Catrin Jonsson
Special to oceanswims.com

Aloha!

Aussie, aussie, aussie was definitely the flavour at both the Maui Channel and the Waikiki Roughwater swims that took place on the 30 August and 1st September respectively.

Fine ocean swimmer Celso and I had decided to combine a well deserved holiday with ocean swimming, and Hawaii seemed just the place. The plan to take part in the Maui channel swim had failed but we decided that being there as spectators would be just as good, and a recon for 2009 when hopefully even more Australians will make the journey to this great event.

Trent Grimsey? Trent Grimsey won Byron Bay this past season, then won Waikiki this year, then won the Tiburon Mile a week or two later -- beating, in the process, Oussama Mellouli, who beat Grant Hackett to the 1500m gold in Beijing -- indeed, one of our favourite swimmers, Brendan Capell, also beat Mellouli in the Tiburon Mile -- holds the Waikiki Roughwater trophy. We're told by people in the know that it's no surprise that Grimsey should swim so well, but that he seems to perform far better in the open water than in the pool. That's why he has slipped under the radar, as it were.

I didn't know what to expect as I checked into the Kaanapali Hotel, swim headquarter for the Maui Channel Swim, but the next couple of days proved to be fantastic.

Peter Thiel had a young and fast A-team representing Tattersalls and also raising awareness for The Black Dog Institute, as well as a B-team made up of slightly slower but equally fine ocean swimmers. Graeme Brewer was also on site taking part in the Aussie Ticker team. Added to this were numerous American teams, including a A-team that featured Larsen Jensen just back from Beijing.

The aspiring codgers wave -- boofheads in their 40s -- start the Waikiki Roughwater. Do you recognise any strokes here? Look below for a clue.

The beach was overflowing with swimmers and support crew all getting ready for the 15KM race from Lanai Island to Maui. Celso took part in the pre race day training swim and noticed the speed with which Trent Grimsey cut through the water. It should be noted that Trent narrowly missed out on Olympic 1500m selection so one would expect something out of the ordinary. Also part of the team was Josh Santacaterina, Josh Minogue, Brendan Capell, Peter Thiel and Cameron Smith.

Race day started like most of our 9 days in Hawaii, sunny and warm and bloody beautiful. We went down for a morning swim with the local turtles that are just there, swimming gracefully pretty much next to the beach, after which we settled in and started peering across the channel for any sign of the support vessels. Like little dots on the horizon they appeared and before long we could also make out the ever familiar splashing of a swimmer. Closer they came and with what can only be described as a massive lead our Aussie swimmer emerged out of the water and ran triumphant across the finishing line.

Another Gold was won by fine aussie swimmers as Aussie Ticker took out the win in their age group. Luane Rowe also swam brilliantly, albeit for the US team, but her effort earned her gold in the women's division. Could it get any better? Well more close encounters with turtles and stingrays among a myriad of colorful fish made Maui stand out as the place to be for yours truly, who paddled slowly due to a particularly bad bout of bronchitis.

The Tattersalls Team won the Maui Channel Relay on the Saturday of the Labor Day long weekend in Hawaii -- (L-R) Cameron Smith, Peter Thiel, Man of Steel, former World 25km champ, Josh Santacaterina, Josh Minogue, Trent Grimsey, and another former World 25km champ, Brendan Capell. You can button hole any of these characters, given that they are members of Tatts swimmers, any evening at the Tatts bar in Sydney, no doubt.

Next stop Waikiki and the epic 3.8km swim along Waikiki beach. This one would see some awesome Australian results that were a treat to be part of.

At 8am on 1 Sep, Labor Day weekend in the US of A, 700 odd swimmers gathered at the small beach adjacent to the New Otani Hotel just at the foot of Diamond Head. A bit of a chop and a promise of a opposing current could not deter any of the swimmers this morning. The Australian presence was felt and on the back of the Maui success there was a certain vibe in the air. Registration, cap, number , electronic tag and at 9am the first (elite) A-wave is away containing our fabulous young guns and gunette who are all feeling confident in spite of some heavy partying the night before (or so I heard). Mr Brewer has entered the non-elite C-wave which is also where Celso will start so they are off at 9.10 followed by the D-wave. As I would find out later numerous Australian ocean swimmers are on the beach ready to take on the 3.8km to the finishing line at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Luane Rowe won the ladees event at Waikiki, fitting reward for a lot of work and relentless improvement over the past few years.

Powerwalking along the beach with Narelle Brewer we pondered the possibilities of podium finishes from our swimmers. We didn't have to wait long. As we reached the finishing line there is Trent, gettng his post race drink of Gatorade casually informing us that he won it!!! Just like that. Not only did he win it but he did it in 47 minutes 59 seconds putting a bit over 4 minutes distance between himself and the next guy. And who might that be? Josh Minogue, another fine Aussie! And only seconds behind him Brendan Capell. Australia 1,2 and 3.

The feeling among the support crew on the beach was one of exhilaration! And there is more... in 8th place overall and winning the female class; Luane Rowe in 55.01. We had to wait an impressive 8 minutes before the second female crossed the line.

Peter Thiel and Graeme Brewer were not far behind and as one scanned the finishing area there was evidence of Australia flags and cheers as more swimmers emerged from the surf. Aussie aussie... all the way. Celso finished is grand style and has vowed to return in 2009 to improve the time.

Customary post race drinks (see pic) were followed by the presentation ceremony. Beautiful wooden bowls were given as prizes and there were more age groupings than I have ever experienced in the Sydney season. Now, I have not been an ocean swimmer long enough to know all the successful swimmers so it was an enormously pleasant surprise to see how many Aussies had podium finishes in all age-groups.

For the complete results, please click here.

Biggest congratulations to all swimmers who entered, finished and did so well and as is the saying these days (if you believe my sons) "Australia owned this race".

Mahalo

Two very fine aspiring codgers, Celso Grati and Graeme Brewer. You, too, can grow up to look like these characters, providing you swim kilometres every day and eat nothing but pasta.

Post-Waikiki, it's time for showing off: Brewer, bride Narelle, Grati, and our exclusive correspondent, Catrin Jonsson.

Have you ever seen someone swim, without knowing who they are, then immediately realising who it is when you see their stroke? Celso Grati is one such swimmer. Celso's stroke is so characteristic of him that Russian submarines have it programmed into their sonar signatures.

Trent Grimsey wins Waikiki, making it a Stray'an double with Luane Rowe crossing to win the ladees shortly after.

Stray'ans ruled at Waikiki this year -- (L-R) Josh Minogue 2nd, Brendan Capell 3rd, Trent Grimsey 1st and Luane Rowe 1st ladee.

The secrets of champions: we all wonder what the good swimmers do and eat in order to swim the way they do. On Waikiki, ageing legend Graeme Brewer revealed his secret diet: flavoured milk.