Swimming for communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle

Our thoughts right now are with North Island communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. Four Wellington ocean swimmers want to dedicate their upcoming marathon swims to these communities.

We know how fantastic and supportive the swimming community is in New Zealand. We’d love it if you made a donation to the Red Cross as one way to show us your support.

About the swims:

Mike Howard - Lake Taupō 40.2km

Mike fell back in love with swimming three years ago while recovering from four serious concussions in three years. Mike has cycled around Lake Taupō multiple times and completed two running relays of it. Lake Taupō holds a special place for him. This will be his first ultra swim after a solid year of training.

Rebecca Hollingsworth - Lake Wānaka 43.9km

Rebecca is no stranger to long swims, swimming Lake Taupō two ways (80.4km) in 2022. She thought she might try a shorter swim in 2023 and set her sights on completing Lake Wānaka.

Adriana Milne - Lake Taupō 40.2km

Once upon a time, Adriana swam around a yellow buoy on a choppy Wellington morning with some strangers she met on Facebook… she never looked back. Adriana now looks to explore the length of a very special place at the heart of her Ngāti Tūwharetoa whakapapa - Taupō moana.

Corrina Connor - Foveaux Strait 28km

Corrina has never been as far south as Rakiura/Stewart Island before, but is looking forward to a very quick look at the island before she slides into the sea and swims back to Bluff. Corrina swam Cook Strait in 2021.