Introducing TEAM 7 – USA
“There is no question that our goal is to touch that lighthouse door and be the first USA team to complete One Water Race. We now understand so much better what it takes to race well at One Water Race. We have learned so many lessons and have completely revamped our strategy.”
I absolutely loved my experience last year, despite the outcome. Not a day goes by without thinking about the race, my team, and what we would do differently given the chance.
Kawika Tarayao, Huntington Beach, CA
2024 One Water Race, DNF after 32 hours and 132 km
2019 – 2024 – 5x ÖtillÖ World Championships, 5th Mixed, 10th Mens
2024 – ÖtillÖ Whistler, 2nd Mens
2021 – 2023 – 3x Odyssey Swimrun Orcas Island, 2x 1st Overall
2017 – 2023 – 4x Odyssey Swimrun Casco Bay Island, 1x 1st Mens
2021 – 2023 – 3x Swimrun Lake James, 2x 1st Mens
2022 – 2023 – 2x ÖtillÖ Gothenburg, 5th Mens
2022 – Rockman Swimrun, 2nd Overall
2018 – 2022 – 3x Swimrun North Carolina, 4th Overall
2018 – 2021 – 2x Folkhälsan Swimrun Solvalla, 1x 1st Overall
2022 – 2023 – 2x US Lifeguard Regionals (multiple events), 1st Age Group
2019 – Ironman Arizona Tempe
1998 – 2001 – NCAA Swimming: UC Irvine
Having just a taste last year of One Water Race, the organization, the people running the show and the course itself: It has made me hungry for the entire course every single day.
Kayla Kobelin, Bend, OR
2024 – One Water Race, DNF after 32 hours and 132 km
2024 – ÖtillÖ World Championships 5th Mixed
2024 – ÖtillÖ Whistler, 1st solo female
2023 – Solo female swimrun world champion – Italy
2023 – ÖtillÖ World Championships
2022 – Skyline Traverse 50k 3rd place female
2020 – Ran a 100k on my treadmill cause I got bored in 8.3 hours
2018- 2022 – Professional triathlete with multiple top 10 finishes
2019 – Odyssey swimrun Orcas Island – 3rd place female team
2019 – Most winning female on CBS show “Million Dollar Mile”
2017 – Toughest mudder LA (12 hour race) 4th place female
2017 – World’s toughest mudder (24 hour race) 5th place female
The course offers many challenges and I like that it’s an A-to-B course where we cover a long distance in the outer archipelago.
Justin Smith, Santa Cruz, CA
2024 – One Water Race, 50h, 1st place
2023 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun world championship, 3rd place
2022 – One Water Race, 47h, 1st place
2017 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championship, 1st place
2016 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championship, 1st place
2015 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championship, 2nd place
2014 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championship, 1st place
2012 – Everest Ultra, Himalaya, 1st place
2011 – Adventure Race World Championship, Tasmania, 6 days nonstop, 6th place
2010 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Championship, 2nd place
I have no problems with not sleeping.
Melissa Smith, Santa Cruz, CA
2024 – One Water Race, 50h, 1st place
2022 – One Water Race, 47h, 1st place
2022 – Himalayan XTRI, 1st place
2019 – Celtman, 1st place
2017 – Adventure Racing World Championship, 4th place
2015 – Adventure Racing World Championship, 3rd place
2014 – Celtman, 1st place
2011 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun world championship, 3rd place
2010 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun world championship, 2nd place
2006 – ÖtillÖ Swimrun world championship, 2nd place
