the team

Trista has been involved in swimrun since 2018, both as a competitive athlete and as a key contributor to the growth of the sport in the United States. She has raced extensively across the U.S. and internationally, including competing at ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. In addition to competing, Trista has helped direct swimrun races.

Beyond her competitive experience, she has served as the lead organizer for three swimrun camps in the U.S., playing a central role in delivering structured, high-quality camp experiences for athletes nationwide.

As the camp’s lead organizer, Trista oversees logistics, athlete support, and all the behind-the-scenes details that allow the camp to run seamlessly. Her deep understanding of swimrun, strong attention to detail, and genuine care for athletes ensure participants can focus fully on training and learning. Trista’s work doesn’t just make the camp possible, it ensures the experience is organized, welcoming, and athlete-centered from start to finish.

Marcus is one of the most experienced swimrun athletes and coaches in North America. He raced his first swimrun in 2015. Since then, he has competed in over 60 swimrun races worldwide, including multiple ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championships, and currently holds the top American team record at Worlds (with Kawika Tarayao) of 8:39. He brings a deep background in endurance sports spanning swimrun, trail running, ultrarunning, and adventure racing.

In addition to racing, Marcus coaches swimrun athletes individually and in groups, guiding athletes from their first swimrun through top international events like ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. He’s a familiar face at U.S. ÖTILLÖ races, where he regularly leads pre-race clinics.

At camp, Marcus focuses on helping athletes become better swimrunners, not just better swimmers or runners. His coaching emphasizes efficient swimrun-specific movement, smooth transitions, smart gear use, and long-day execution. Known for his approachable, down-to-earth style, Marcus helps athletes of all levels gain confidence, refine skills, and leave camp with clear takeaways they can immediately apply to training and racing.

He has helped organize and coach swimrun camps in the US and Sweden for the past three years.

Gemma is a highly experienced swim coach, swim technique specialist, and founder of Push Glide Kick, where she helps swimmers and multisport athletes improve their swimming through focused stroke mechanics and personalized training. Her coaching centers on developing efficient, powerful technique that builds speed and confidence in both the pool and open water.

With a background in structured swim coaching and a passion for endurance sports, Gemma works with athletes ranging from adult triathletes to competitive open-water swimmers. She uses video analysis and hands-on feedback to refine form and connect swim technique directly to overall race performance.

As Head Swim Coach at camp, Gemma leads all swim sessions, breaking down stroke mechanics and skill development so athletes not only swim faster, but swim smarter. Her coaching style is clear, supportive, and individualized, helping athletes of all levels make meaningful improvements they can carry into training and racing.

Swimrunners love having Gemma on deck because she is encouraging, patient, and deeply invested in each athlete’s progress. She ensures every athlete leaves camp with greater swim confidence, a stronger understanding of their technique, and practical tools they can apply long after camp ends.

Lars is a long-time endurance athlete, swimrun pioneer, and an influential figure in growing the sport of swimrun in the United States. Lars’s athletic journey began early as he competed in his first triathlon while still in middle school and went on to race in elite and age-group triathlon events.

In 2014, he traveled to Sweden and ended up racing ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship on a late-notice entry, a race that ignited his passion and commitment to swimrun as both athlete and organizer.

In addition to his race experience, Lars serves as Race Director for ÖTILLÖ Swimrun USA, working to grow the world series and bring high-quality swimrun races to North America.

Lars brings a unique blend of endurance sport experience, swimrun insight, and practical race knowledge to the camp environment. With a background in triathlon and years of hands-on involvement in swimrun as both an athlete and event leader, Lars understands what it takes to perform efficiently across swim, run, and transitions, especially when conditions get challenging.