are all wonderful.
The Nuts are the swimmers, supported by a bunch of squirrels. You know who you are - you are all wonderful.
Alex Prendergast
Alex is my head handler and all round supporter. Key Nut, really helps me by paddling, swimming, feeding, and encouraging.
Vlad
Vlad runs VladSwim in sydney. He's a passionate coach and runs squads which continue to help me realise just how much more training I need to do. His favourite catchphrases include: "if you can't, get out of my pool", and, "smile, it's your leisure time....". Together with Charm Frend they are a formidable team and have helped me a lot.
www.vladswim.com.au
www.vladswim.com.au
Collie Kinsela
Collie was my official "channel mentor" in 2012. He successfully crossed solo in 2007, and is inspirational for me because barely four years beforehand he finished dead last in his first 2km ocean swim in Sydney. He's a great guy, very wise, with a random but hysterical sense of humour which can always be relied upon when the going gets tough. Collie's my partner for adventurous training "journey-swims" around Sydney.
Sarah Dacres-Manning (dietician)
Sarah really helped me get a handle on my nutrition in 2012, and I believe this will be really key to my training and success on the day. My diet has been radically altered, and I have learned to eat more frequently, especially before and after big sessions. She's also got me taking my heart rate every morning and weighing myself before and after training!
Sarah's trained many notable athetes, and no doubt been a positive influence on many Australian and international house-hold names. www.dynamicdietitians.com.au
Sarah's trained many notable athetes, and no doubt been a positive influence on many Australian and international house-hold names. www.dynamicdietitians.com.au
The Bold & the Beautiful
Informal swimming group setup and run by Julie Isbill. Fantastic bunch of people who meet in Manly every day for a swim in the ocean. Very inspiring, and they have been very supportive. http://www.pacificjules.com.au/bold--beautiful.html
Iain McGregor
Iain's a brilliant swimmer and a lovely guy to-boot. He crossed successfully in 2011 after 15 grueling hours. He's a much better swimmer than me so I'm going to need all the help I can get! We swim together with the Bold & the Beautiful swim group in Manly.
Ben McGuire
Ben crossed successfully in 2007, and has been a fountain of advice and encouragement. Even though he's overseas now, if I send him an email with a random question, he's guaranteed to respond within 24 hours!
Cameron Spittle
All round great guy who crossed in one of the fastest times last year. Has been very helpful sharing tips about training, diet, and mind. Famous for riding to the pool (on a scooter) in nothing more than a t-shirt, and melting ice cubes in his hands every night......
Ben Wearing
Ben is a brilliant coach who made a massive impact with me in the early days of my mission. A practitioner of "total immersion" swimming techniques, he's a great guy with fantastic beliefs. Hopefully his faith in me will be rewarded.
www.barefish.com.au
www.barefish.com.au
Calvin Liu
Calvin's genuinely the nicest man in the world. He's an amazingly talented graphic and web designer, and helps people out in his spare time! He's been very kind with me and helped me put this website together. Thanks Calvin, you're a star.