MORAVIA - Jodie Powers was 17 years old when she swam across Skaneateles Lake.
On Monday morning, the now-48-year-old Genoa resident swam a mile - from Seward's Point to Casowasco - as part of Swim Owasco. The event, now in its third year, is organized by members of the Owasco Lakefront Owners Association.
For Powers, the morning was part of a larger goal: to swim all of the Finger Lakes.
"I fell off a dock at Otisco Lake when I was 18 months old, and they didn't see me until I was swimming onto the shore," said Powers, who swam Monday's mile in 45 minutes. "I'm a water lily. I just can't help it."
About 87 people participated in this year's swim, which began at Camp Rotary and measured about 1.5 miles. Those who wanted to swim a little less could start at Seward's Point. Many swam as families. Association co-founder Judy LeFever estimated that the youngest swimmer was 11; the oldest swimmers were in their late 60s.
Les Lange, of Pittsford, swam with his son and daughter. He was one of the first men onshore.
"I know a couple of kids went by me," Lange said. "They got speed still, those little rats."
Lange said that he could see his breath when he started swimming around 8 a.m. but that the water was warmer than he thought it was going to be.
What was cold was the air, and as swimmers started to come on to the rocky shore around 9:10 a.m., families and friends applauded and then promptly handed over towels and sweatshirts.
Ashley King was one of those shivering, goosebumped individuals. But for King, 13, Monday's swim was a labor (day) of love.
She was one of several Auburn High School swim team members taking part in the event.
"She's just very motivated," said her mom, Laurie, as King hugged her towel.
King said that she had no trouble finding the shore because she was guided by a buoy on the back of a boat. Each swimmer was required to have a tender to watch them and make sure nothing went wrong.
But Matt Valvo, also on the swim team, said that he had some problems with navigation.
"It's tough to swim in a straight line," Valvo, 17, said. "I must have zig-zagged another half-mile or so."
As participants came toward shore, their caps bobbed in the still, glistening waters - a far cry from last year's weather.
"It was a lot easier (this year)," said Nicholas McCormick, 15, a member of the Canandaigua Academy varsity swim team. "Last year there were really big waves."
McCormick was greeted by - and participated with - a rather large contingency of family members.
That family aspect is one of the reasons for the event, LeFever said, noting that Casowasco hosts a large breakfast for everyone after the swim.
LeFever and association co-founder Pamela Sullivan, who swam the non-competitive event, also hope the annual swim will interest people in some of the issues confronting the lake.
Residents have recently expressed complaints about the proliferation of zebra mussels and the number of weeds in the lake, LeFever said.
In fact, several swimmers talked of having to swim through weed clumps.
Besides the public awareness aspects, Swim Owasco is a good way to bid farewell to the season, LeFever said. Powers, still full of enthusiasm and adrenaline, agreed.
"I couldn't have picked a better way to end the summer," she said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
For Powers, the morning was part of a larger goal: to swim all of the Finger Lakes.
"I fell off a dock at Otisco Lake when I was 18 months old, and they didn't see me until I was swimming onto the shore," said Powers, who swam Monday's mile in 45 minutes. "I'm a water lily. I just can't help it."
About 87 people participated in this year's swim, which began at Camp Rotary and measured about 1.5 miles. Those who wanted to swim a little less could start at Seward's Point. Many swam as families. Association co-founder Judy LeFever estimated that the youngest swimmer was 11; the oldest swimmers were in their late 60s.
Les Lange, of Pittsford, swam with his son and daughter. He was one of the first men onshore.
"I know a couple of kids went by me," Lange said. "They got speed still, those little rats."
Lange said that he could see his breath when he started swimming around 8 a.m. but that the water was warmer than he thought it was going to be.
What was cold was the air, and as swimmers started to come on to the rocky shore around 9:10 a.m., families and friends applauded and then promptly handed over towels and sweatshirts.
Ashley King was one of those shivering, goosebumped individuals. But for King, 13, Monday's swim was a labor (day) of love.
She was one of several Auburn High School swim team members taking part in the event.
"She's just very motivated," said her mom, Laurie, as King hugged her towel.
King said that she had no trouble finding the shore because she was guided by a buoy on the back of a boat. Each swimmer was required to have a tender to watch them and make sure nothing went wrong.
But Matt Valvo, also on the swim team, said that he had some problems with navigation.
"It's tough to swim in a straight line," Valvo, 17, said. "I must have zig-zagged another half-mile or so."
As participants came toward shore, their caps bobbed in the still, glistening waters - a far cry from last year's weather.
"It was a lot easier (this year)," said Nicholas McCormick, 15, a member of the Canandaigua Academy varsity swim team. "Last year there were really big waves."
McCormick was greeted by - and participated with - a rather large contingency of family members.
That family aspect is one of the reasons for the event, LeFever said, noting that Casowasco hosts a large breakfast for everyone after the swim.
LeFever and association co-founder Pamela Sullivan, who swam the non-competitive event, also hope the annual swim will interest people in some of the issues confronting the lake.
Residents have recently expressed complaints about the proliferation of zebra mussels and the number of weeds in the lake, LeFever said.
In fact, several swimmers talked of having to swim through weed clumps.
Besides the public awareness aspects, Swim Owasco is a good way to bid farewell to the season, LeFever said. Powers, still full of enthusiasm and adrenaline, agreed.
"I couldn't have picked a better way to end the summer," she said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
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