Our open water swim group consists of J, K and L pods.
J Pod
Named after a local resident pod of Orcas, J pod is the Spirit Orcas open water long distance swim group. Swim distances range from 10 to 15 kilometre solo swims and 30+ kilometre relay swims. Their training schedule varies depending on their unique goals. They swim in the pool, lake and ocean.
Current members include: Drew Sabourn and Ben Vanlierop
Named after a local resident pod of Orcas, K pod is the Spirit Orcas mid distance swim group. Swim distances range from 3 to 10 kilometre solo swims and 30+ kilometre relay swims.
K Pod
K Pod is our middle distance group. As individuals, they have swum distances between 5 and 10km. Their training schedule consists of 3-4 swims per week including pool, lake and ocean.
Current members include: Dixon McGowan, Meliah Motchman, Maria Sharock, Nick Lapointe
L Pod
Named after a local resident pod of Orcas, L pod are our short distance swimmers and have swum between 1 and 5km. They train 3 to 4 times per week in the ocean, lake and pool.
Current members include: Lisa Newell
A bit about local resident orcas – J pod
As of November 2018, J pod consisted of 23 orca whales. They swim around the San Juan Islands, lower Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Southern Canadian Gulf Islands. The are the most likely to be in the waters year-round. J pod spends more time than the other pods in the inner Salish Sea, traveling as far north as Texada Island on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Each fall and winter they return a few times each month to central Puget Sound near Seattle, following winter salmon runs.
Current known members include: J16 Slick, J17 Princess Angeline, J19 Shachi, J22 Oreo, J26 Mike, J27 Blackberry, J31 Tsuchi, J35 Tahlequah, J36 Alki, J37 Hy’Shqa, J38 Cookie, J39 Mako, J40 Suttles, J41 Eclipse, J42 Echo, J44 Moby, J45 Se-Yi’Chn, J46 Star, J47 Notch, J49 T’ilem I’nges, J50 Scarlet, J51 Nova, J53 Kiki.
You can learn more about the Salish Sea’s J pod here.
A bit about local resident orcas – K pod
K pod is the smallest of the three Southern Resident Killer Whales pods with only 18 members.There are several whales in K pod that are easy to identify because of their dorsal fins. Spock (K20) has a tall and straight dorsal fin and was thought to be a male until 2004 when she gave birth to a calf.
K pod reached its lowest numbers shortly after the mass captures of the 60s and early 70s when only 16 individuals remained. Despite decades having passed, the pod has only increased in size by three whales since that time.
Current known members include: K12 Sequim, K14 Lea, K16 Opus, K20 Spock, K21 Cappuccino, K22 Sekiu, K25 Scoter, K26 Lobo, K27 Deadhead, K33 Tika K34 Cali, K35 Sonata, K36 Yoda, K37 Rainshadow, K38 Comet, K42 Kelp, K43 Saturna, K44 Ripples.
You can learn more about the Salish Sea’s K pod here.
A bit about local resident orcas – L pod
L pod is the largest pod of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. L87, Onyx traveled with K pod for a couple years, however, since 2010 has been seen traveling with J pod. Luna (L 98), L pods most famous orca, was orphaned in Canada in 2001 and eventually died there in 2005 after colliding with a tug boat.
https://youtu.be/WrZoKoPIPKg?si=F6nIAaZVAqUTOOiK
Current L pod members include L22 Spirit, L25 Ocean Sun, L41 Mega, L47 Marina, L54 Ino, L55 Nugget, L72 Racer, L77 Matia, L82 Kasatka, L83 Moonlight, L84 Nyssa, L85 Mystery, L86 Surprise!, L87 Onyx, L88 Wave Walker, L89 Solstice, L90 Ballena, L91 Muncher, L92 Crewser, L94 Calypso, L193 Lapis, L105 Fluke, L106 Pooka, L108 Coho, L109 Takoda, L110 Midnight, L113 Cousteau, L115 Mystic, L116 Finn, L117 Keta, L118 Jade, L119 Joy, L121 Windsong, L122 Magic, L123 Lazuli.
You can learn more about the Salish Sea’s L pod here.
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