A Kelowna teenager is soaking up sage swimming advice from a Coldstream mentor.

Emily Epp, 17, hopes to swim solo across the English Channel in July and is getting tips, coaching and encouragement from three men who have gone before her.

Mike Stamhuis, 63, a member of the Vernon Masters Swim Club, joined four Kelowna swimmers 香蕉视频直播� including Phred Martin 香蕉视频直播� that successfully crossed the Channel in 2013. Epp has been leaning on the wisdom of Stamhuis, Martin and the man who inspired her to attempt the Channel, her coach, Brent Hobbs. Hobbs crossed the channel solo in 2008.

香蕉视频直播淎fter Brent successfully swam the Channel solo, he was the guest speaker at the Kelowna AquaJets (swim club) year-end banquet. Emily was 10, Brent gave a talk about his swim and said, 香蕉视频直播楪ee, I think I want to do that when I香蕉视频直播檓 older,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Stamhuis, who has officiated AquaJets swim meets for nearly 20 years, and is a friend of Epp香蕉视频直播檚 father.

香蕉视频直播淭his (crossing the Channel) has been a goal of hers for the past half-dozen years or so.香蕉视频直播�

To prepare for her attempt, Stamhuis and Hobbs accompanied Epp as she recently swam around B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Bowen Island, a 35-kilometre swim that she completed in just under 11 hours.

The English Channel is 37 kilometres. Stamhuis and his team made the crossing in about 13 hours. Like Stamhuis and all swimmers that attempt the Channel, Epp will have to swim in just a bathing suit. Wet suits are not recognized for a Channel attempt. She swam around Bowen Island in a swim suit, goggles and bathing cap. Temperature of the water was 14 C at the start of her swim.

香蕉视频直播淚 think she香蕉视频直播檒l be alright,香蕉视频直播� said Stamhuis. 香蕉视频直播淭he Bowen Island swim was a good test. Once she got around the southwest point of the island, she was exposed to the Salish Sea (Georgia Straight) where it was windy and some pretty tough conditions.

香蕉视频直播淲e were quite hopeful she could experience what crossing the Channel will be like. Much of the swim (around Bowen) was done in ideal conditions. But about the final two-thirds of the swim it got tough for her.香蕉视频直播�

Epp will have Hobbs and her parents in her support boat as she attempts to swim the English Channel. Epp leaves July 10 and hopes to hit the water on or around July 14.

Epp is using the swim as a fundraiser, hoping to raise thousands for Canuck Place, a children香蕉视频直播檚 hospice.