Though retired, Erik Vendt, swims for fun and has some great advice for open water racers!

Next Week, Erik Vendt, will compete in the, Tiburon Mile, an open water race that swims directly below the Golden Gate Bridge. Though retired, it's great to know that Vendt swims for fun.

From the Marin Independent Journal:

Vendt, who signed his international swimming retirement papers earlier this year, says he is no longer in shape to seriously compete with the top-notch swimmers Placak has lined up for this year's race. But now he knows the winning strategy.

"Follow the leader and wait for your chance," he said. "I learned that the hard way."

It was just the start of Vendt's education on the Tiburon shores - the place where his competitive past met his successful future.

[Link]

The paper also discusses Erik Vendt's post Olympic life and the history he has with the Tiburon Mile people.

For videos, photographs and general event information check out their site: [Link]

I have to add this, with his longer hair and beard, don't you think he looks like a pirate? Harrrr!

Oil Spill in the San Francisco Bay Could Threaten Wildlife for years

From CNN: "... The oil spilled from a South Korea-bound container ship when it struck a tower supporting the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in dense fog Wednesday. The accident did not damage the span, but the vessel's hull was gashed, officials said. See the damage to the tower and the ship

Tides carried a plume of heavy fuel beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Pacific Ocean. By Thursday afternoon, oil had been sighted about 15 miles north of the city, and at least eight beaches in San Francisco and Marin County were closed. Watch cleanup efforts get under way ..."

This disaster poses a lot of questions as well. Will the Alcatraz Sharkfest, the Alcatraz Challenge, the Tiburon Mile and numerous other events be cancelled? When will open water swimming for the S.F. swimmers at large be viable?