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Biography, Pedro Ordenes

= Our founder, Pedro H. Ordenes, is known around the world for his challenging, record-breaking swims. Pedro holds the world record for Alcatraz swim crossings (currently 340 !). He is also the only person to have completed a round trip crossing of the Beagle Channel between Chile and Argentina, in water temperatures averaging 39. And in 1999, Pedro swam across the Strait of Magellan in 39.7 waters to celebrate the new millennia.

In addition to participating in many San Francisco Bay swims and local triathlons, Pedro is currently training for a swim across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia, in order to promote international good will through open water swimming.

Originally from Chile, Pedro fell in love with the San Francisco Bay during his first visit in 1988. Years before, it had been Pedro’s father’s dream to swim from Alcatraz to the shores of Aquatic Park when he, too, had first visited San Francisco. However, at that time Alcatraz was an active Federal Penitentiary and swims were forbidden. Pedro realized his father’s dream by completing his first Alcatraz crossing in April, 1993.

In 1990, Pedro brought his passion and expertise to the Bay Area by founding WaterWorldSwim. His mission was simple: to help swimmers make the transition from pool to open water, and to inspire a love and enthusiasm for the sport.

Today, Pedro remains committed to preparing swimmers of all levels for the challenge, excitement, fun and art of navigating the open water. It is truly his huge heart, warm spirit and contagious enthusiasm that drives WWS.

Pedro is fully licensed by the American Association of Swim Coaches (ASCA) and is one of a very few who specialize in open water coaching. Swimmers from all over the world travel to San Francisco to learn from and train with Pedro.

Despite his personal accomplishments, Pedro remains humbly committed to helping and supporting swimmers of all backgrounds and abilities. It is his vision that WWS be a community resource for anyone with the dream of swimming the open waters of the world.

History

COACHING HISTORY
Pedro has trained and coached for over twenty years different organizations as individuals training for different events. Some of these are:

  • The Bay Club Marin, Swim Instructor, teaching and giving swim lessons to members at this private club
  • Triathletes and swimmers from Florida, California, New York, Texas and Washington
  • London Triathlon Club
  • The London Triathlon Team participating in the Escape from Alcatraz
  • The Golden Gate Triathlon Club
  • The San Francisco Triathlon Club
  • The Marin Special Olympics team
  • Sam Silver, First Special Olympics athlete attempting to cross the English Channel
  • The International Special Olympics Swim Team training for the “Tiburon Mile”
  • The YMCA triathlon team training for their 2004 Sentinel Triathlon participation

FUTURE PROJECTS AND GOALS

  • In the near future to swim across the Bearing Straits from Alaska to Russia, making a statement for future generations, that swimming between continents can bring nations and lives together without barriers.
Thanking ASCA for the inspiration and the light......

 

  
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