TRIBUTE TO PAPA PEDRO

Papa, I love you!

In 2001 when I rang the bell of the South End Club this Latino guy opened the door for me with a huge smile on his face welcoming to the South End Rowing Club. His name was Pedro Ordenes and right away I felt a great friendship was about to happen.

Pedro is a long distance swimmer, triathlete and certified U.S.Swimming Coach (ASCA) holder of two world record swim crossings. The First one conquering The Straits of Magellan in December 30 of 1999; swimming 3 miles in waters temperature 39F. The second one, crossing the Beagle Channel round trip between Chile and Argentina, on January 28, 2004 in water temperature between 41F and 38F. Pedro has completed over 500 swims across Alcatraz.



Pedro has participated and completed 3 Ironman Championships Triathlons in Utah, Hawaii in 2002 and, Canada Ironman in 2003. He has trained many local and international triathlon clubs, swimmers and triathletes throughout the last 15 years. Mr. Ordenes directed the South End Rowing Club Alcatraz Invitational for 6 years and in 2002 founded the Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions challenge, event that raises funds to 2 different Cancer organizations.

Pedro is the CEO of Water World Swim. A company that has been offering open water swimming events and training programs for over 15 years. Some of its programs include the "Swim with Pedro" weekly workouts and training sessions, regular Alcatraz crossings and instructional clinics, the New Waves program for young swimmers with an interest in open water swimming, and our numerous open water races and events. http://www.waterworldswim.com

On May 2nd 2010, Pedro will be in charge of crossing 1800 swimmers from Alcatraz to Yatch Harbour, as part of the Escape of Alcatraz Triathlon. I will be in the water guiding swimmers from The Rock to shore.

http://www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com/ESCAPE_From_Alcatraz_Triathlon.htm

Since I have joined the SERC Pedro has been a big influence in my life, to the point where people around the SERC and the Aquatic Park think he is my father and I am his son. Indeed it does feel we have that type of relationship. When together we are always speaking in Spanish and joking about life. His great personality and charisma attracts athletes from all over the world seeking introduction to the cold waters of San Francisco bay.

THE SOUTH END ROWING CLUB

The South End Rowing Club was founded on San Francisco Bay in 1873 by a group of rowing enthusiasts who gathered at Jimmy Farrell’s Saloon at the southern end of the city near 3rd and Berry Streets.

The club became a dominant power in the Pacific Coast rowing regattas and attracted many great West Coast athletes. The original clubhouse was a rough redwood structure, built near the Belt Line Railroad that serviced all the shipping piers of the old San Francisco waterfront.

In 1884, club members raised funds for a new clubhouse, a handball court was added to the boathouse, and the club soon dominated the sport on the West Coast. In 1908, the clubhouse was ferried by barge from its original location to Black Point at the foot of Van Ness Avenue, between the Belt Line Railroad Tunnel and the old Alcatraz Island service pier located just across from the City emergency fire pumping station.

In 1927, the clubhouse was moved again, this time to the foot of Larkin Street near the current location of the Maritime Museum in Aquatic Park. The clubhouse was moved one last time in 1938 to its current location at the foot of Hyde Street to make room for construction of Aquatic Park. The original main clubhouse has survived every move, and lives on as testimony to the devotion of members of the South End Rowing Club.

South End athletes have competed in many Olympic and International sporting events, including swimming the English Channel, but the club welcomes everyone with an interest in rowing, open water swimming, handball and running. Club members also regularly swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco (typically clad only in swimsuits and bathing caps), row in regattas around the world, compete in marathons and long-distance running events and are renowned in the international handball community for championship play and world-class tournaments.

Over the its history, Club members have accomplished extraordinary athletic feats – never losing sight of the fact that to be a South Ender is to love life, enjoy good food and drink, revel the company of fellow members, throw great parties and be very glad to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Text copied from the club's front wall plaque).