Take the challenge and plunge into Long Bridge Swim

SANDPOINT — Imre Schmidt wasn't the first to complete last year's Long Bridge Swim.

But then, he wasn't the last either. Instead, the 83-year-old finished the 1.76-mile swim in a respectable 1 hour, 14 minutes and 30 seconds.

Schmidt is returning to the swim this year — and at 84, is the oldest person to register for Saturday's 11th annual swim.

This year's Long Bridge Swim has already attracted more than 350 people and, if last year is anything to go by, organizer Eric Ridgeway said there could be 80 or more who register the day of the event.

The event looks to possibly be the biggest ever, he said, and is "shaping up to be an incredible event."

Every year, the Long Bridge Swim draws enthusiasts from a growing geographical area as people learn about it by word-of-mouth, through information about Sandpoint or the Internet. This year, 123 people registered online.

Idaho tops the list with the most swimmers, followed by Washington, California, Montana, Canada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia and France.

The youngest swimmers are Breylan Martin of Sandpoint and Micah Langley of Roseville, Calif., both of whom are 8 years old.

There are a total of 17 registered who are 12 years old or younger, and 26 who are 60 years old or older. The largest group is 40 -49 years old, being double the next largest of 30-39 and 50-59 who are equal in number.

And it's never too late to register, Ridgeway said. Late entries will be accepted on Saturday. Just show up with your swimsuit and goggles (and $20) on Saturday morning at the parking lot next to the Texaco Station at the north end of the Long Bridge between 6:30 and 7 a.m. and you can register.

Spectators can come to position themselves along the Long Bridge to watch the entire event which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Swimmers will be shuttled in school buses to the south end of the bridge for the start, but spectators will need to walk or drive separately to see the start.

Swimmers vary widely in ability and experience. Many have never swum on a team or competitively. Edward Davis, 42, of Pullman is swimming in his first competition with his 12-year-old daughter, Alex, who has been swimming since 8. Megan Smith 26, of Moorpark, Calif., also has very little swimming experience, but said her roommate has swum in the event several times and raves about how fun it is. Smith said she will "add this to my list of great accomplishments" after she finishes it.

Others aren't letting serious injury or medical condition stop them — from Carol Humus, 68, of Sagle, who overcame breast cancer and Kami Blood, 28, of Sandpoint, who had back surgery to Curtis Cavaletto, 22, of Moscow, who was run over by a bus to Chris Wood, 44, of Spokane, who had an aortic valve replaced in 2004.

"He doesn't give up easily and he has a great sense of humor," Ridgeway said. "He states that he had an aortic valve replaced in 2004, and he asked the doctor to supersize it for him."

Local character Bill Dolier 61, Sandpoint has swum LBS every year and he says his goal is getting easier — to swim his age in time (61 minutes) each year. Rose Edwards 45, who works at Bonner General Hospital is a mom of five and is swimming because she "needs a challenge.

The top Sandpoint area swimmer, Eric Mann 15, who finished 12th overall in 2004 in a time of 38 minutes 53 seconds, returns early this year from his youth camp paying several hundred dollars extra, of his own money, to fly home in order to participate again. Former local Jim Zuberbuhler 47 is flying even further to return for this year's LBS from Braintree, Mass.

Eric Ridgway, the founder and director of the Annual Long Bridge Swim, hopes that all of these interesting notes inspire more people to set a goal for themselves, to try something new that is healthful and fun, or to return year after year using the LBS as the impetus to begin exercising, or to do so throughout the year.

Please come out and join your community to swim or to watch this exciting event on Saturday at 9 a.m.