Yesterday I swam the 2 mile pier to pier at Newport Beach. This was not my first open water swim. I have done many of them. However, yesterday was the first time I encountered such a disturbing experience.
There were 240 people in the race. Of course there was the usual bumping, clobbering, smacking, kicking, and pulling that goes on when ever this many swimmers are converging on one point. Anyone who has ever done an open water swim is used to this. But yesterday a male swimmer actually grabbed me from behind the neck, pushed me down under the water, and then kicked me in the head in order to swim over me. When I say he grabbed me by the neck -- I mean GRABBED HARD. This was not an accident, but a purposeful manuever to get ahead. When I came up for air I was pounded by the swimmer behind me (also a male) who actually apologized.
I finished the swim and I will do more of them. I am still stunned though and my neck hurts today. I am not so naive as to think this kind of stuff never happens, I guess I'm just blown away because it actually happened to me and I was not in any way in competition with this guy.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Kerri
Parents
Former Member
Kerri,
I swam the race last Saturday as well. I would call the start the World Wrestling Federation meets swimming. Before the race started I all ready knew it was going to be bad news. Having that first turn buoy just 50 yards off the beach with 250 swimmers was not the best course management. I moved to the far right side for the start, I knew I had to swim further but I wanted to stay away from the melee as best I could. The drawback of that was I had to pass a lot of swimmers after the turn. One trick I’ve learned is grease up the body not for warmth but as a kind of swimmer repellant. Most swimmers let go in a hurry if they get hand full of Vaseline. A good friend of mine swam as well I he ended up getting punched. He let go a few #**@ at the other swimmer. He knew the race director and let him know that buoy was not in a good place. You need at least 300 to 400 yards to let swimmers spread out before you force them to turn. Anyway I’m 6”1’ and 215 so I don’t mind a little bumping and overall I had fun time and a good race.
Kerri,
I swam the race last Saturday as well. I would call the start the World Wrestling Federation meets swimming. Before the race started I all ready knew it was going to be bad news. Having that first turn buoy just 50 yards off the beach with 250 swimmers was not the best course management. I moved to the far right side for the start, I knew I had to swim further but I wanted to stay away from the melee as best I could. The drawback of that was I had to pass a lot of swimmers after the turn. One trick I’ve learned is grease up the body not for warmth but as a kind of swimmer repellant. Most swimmers let go in a hurry if they get hand full of Vaseline. A good friend of mine swam as well I he ended up getting punched. He let go a few #**@ at the other swimmer. He knew the race director and let him know that buoy was not in a good place. You need at least 300 to 400 yards to let swimmers spread out before you force them to turn. Anyway I’m 6”1’ and 215 so I don’t mind a little bumping and overall I had fun time and a good race.
