Welcome to episode 328 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast.

On April 6th, Max Andersson — two-time Ötillö World Champion, Otillo World Championship course record holder, and one of the most beloved people in swimrun — died tragically in an avalanche in Norway. He was in his mid-thirties.

This episode is our attempt to honor him. We talk about what Max meant to the sport, share our own memories of time spent with him, and try to put into words what so many in the swimrun community are feeling right now.

Max and Hugo Tormento of Team Ark Swimrun were the most dominant force the sport has ever produced. In 2022 they became the first team ever to win every ÖTILLÖ World Series race in a single calendar year, including the World Championship, finishing in 7 hours and 1 second — a course record that still stands. But anyone who knew Max will tell you the results were only part of the story. He was warm, generous, funny, and genuinely present with everyone he met. A fierce competitor and an even better person.

We were lucky enough to spend real time with him at Casco Bay in 2023 — lunch at our favorite spot, hours of conversation while the fog postponed the race. That time with him is something we will not forget.

He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with Max's family, Hugo, and the entire swimrun community.