Oakville swimmer to attempt crossing Lake Ontario
Swimmer Melanie Price will attempt to cross Lake Ontario next month.
Glenn Lowson
When out in the open water, Melanie Price feels oddly grounded.
“It gives you more time to really think,” says the 38-year-old swimmer, who will attempt to cross Lake Ontario next month. “You’re a part of something much bigger than you. In a busy life when you’re running around, you get this peace.”
Born in Hamilton, where she lives with her husband and two daughters, Price plunged into competitive swimming at 13. Back then, finishing first mattered last. A nervous adolescent, she was lured by the friendship, by the calming thrill of physical activity.
A competitive spirit eventually took hold. But these days, whether biking, running or swimming, Price is mostly competing with herself. The crossing, as she notes with resolve, is “my biggest challenge yet.”
Her odyssey will begin on Aug. 11 in Port Dalhousie, just east of St. Catharines. If all goes according to plan, she will finish in Oakville, a sentimental choice since that’s where the crossing idea first surfaced while she trained with the Lake Ontario Swim Team (LOST).
An accountant by day, Price understands the importance of numbers.
Her record distance in Lake Ontario so far is 10 kilometres. The crossing is 42. She’s been swimming 10 to 15 hours per week. The crossing will require 15 to 21 consecutive hours, in unpredictable waters.
“During the crossing, you are in the water the whole time,” Price explains. “You never get out of the water and you’re not allowed to touch the boat or anything like that.”
Price’s first experience in the middle of Lake Ontario happened last year: “I didn’t really know what it would be like when you can’t see any land. But I actually really enjoyed it.”
What she didn’t enjoy, and what worries her now, is the cold. During a recent swim near Oakville, the water temperature was below 50. Despite gaining 20 pounds for this adventure, Price doubts her body could withstand 15 hours in such frigid conditions.
Her expenses — everything from boat rentals to gear to the extra pool time she’s needed while training with the Burlington Masters — could top $10,000. On the big day, she will have a crew of 20 floating nearby as she propels and thrashes — using the front crawl, breaststroke and sculling motion — in both sunshine and darkness.
“My greatest fear with this is letting people down,” Price says. “I’m not going to necessarily make it across. But even if I don’t make it, I will be proud of myself for continuing to work for this.”
Accipiter Radar will track the crossing with a live link on Price’s website ( http://melaniepriceadventures.blogspot.com). Beyond the personal challenge, she is also raising money for Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and, by extension, raising awareness for a body of water she has come to love.
“I want more people to care about it and be aware of it and enjoy it the way I do.”