Ryland Sutton has an eye for the open water, honed after hundreds of hours of escort kayaking in the Pacific Ocean and various lakes.
Time and time again, Sutton has kept his cool during close encounters with whales and sharks, seals and sea lions, manta rays and dolphins. He has battled through large surf off the beaches of Zuma and Point Dume State Beach and thick kelp forests and thick, heavy fog hanging around the Palos Verdes Peninsula between Redondo Beach and Cabrillo Beach in Southern California.
Most of the time, the water conditions are more smooth than tough and without happenings like his escort kayaking at the SCAR Challenge in Arizona, across the Catalina Channel, during the Around Coronado Swim, and from Anacapa Island in California.
He packs a good menu while on his travels – and knows what to look for on dryland and in the open water.
My Two Sons
He will be taking photos at this weekend’s International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies where he will attend with this brother Tyler Sutton and father Steve Sutton.
The IMSHOF induction ceremonies have been long sold out and will be held at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego (see here).
The Sutton trio all serve as observers and kayakers for their closest channels near their home: for the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation and the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association. Their home and mode of transportation are testaments to their passion for adventure, channel crossings, and marathon swimming.
Swimsuits, caps, goggles, kayaks, lanolin jars, edible goodies of all types, gloves, fins, kickboards, Vasa Swim Erg, yoga mats, backpacks, drink mixes, glow sticks, chemical lights, hypothermia blankets, inspirational books…you name it, they have it at their home and in their car. Talk about tides and tidal charts, currents and waves, swimming at night or bodysurfing, and The Sutton’s are prepared and able.
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