November 7, 2013
Fewer than 350 Americans have done it. A smaller number of people than those who have climbed Mount Everest have completed it. But these statistics did not deter David Dammerman ’91, CEO of Green Mountain Investment Associates, who successfully swam across the English Channel less than two months ago at 44 years old.
Dammerman began swimming competitively at age eight at his local YMCA, where his coach inspired his love of swimming. He continued this passion throughout high school and college, where he specialized in the butterfly and individual medley events and was a team captain. After graduation, Dammerman decided to take a break from the sport and did not pick it up again until five years ago.
Excited by the thought of swimming in a brand new facility at the Saratoga Springs YMCA, Dammerman took up the sport again. He found new workout partners there, who introduced him to local lakes in the area. At the end of 2009, he and his swimming friends decided to compete in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim in Hawaii, a 2.4 mile swim. This inspired Dammerman to look for longer and more challenging swims. In 2011, he won a 10-mile swim race in Newport, VT. He also entered a 25-mile crossing of Lake Memphremagog from Newport, VT to Magog, Quebec but had to stop nine hours in due to severe shoulder pain.
Before attempting the Lake Memphremagog swim, Dammerman’s friend Karen Sheldon had thrown out the idea that he should swim the English Channel. Dammerman had not taken this idea seriously—until now. After returning to successfully cross Lake Memphremagog in 2012, Dammerman began training specifically for the longest and most strenuous event of his swimming career yet.
Preparation for swimming the Channel included a rigorous schedule of swimming for at least two hours a day, six days a week. Most days he woke up to his alarm at 4:00 a.m., when he drove to a pool or local lakes to work on his speed and endurance. He also added yoga to his workout routine to increase flexibility and build strength. The most important parts of his preparations included becoming accustomed to swimming in the dark and in cold water. Dammerman attended a cold water distance swimming camp in Ireland, which helped him prepare for the 62°F water temperature he encountered while swimming the Channel on September 25.
That morning, Dammerman and his boat pilot and crew arrived to the dark waters of the Channel on the English side. Dammerman recalled how he felt before beginning his swim: “Jumping into the dark and knowing that I wouldn’t touch the boat or any other person for a long time was a bit unnerving.” His wife Judy remained on shore and was able to track his progress by means of a GPS feed and text messages from the boat crew.
After beginning his swim at 2 a.m., Dammerman said it took a few hours to find a rhythm and to adjust to the choppiness of the waves. However, by daybreak the water had smoothed out and he focused solely on his stroke technique while imagining that he was swimming along with his friends. Every half hour his crew gave him a warm, carbohydrate drink to keep him energized. He also received a mouthwash solution every few hours to rinse the salt out of his mouth.
Despite the chilly temperature of the water, Dammerman said he never felt cold. He recalled, “the water temperature felt great, but I was always concerned that the tidal flow might push me away from the closest point in France and add hours to my swim.” While the closest point between England and France is 21 miles in length, Dammerman ended up swimming a total of 27 miles due to the tides pushing him back and forth. It took him 10 hours and 38 minutes to complete the swim.
Afterward, Dammerman compared his experience of the crossing with that of his family and friends. “It was fun, for example,” he remembered, “to find out that a curious seal was following my progress for the last several minutes of the swim.”
Reflecting back on this experience, Dammerman shared, “I knew I had the abilities to get this kind of swim done. The challenge is to match your abilities against the notoriously fickle water and weather conditions in the Channel.”
Dave Thompson, Director of Blood Fitness Center and Campus Wellness, was the head swim coach when Dammerman was swimming at Hamilton. “Him doing this doesn’t surprise me at all,” Thompson said. “To swim the English Channel is about focus and ... determination ... you have to have lots of resolve.” Thompson was proud of Dammerman’s commitment to his team and sport while at Hamilton and told the Spec., “now we are even more so.”
Similarly, Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Sociology Dan Chambliss, who was the assistant swim coach while Dammerman swam here, said he was not surprised at Dammerman’s most recent accomplishment. “Dave was an exceptionally intelligent, hardworking, thoughtful guy,” he said. “He was always unusually self-disciplined and sensible, able to do pretty much whatever he set his mind to.”
Though David Dammerman is proud to have completed the English Channel swim, he has no immediate goals other than to continue swimming. However, he hopes to help his friend Bethany with her hopes to cross the Channel, too. Based on his obvious commitment and passion for this sport, there is no telling what Dammerman will do next. As Thompson succinctly put it, “he’s probably destined to do other great things.”
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