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Bruckner Chase

Bruckner is a marathon swimmer, endurance waterman and ocean advocate who helped launch BLUE 2010 with his 25+ mile solo swim across Monterey Bay.  Bruckner is the founder and director of the non-profit, Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive, Inc., with a global vision and mission “To positively impact how we feel, think and act towards our oceans.”  Ocean Positive utilizes extreme ocean endurance adventures and exciting aquatic initiatives to invite us all to discover and embrace a personal connection to our oceans.  Bruckner was technical advisor to Special Olympics International for the inaugural 1,500-meter open water swim at the SO World Games in Athens, Greece.  He is now a special advisor assisting with the global program and coaching development of open water swimming within the Special Olympics sports program.
After an historic first crossing from Aunu’u Island to Pago Pago Harbor in American Samoa Bruckner and his wife, Michelle, began a long-term relationship with the people of American Samoa.  As an honorary chief, Uila o le Sami, Bruckner and Michelle developed and implemented the Toa o le Tai youth ocean heroes program to improve the ocean swimming proficiency and conservation awareness of the Territory’s youth.  They also worked with the American Samoa Department of Education to create and launch a class at Samoana High School, Ocean Swimming/Ocean Sciences, based on the design of the Toa o le Tai™ program.  Bruckner also works with the American Samoa Department of Public Safety enhancing the aquatic and rescue skills of the Fire-Rescue and Marine Patrol agencies.  In December Bruckner will be undertaking another long distance swim in Independent Samoa to highlight and share with the world the Fa'a Samoa (True Samoan) historical and cultural connection to the oceans that the two Samoas share. 
When not in Ocean City, NJ the couple can be found at Utulei Beach in American Samoa or somewhere else in the Big Blue exploring the connection with the oceans we all share.

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