U.S. Masters Swimming will present its first Open Water Swim Clinic in conjunction with the USMS 25K Open Water Nationals in Noblesville, Indiana.
The clinic is headlined by a number of experienced Triple Crown swimmers including Mallory Mead and Jim Barber. The coaching staff has more than 100 years of open water swimming experience under its collective swim caps.
With such a large number of experienced coaches, everyone from beginners to veterans will have the opportunity to develop their technical open water swimming skills and racing knowledge for swims ranging from triathlon swim legs to difficult channel swims.
The coaches include Mallory Mead, a coach and open water specialist for Southern California Aquatics in Los Angeles. She was the 39th Person ever to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming (English Channel, Catalina Channel and Manhattan Island Marathon Swim). She is a USMS 10K
national champion on her way to the Ocean’s Seven An Indiana native and race director for The Swim For Kids’ Sake.
Kris Houchens is an 18-year coaching veteran and is the Head Coach of YMCA Indy
Swim Fit, USMS Club of the Year for 2006. Kris coaches everyone including elite triathletes and open water swimmers and was honored as the Speedo USMS Coach of the Year Award in 2007.
Kevin Sherman is 7-year veteran who was a USMS 10K national champion, runner-up in the 2008 USMS 25K National Championship, 2nd in the Swim Across the Sound 25K with years of experience in triathalons.
Dick Sidner is an open water swimmer, race director, and coach from Noblesville, Indiana who served as the Race Director for the USMS 10K National Championships and two 25K National Championships. He presented at the USMS Open Water Safety Conference and is a frequent contributer to swimming publications and is the creator of SwimOpenWater.net.
Jeff Maydeck has over 20 years experience in coaching, and currently is the Head Coach at Noblesville Adult Swim
Team. He has earned various Long Distance accolades from USMS, including Long Distance All-Star and Long
Distance All-American honors. He is a five-time USMS National Champion and has completed numerous 5k, 10k,
and a 25k race.
Ben Christoffel is a masters swimmer, administrator, coach, and professional videographer from Indianapolis, IN.
Ben is a USMS National Record Holder, eight-time USMS All-American, and a four-time U.S. Open participant. He
currently holds the position of Online Media Manager at U.S. Masters Swimming and coaches part-time for Indy
Swim Fit.
Victoria Rian is an open water swimmer fromVictoria Rian is an open water swimmer from Indianapolis, IN. Her open water swimming experience includes Big
Shoulders in Chicago, St. Croix, Bermuda, Long Island Sound, and Catalina Channel. Her Catalina Channel
crossing from Catalina to Mainland in 2010 earned her a spot in the top ten fastest crossings by a woman. She is a
2010 USMS 10K and 2008 USMS 25K National Champion. In 2009, she was the 1 st female out of the water in the
Swim Across the Sound 25K. Victoria is an astute student of the sport and is more than willing to share her
knowledge through mentoring.
Jim Barber is an open water swimmer from Indianapolis, IN, having become the 37th person in the world to
complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming (English Channel, Catalina Channel, and Manhattan Island
Marathon Swim). Jim’s open water swimming experience goes back years and also includes the Long Island
Sound, Big Shoulders, Key West, Seal Beach Rough VVater, St Croix, Coronado Island, and the Chesapeake Bay
Swim.
Will Simmons is an open water swimmer, triathlete, and support crew member from Indianapolis, IN. Will found
open water swimming later in life, after swimming collegiately for Purdue and many years in masters swimming with
Indy Swim Fit as a sprinter. Since then, he has swum nearly every distance from 5k to a successful English Channel
swim in 2009. He also competes in triathalons and has completed an Ironman. Will puts his kayaking prowess and
open water knowledge to good use by lending his services as support crew to ultra distance swimming events and
as part of the safety support team for various open water swims.
Jeff Halbert is an open water swimmer from Indianapolis, IN. Vllhile his open water credentials are impressive,
including an English Channel crossing, Long Island Sound, USMS 25k Nationals, and Big Shoulders, he has also
earned several USMS titles and Top 10 National Rankings in the pool for Distance Freestyle, Individual Medley,
and Butterfly.
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