July 18, 2004

51st edition of local event takes place next Saturday

By COURTNEY McCANN For The Press, (609) 272-7210

The Atlantic City Around the Island Marathon Swim is more than just a race. It's a local tradition.

"It's almost like Atlantic City's own 'Night in Venice,' " said Carol Goloff, Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Around the Island Swim. "People here are amazed that anyone can swim 221/2 miles."

The Around the Island Swim, now in its 51st year, features a 221/2-mile (37-kilometer) trek around Absecon Island. It started out in 1953 as a $100 bet between Atlantic City lifeguards Ed Solitare and Ed "Dutch" Stetser - to see if they could both make it all the way around the island.

The race has grown in the past 51 years and now is sanctioned as a part of the FINA World Cup marathon swim series. This year's race features some of the worlds' top professional and amateur male and female swimmers, in addition to a minimum $25,000 purse.

The swim begins at 8 a.m. next Saturday at Gardner's Basin at the north end of Absecon Island. Swimmers will head out of the inlet and around the island in a clockwise direction, starting with a 10-mile ocean leg and ending with a trek back to Gardner's Basin via the back bays of Longport, Margate, Ventnor and Atlantic City.

"Our motto is that it's the toughest swim of the year," Goloff said. "Everyone who swims it agrees."

In 2003, a group of Russian swimmers dominated the event in their first year of competition. Yuri Kudinov outswam Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev to win for the men. Natalia Pakina was the first female finisher. While Pakina is expected to be at the starting line on Saturday, Kudinov has not yet committed himself to the event.

"Kudinov hasn't applied for the race yet, but he has won some World Cup events this year," Goloff said. "The courtesy is that all World Cup winners are permitted to enter any race. So he could show up the day of the race and still compete."

In the meantime, Bulgaria's Stoychev is favored among the male swimmers. Stoychev, who is ahead in the World Cup standings, will travel to Athens, Greece, several days after the race to compete in the Olympics for Bulgaria.

In the women's competition, Pakina returns as champion and should face strong competition from Australia's Shelley Clark.

A bonus for this year's crop of swimmers will be a rise in ocean temperature. In 2003, the ocean temperature (normally 65-75 degrees) and the bay temperatures (normally 70-80 degrees) were abnormally low due to "upwelling." This year, the swimmers can anticipate some friendlier temperatures.

"We're expecting the weather to be good and the water to be warm," Goloff said. "The only problem may be the jellyfish."

As always, local residents will line the island's shores, waiting to cheer on the swimmers.

"The crowds along the back bay are always amazing," Goloff said. "They really buoy the swimmers' spirits.

"You would think that (the swimmers) can't hear or don't care about the people," Goloff added. "But (the swimmers) always remark that the Atlantic City crowd is wonderful."

On Thursday night, race fans are welcome to attend "Meet the Swimmers Night" from 4-6 p.m. at the Flying Cloud Restaurant in Gardner's Basin, Atlantic City. Volunteers are also needed to lend a hand on race day. Those interested may contact Mary McCracken at mmccr@ix.Netcom.com.

To e-mail Courtney McCann at The Press:

CMcCann@pressofac.com