George Tidmarsh, MD, PhD is one very intelligent and busy individual.

The professor and medical doctor at Stanford University teaches pediatrics and neonatology at Stanford Medical School and has founded four successful companies: La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Horizon Pharma, Threshold Pharmaceuticals, and Nuveta while leading the development of a number of FDA-approved drugs for conditions ranging from the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to use of angiotensin II for the treatment of shock.

One of nine children, he also saw success in the pool from his high school years (where he won four state titles at the renowned Hinsdale Township HIgh School) to setting a world record in the 45-49 age group in the 1500m freestyle (17:10.90).

While staying in shape and competing in open water swims, he launched three medical companies, launched several IPO’s, and published over 30 articles and abstracts.

His large family dynamics, competitive swim team experience, and business acumen were the foundation for his belief in teamwork and hard work.

That foundation has been epitomized in the open water with his long-time participation in the Trans Tahoe Relay, a 15.5 km high-altitude competition across Lake Tahoe (6,224 feet or 189 meters) from Sand Harbor Beach in the state of Nevada to Skylandia Beach in the state of California.

He has competed in the renowned event since 2005 (see results below). He explains, “For the earlier years where there were fewer than 6 swimmers, I swam twice during the traverse across Lake Tahoe. After that, all teams were required to have 6 swimmers. It’s actually easier to find 4 or 5 swimmers and swim twice than to find a sixth swimmer who can be as fast.”

But he has also recruited Olympic medalists, FINA world champions, FINA Cup podium finishers, and English Channel record holders to his team, the Take Eleven Milers, over the years.

Trans Tahoe is a stunningly beautiful and well-organized masters swimming relay event in Lake Tahoe. The 10-mile high-altitude swim race is organized by the Olympic Club of San Francisco annually drawing hundreds of teams of swimmers from around the world. It is long-time member of America’s Top 100 Open Water Swims and the World’s Top 100 Open Water Swims.

Trans Tahoe started when Olympic Club members, led by Frank Coghlan, decided to challenge each other to a team race across Lake Tahoe in 1976. Soon after, other clubs were invited to join this annual Invitational Relay event. In 2011, the race attracted over 1,134 competitors. In 2015, 228 teams of 6 entered the race (222 teams finished).

The race is extremely competitive among the top teams. Tidmarsh-led teams have won in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023.

And there seems to be no end of his success in sight.

2005 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Take Eleven Milers 3:39:10 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Barton Wells)
2. Mixed Bag 3:42:41
3. RCP Tiburon Milers 3:43:55
4. Arden Hills 3:50:53 WellsB
5. Tri-Valley Greatest Hits 2nd Edition 3:51:16

2006 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:22:07 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Barton Wells)
2. RCP Tiburon Milers 3:22:08
3. TOC “Bring it Back O’CLUB” 3:34:26
4. Otter Pops 2 3:36:49
5. Ventura County Masters 3:37:11

Photo above shows the close finish between Heidi George and Bob Placak as he dives towards the finish.

2007 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:29:17 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Brandon Johnson)
2. 5 Yanks and a Cannuck 3:36:55
3. RCP Tiburon Milers 3:37:34
4. Sierra Nevada I 3:39:34
5. Half Baked Clams 3:42:06

2008 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. RCP Tiburon Milers 3:10:41
2. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:17:19 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Brandon Johnson)
3. Mixed Bag 3:22:02
4. Eric’s Magic Eagles 3:24:29
5. Half Baked Clams 3:27:55

2009 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:26:06.4 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Brandon Johnson)
2. Blue Seventy 3:31:14.1
3. Hazen’s Raisins 3:33:37.5
4. S.B. Representin’ 3:38:49.9
5. Half Baked Clams 3:41:13.3

2010 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. RCP Tiburon Milers 3:18:52
2. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:21:12 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Markus Rogan, Andy Seibt)
3. Blue Seventy 3:22:27
4. Half Baked Clams 3:23:16
5. 2 Girls and 4 Fish 3:30:54

2011: did not participate

2012 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Tattersalls Masters Australia 3:13:03
2. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:24:47 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Clayton Jones, Heidi George, Alex Wold, Russell Payne)
3. Lady and Her Tramps 3:35:16
4. Gilliseyeroos 3:38:04
5. Jurassic Park 3:41:34

2013 Results

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Courtney Monsees, Trevor Gillis)

2014 Results

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Alex Wold)

2015 Top 5 Results

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:19:32 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Christine Jennings)
2. TOC Men’s A 3:22:01 (Chad La Tourette, captain)
3. We’ve Got Nico 3:32:14 (Wyatt Butler, captain)
4. Oliver’s Chicks 3:39:19 (Katie Kastes, captain)
5. The Blue Minds 3:40:40 (Katie Glenn, captain)

2016 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. TOC Latourett 3:25:50
2. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:26:51 (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Franco Lupoli)
3. Two Towell Rob and the Heartbreaker 3:36:08
4. Los Chulos 3:42:22
5. Sir and the Five Squires 3:49:41

2017 Results

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers (George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Franco Lupoli, Bernardo Abascal)

2018 Results: abandoned due to health with George Tidmarsh, Brad Howe, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Franco Lupoli

2019: did not participate

2020: race cancelled

2021 Top 5 Results (see here): 

1. Meet Me at Chambers 3:31:09
2. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:40:58 (George Tidmarsh, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Joey Pedraza, Brian Lynch, Steve Warner)
3. Stiff Ripples 3:48:57
4. Los Makos 3:51:22
5. After Party at Erika’s 3:51:58

2022 Top 5 Results (see here) 

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:26:33 (George Tidmarsh, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Thomas Lurz, Ruwen Straub, Lea Boy)
2. Don’t Look Just Swim 3:32:54
3. Men Overboard 3:49:00
4. Stiffer Ripples 3:52:40
5. NBA Originals 3:57:14

2023 Top 5 Results (see here)

1. Tahoe Eleven Milers 3:19:53 (George Tidmarsh, Heidi George, Barton Wells, Thomas Lurz, Ruwen Straub, Andreas Waschburger)
2. Tropic Like It’s Hot (TOC) 3:25:16
3. Seal Spotter Support Group 3:48:27
4. Nuclear Missiles Big Torpedos 3:59:30
5. Pegasus 4:02:21

© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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