‘The idea of the challenge’

30 years of the Long Bridge Swim

By Soncirey Mitchell
Reader Staff

The 30th annual Long Bridge Swim went off without a hitch on Aug. 2, when nearly 840 swimmers tested their endurance, speed and mental fortitude against the open waters of Lake Pend Oreille. The nonprofit has become an institution in Bonner County since its humble beginnings, and continues to shape local students’ lives through its water safety and swim lessons.

The swim is the brainchild of Eric Ridgeway, who, in 1996, decided he wanted to swim the 1.76-mile Long Bridge from its southern end to Dog Beach. The original 68 participants became 300 by the year 2000, and the event has steadily grown since. Organizers are finally nearing the upper limit and might consider capping the swim at 1,000 people in the future, according to LBS Director Jim Zuberbuhler.

Zuberbuhler himself has a long history with the organization, working up from participant to volunteer to assistant director, until reaching his current position in 2012. In that time, he’s joined in almost every race and can boast that he’s swum alongside the oldest and youngest participants, at 92 and 9 years old, respectively.

“The swim has been a constant in my life for 25 years now, both as a swimmer and for over 18 years as a volunteer,” Zuberbuhler said. “We have a great culture in our core group of volunteers who run the swim, and we are very committed to delivering a high-quality experience for participants each year at the event.”

Many of the nonprofit’s current department chairs have similar histories with the swim going back decades. Their dedication has earned the Long Bridge Swim a spot in the top 100 open water swims worldwide for several years, as recognized by various swimming websites. They have also worked to share the success with the rest of the community, ensuring that LBS has the third-highest economic impact on the community after the Festival at Sandpoint and Lost in the ’50s, according to the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.

The swim draws athletes and volunteers year after year thanks to the professionalism of the organizers and the thrill of the feat — what Zuberbuhler calls, “The idea of the challenge.”

Speaking from experience, Zuberbuhler said that most swimmers in their first year doubt whether they can make it across, but the swim’s team of 250 volunteers, including scouts and safety kayakers, gives them the courage to try. It also helps to have the energy and support of hundreds of onlookers cheering from the bridge.

“It’s the only [open water swim] that I know of where you have this perfect vantage point to actually identify your swimmer and then follow them the whole way. I think people feel very supported,” said Zuberbuhler.

Once participants reach the other side, the rush is addictive. Swimmers come back for more, working through injuries and perceived limitations to achieve their goals.

“One of my personal mantras is, ‘Do something almost every day that’s scary or hard.’ The swim is one of those things for me, and I think for many people,” said Zuberbuhler.

To ensure that everyone can experience the joy and excitement of the swim, organizers work with athletes with a wide range of special needs and disabilities to find appropriate accommodations and support.

“Every single year, we have one or more people who have some kind of significant disability — multiple sclerosis, polio, paraplegia, deafness, blindness, etc., who contact us interested in doing the swim, and we have always been able to support them in their attempts to accomplish this feat,” Zuberbuhler said. “I cannot think of a single example of a disabled swimmer making the attempt who has not been successful.”

Zuberbuhler is especially proud to partner with Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. to help get members of the community with fewer opportunities out into the water. PSNI clients have become cherished members of the swim and the LBS community as a whole.

“They bring a joy to the environment that’s very hard to describe. They’re just hooting and hollering, having a good time; and they’re goofy and they know it,” said Zuberbuhler.

LBS doesn’t exist solely for the swim; volunteers also work year-round to give people confidence in the water and prevent accidental drownings.

“Thousands of people have had the experience of swimming across the lake, many of whom would never have tried such a thing without the opportunity provided by the swim. Additionally, thousands of kids have participated in the water safety program and swim lessons provided by the swim, reducing swimming-related injuries and deaths in our community,” said Zuberbuhler.

LBS currently teaches water safety courses to all third-graders in the Lake Pend Oreille School District — classes that also test kids’ swimming skills to determine who needs to come back for future lessons. 

The nonprofit also brings Bonners Ferry students to Sandpoint for lessons and provides classes in Priest River and Laclede for West Bonner County residents. Families in need can receive scholarships to cover all costs. In the past, LBS has also worked to fund and train local lifeguards for the YMCA and Sandpoint City Beach.

“LBS is presently serving almost 1,000 students each year through its water safety and swim lessons program, with a goal of having no child get past third grade without learning how to swim,” Zuberbuhler said. “Since 2009, over 10,000 local kids have participated in the programs.”

Zuberbuhler gave special thanks to the nonprofit’s 12 core volunteers and department chairs: Karen McClelland, Donnavan and Amy Leavitt, Sharon Bistodeau, Chuck Neely, Shawna and Gregg Prummer, Vanessa Stanley, Suzy Miller, Lucy West, Brent Binnall, Susanne Blair, Jacob Styer, Gina Woodruff and Dig Chrismer.

To volunteer with LBS or prepare for next year’s swim, visit longbridgeswim.org.