David Heron and David Holscher Kick Off the Inaugural Trans Tahoe Solo UltraMarathon

July 16, 2022

open water swimming, Ultramarathon Swim Series

David Heron and David Holscher Kick Off the Inaugural Trans Tahoe Solo UltraMarathon

The Trans Tahoe Relay started in 1976 and has become an annual reunion of the global open water swimming community. Traditionally done as a relay, WOWSA has partnered with the Olympic Club of San Francisco to offer a 15.5 km Trans Tahoe Solo race as part of the 2022 UltraMarathon Swim Series.

The new UltraMarathon Swim Series combines elite and professional open water swimmers with amateur marathon swimmers. The Trans Tahoe Solo was the second race on the UltraMarathon Swim Series after the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli kicked off in late June, followed by the Authentic Marathon Swim in Greece held in early July.

Adding a solo division to the 15.5 kilometer course at 6,000 feet (1829 meters) of altitude in water temperature between 12-15°C (55-60°F) puts the event on par with some of the toughest marathon swims around the world.

The solo division was held concurrently with the relay portion of the event on July 16th. David Heron, a long-time member of the USA Swimming National Open Water Team dominated the competition and beat the relay teams that were mostly comprised of adult masters swimmers. David Holscher, a member of the Night Train Swimmers in the Bay Area used the race to augment his training for his upcoming English Channel attempt and said he loved the competition and opportunity to swim hard at high altitude in water that is comparable to the English Channel.

“Many Olympians, world champions, and professional marathon swimmers have participated in the Trans Tahoe Relays. But now soloists can race and compete on this famed course – and enjoy the unparalleled ambience of the pre- and post-race activities in Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is also famous for solo crossings but now the venue is part of the new Ultramarathon Swim Series that ties marathon swimming events around the world in a unified manner,” said Steven Munatones. “What David Heron did today was impressive. A solo swimmer beating six-member relay teams on the same course at the same time – and many of these relay teams have very accomplished and experienced competitive swimmers on them.”

David Heron

Made his first USA National team in open water in 2012 and have been on it ever since. Competed at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Trials. His goal to make the 2024 Olympic Team in open water. David is a 5x national champion in open water, silver medalist at the 2015 Pan American Games (10km).

David Holscher

David Holscher is an American open water swimmer from California and a member of the Night Train Swimmers who began swimming at very young age at the beach in Southern California. He is swimming the English Channel in August to complete his Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

If you are an amateur or professional swimmer, you can apply through the Ultramarathon Swim Series portal for 2023 by filling the application below.

TRANS TAHOE SOLO SWIMMER APPLICATION 2023

About Trans Tahoe Relay

Trans Tahoe Relay began in 1976 when Olympian Frank Coghlan proposed the idea of a race between the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club of San Francisco that was established in 1877 and Olympic Club of San Francisco across the beautiful, clear waters of Lake Tahoe. With over 1,000 swimmers annually participating in the relay race, the event has become a popular reunion among masters swimmers around the world.

About the Ultramarathon Swim Series

The UltraMarathon Swim Series in a new global circuit organizes and promotes the world’s coldest, hardest, longest, toughest, most extreme open water swims around the world. The Series is by, for, and about ultramarathon and extreme open water swimmers. For more information on how to participate in the series as an athlete or event organizer, visit the Ultramarathon Swim Series event organizer area for more information.

2022 UltraMarathon Swim Series Events: