SKANEATELES - Even the overcast skies and strong winds coming off the water couldn't dampen the spirits of the 139 swimmers who took to the water early Sunday morning for the second annual Escape from the Judge, as the second leg of the Skaneateles Labor Day Race Weekend kicked off.
The one-mile swim starting from the deck of the Judge Ben Wiles tour boat (stationed on the waters by the Skaneateles Country Club) has been one of the most popular events of the race weekend since it started last summer.
The Wiles holds just over 100 passengers, this year to accommodate the demand of participants, extra boats were added.
“We sold out again this year,” Chris Legg, community relations director for the race, said. “We even added extra seating and we still sold out. We had 45 extra seats and we still sold them all out.”
The unique nature of the race may account for its popularity.
“I think it is the novelty of it,” Legg said. “The title of it alone I think makes people curious. You are going to jump off this boat and break out and try to escape from the boat as you race to the shore. I think it is just something unique and different.”
This year's race drew swimmers both young and old from all over central New York, many of whom have ties to Skaneateles.
“I was talked into this last year by Lee Michaels,” said John Sherry, of Rochester. “It is a really unique race. You get a great view of all the houses along the lake and it is a different kind of challenge to swim an open water race like this.”
Michaels, of Skaneateles, a strong advocate of the race, had the distinction of being the oldest participant in the men's category at 65.
For Michaels, getting older only means getting better.
“I did all right,” Michaels said. “I was about 30 seconds faster than I was last year. I was happy with that. I guess any time you can say you are a year older and you swim a little better that is always a good thing and something to be happy about. But I think this is a really terrific event and it is remarkable to see so many people out here for it this year.”
This year, there were a number of first-time racers like John Van Slyke, of Skaneateles, who has decided to tackle every event over Labor Day weekend.
“I had to work last year so I couldn't do any of this,” Van Slyke said. “I do a lot of triathlons and I wanted to get in all the events this weekend. I've been to a lot of events, but I think this one is one of the best in all of upstate.”
The race also had a lot of support from the Skaneateles girls varsity swim team both in and out of the water.
“Three of us swam,” Keri Steves said. “Some of us were out there being lifeguards. When we heard about it it just sounded like it would be a lot of fun. In practice we swim a lot of yards and a mile is just 72 laps in our pool and this is a lot easier because you aren't being timed and there isn't as much to think about, like kick turns and stuff. This was a lot of fun and I think we”ll definitely be back next year.”
Steves and fellow teammates Jen Coffin and Elisabeth Holbein all had strong performances, finishing right around the half-hour mark, but said that conditions made things a little more difficult.
“The waves were tough,” Coffin said. “It wasn't too bad but they were definitely against you and the water was pretty cold, but it was still cool and helps us get in shape for the season.”
Taking the top honors in the men's division for the second straight year was Alex Meyer, of Ithaca, who was joined by women's top finisher Ashley Twichell, of Fayetteville.
Meyer, who will be attending Harvard where he will be a member of the swim team, was pretty amazed by his performance.
“This is a really good race,” Meyer said.
“There aren't too many open water races like this. I train for swimming year round, but there isn't anything like swimming open-water races, I love the challenge of them when the water is cold and choppy like today. I really love this race, it is a lot of fun and if I can I will definitely be back here again next year.”
The Wiles holds just over 100 passengers, this year to accommodate the demand of participants, extra boats were added.
“We sold out again this year,” Chris Legg, community relations director for the race, said. “We even added extra seating and we still sold out. We had 45 extra seats and we still sold them all out.”
The unique nature of the race may account for its popularity.
“I think it is the novelty of it,” Legg said. “The title of it alone I think makes people curious. You are going to jump off this boat and break out and try to escape from the boat as you race to the shore. I think it is just something unique and different.”
This year's race drew swimmers both young and old from all over central New York, many of whom have ties to Skaneateles.
“I was talked into this last year by Lee Michaels,” said John Sherry, of Rochester. “It is a really unique race. You get a great view of all the houses along the lake and it is a different kind of challenge to swim an open water race like this.”
Michaels, of Skaneateles, a strong advocate of the race, had the distinction of being the oldest participant in the men's category at 65.
For Michaels, getting older only means getting better.
“I did all right,” Michaels said. “I was about 30 seconds faster than I was last year. I was happy with that. I guess any time you can say you are a year older and you swim a little better that is always a good thing and something to be happy about. But I think this is a really terrific event and it is remarkable to see so many people out here for it this year.”
This year, there were a number of first-time racers like John Van Slyke, of Skaneateles, who has decided to tackle every event over Labor Day weekend.
“I had to work last year so I couldn't do any of this,” Van Slyke said. “I do a lot of triathlons and I wanted to get in all the events this weekend. I've been to a lot of events, but I think this one is one of the best in all of upstate.”
The race also had a lot of support from the Skaneateles girls varsity swim team both in and out of the water.
“Three of us swam,” Keri Steves said. “Some of us were out there being lifeguards. When we heard about it it just sounded like it would be a lot of fun. In practice we swim a lot of yards and a mile is just 72 laps in our pool and this is a lot easier because you aren't being timed and there isn't as much to think about, like kick turns and stuff. This was a lot of fun and I think we”ll definitely be back next year.”
Steves and fellow teammates Jen Coffin and Elisabeth Holbein all had strong performances, finishing right around the half-hour mark, but said that conditions made things a little more difficult.
“The waves were tough,” Coffin said. “It wasn't too bad but they were definitely against you and the water was pretty cold, but it was still cool and helps us get in shape for the season.”
Taking the top honors in the men's division for the second straight year was Alex Meyer, of Ithaca, who was joined by women's top finisher Ashley Twichell, of Fayetteville.
Meyer, who will be attending Harvard where he will be a member of the swim team, was pretty amazed by his performance.
“This is a really good race,” Meyer said.
“There aren't too many open water races like this. I train for swimming year round, but there isn't anything like swimming open-water races, I love the challenge of them when the water is cold and choppy like today. I really love this race, it is a lot of fun and if I can I will definitely be back here again next year.”
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