Founding members
Ram Barkai, 54 (founder):
Founder of the International Ice Swimming Association. Holds a Guinness World Record for furthest most south swim: 1km in 1°C in Antarctica in 2008. Completed 2.2km in 4°C in Lake Zurich in 2009. Only person to have swum Robben Island crossing at night. Recognised by CLDSA as first man (with Andrew Chin) to swim 8km around Cape Point. Swam down entire length of Orange River in relay and completed the icy Pennock Island race in Alaska last year. Serves on the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association Committee. Keynote speaker at the World Open Water Swimming Symposium in LA, USA, June 2010. Ram also completed a 20km
crossing through the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a fresh water mile in 1.7°C in Fraserburg, SA.
In February 2011, Ram successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn. and more...
Andrew Chin, 43:
Founding participant in the Orange River Challenge: a four stage relay swim down the Orange River which lasted a total of 40 days and covered 1900km. With Ram Barkai became the first male to swim the 8km route from Diaz Beach to Buffels Bay around Cape Point, South Africa, April 2004. Successfully completed a range of open water swims in South Africa and around the globe such as
Alcatraz Island to San Francisco (2 crossings), Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska, an 8 mile swim and Lake Zurich, 1.3km (23 min) in 4°C water .He also coordinates a weekly Sunday swim at Camps Bay aimed at helping swimmers acclimatize to cold water. Completed the One Mile Ice Swim in Fraserburg, July 2010 and member of the International Ice Swimming Association. Andrew serves on the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association Committee. In February 2011, Andrew successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn. and more...
Toks Viviers, 48:
Veteran Cadiz Freedom Swim participant (Robben Island to Blouberg). Last year he successfully swam the Pennock Island race in Alaska with Ram Barkai, Ryan Stramrood, Kieron Palframan and Andrew Chin. He has also swum Alcatraz to San Francisco and La Jolla Cove in San Diego, both in the US. Toks is a regular competitor in the Brian Curtis Mile, and a cold water specialist. He completed the One Mile Ice Swim in Fraserburg, July 2010 and member of the International Ice Swimming Association.
In February 2011, Toks successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
Ryan Stramrood, 39:
Ryan adopted open water distance swimming as his sport of choice as recently as 2003 and has already successfully completed some of the world's toughest cold water and distance swims. After his first Robben Island to Blouberg crossing in 2003, Ryan has quickly stamped his mark on the sport in by successfully completing the notorious English Channel swim in 2008 on his first attempt. Ryan holds 30 Robben Island crossings, including a tough two-way island crossing. He is one of a handful of people to have swum from Dassen Island to Uysterfontein on the west coast of South Africa, completed two Gibraltar Straits crossings
from Spain to Morocco, the icy Pennock Island race in Alaska, from Perth to Rottnest Island in Australia and many more. Ryan has also completed a 20km crossing in the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a fresh water mile swim in 4°C. In February 2011, Ryan successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
Kieron Palframan, 83:
Kieron has completed two gruelling Iron Man events. Cold water distance swimming achievements include an English Channel crossing in 2008 and over 20 successful Robben Island crossings (including a two-way crossing). He has also competed in one the world’s longest and coldest swimming races – The Pennock Island Race in Alaska — coming joint 3rd with Ryan Stramrood. Recently, Kieron conquered Cape Point’s Triple Cape challenge and the 20km Rottnest Island Race in Australia. In July, Kieron completed a 20km crossing through the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a mile in an extreme temperature of 4°C in the Speedo Ice
Swim Africa in Fraserburg. In February 2011, Kieron successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
Founder of the International Ice Swimming Association. Holds a Guinness World Record for furthest most south swim: 1km in 1°C in Antarctica in 2008. Completed 2.2km in 4°C in Lake Zurich in 2009. Only person to have swum Robben Island crossing at night. Recognised by CLDSA as first man (with Andrew Chin) to swim 8km around Cape Point. Swam down entire length of Orange River in relay and completed the icy Pennock Island race in Alaska last year. Serves on the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association Committee. Keynote speaker at the World Open Water Swimming Symposium in LA, USA, June 2010. Ram also completed a 20km
crossing through the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a fresh water mile in 1.7°C in Fraserburg, SA.
In February 2011, Ram successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn. and more...
Andrew Chin, 43:
Founding participant in the Orange River Challenge: a four stage relay swim down the Orange River which lasted a total of 40 days and covered 1900km. With Ram Barkai became the first male to swim the 8km route from Diaz Beach to Buffels Bay around Cape Point, South Africa, April 2004. Successfully completed a range of open water swims in South Africa and around the globe such as
Alcatraz Island to San Francisco (2 crossings), Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska, an 8 mile swim and Lake Zurich, 1.3km (23 min) in 4°C water .He also coordinates a weekly Sunday swim at Camps Bay aimed at helping swimmers acclimatize to cold water. Completed the One Mile Ice Swim in Fraserburg, July 2010 and member of the International Ice Swimming Association. Andrew serves on the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association Committee. In February 2011, Andrew successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn. and more...
Toks Viviers, 48:
Veteran Cadiz Freedom Swim participant (Robben Island to Blouberg). Last year he successfully swam the Pennock Island race in Alaska with Ram Barkai, Ryan Stramrood, Kieron Palframan and Andrew Chin. He has also swum Alcatraz to San Francisco and La Jolla Cove in San Diego, both in the US. Toks is a regular competitor in the Brian Curtis Mile, and a cold water specialist. He completed the One Mile Ice Swim in Fraserburg, July 2010 and member of the International Ice Swimming Association.
In February 2011, Toks successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
Ryan Stramrood, 39:
Ryan adopted open water distance swimming as his sport of choice as recently as 2003 and has already successfully completed some of the world's toughest cold water and distance swims. After his first Robben Island to Blouberg crossing in 2003, Ryan has quickly stamped his mark on the sport in by successfully completing the notorious English Channel swim in 2008 on his first attempt. Ryan holds 30 Robben Island crossings, including a tough two-way island crossing. He is one of a handful of people to have swum from Dassen Island to Uysterfontein on the west coast of South Africa, completed two Gibraltar Straits crossings
from Spain to Morocco, the icy Pennock Island race in Alaska, from Perth to Rottnest Island in Australia and many more. Ryan has also completed a 20km crossing in the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a fresh water mile swim in 4°C. In February 2011, Ryan successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
Kieron Palframan, 83:
Kieron has completed two gruelling Iron Man events. Cold water distance swimming achievements include an English Channel crossing in 2008 and over 20 successful Robben Island crossings (including a two-way crossing). He has also competed in one the world’s longest and coldest swimming races – The Pennock Island Race in Alaska — coming joint 3rd with Ryan Stramrood. Recently, Kieron conquered Cape Point’s Triple Cape challenge and the 20km Rottnest Island Race in Australia. In July, Kieron completed a 20km crossing through the Sea of Galilee, Rottnest and a mile in an extreme temperature of 4°C in the Speedo Ice
Swim Africa in Fraserburg. In February 2011, Kieron successfully completed three of the world’s most extreme swims in Patagonia, South America, including a world first rounding of Cape Horn.
