raves and rants, your favorite, least favorite or most interesting ow swim from 07
Former Member
Lets gather together around clutching our favorite warm drinks and discuss our recent swims! As the ow season in the USA draws towards its close some of us are already thinking about what we want to try next year, give us some suggestions! I'll lead off,
Best swim by far was 8.2 mile Pennock Island in Alaska, the water was cooler than Tahoe but the people warmer, the whole town seemed glad to see us, there was a continuous swell of camaraderie and support out welling for locals, officials and fellow competitors from start to finish and the fantastic banquet afterwards. The water and air are fantastically clear and the wildlife an added adventure. Well worth the price and it’s a fundraiser, you may even meet the people who benefit from it.
the worst swim I've ever done is the 11.5 mile (we measured it at 10 miles)trans Tahoe this year, the area seems to be all about money and many of the folks seemed downright hostile towards the swimmers, the race itself had too many chaotic churning powerboats piloted by amateurs (the fact that i was run over by 1 and my kayaker narrowly avoided a second doesn’t help my outlook). This swim was about and for the Olympic club if you're not a member..I'd skip it. In addition to the pricy entrance fee you should know you’ll need to find & pilot your own boat (which makes the power boat renters chortle) and it will cost upwards of $600 plus fuel.
Okay so what sticks in your mind, what do you reccomend for try in 2008? Short, long, warm or cool.
Well, I did just two open water swims this year, although I certainly trained a lot for them, especially the first:
The Great South Bay Maggie Fischer Memorial Cross-Bay Swim (5.25 miles): If you want a SUPERBLY organized event and a good challenge. The cause is also excellent--benefits the Family Bereavement fund of the Hospice care network. The swim was named for a high school girl who died in a car accident a few days before she was to participate in the 1999 swim. Her parents have shown immense dedication and care in helping to ensure that all goes smoothly--they are totally a class act! After the swim, everyone, including the kayakers receives a long-sleeve t-shirt and an invitation to an amazing lunch at a local restaurant. Swimmers receive caps (required to wear), finishers' medals and beach towels embroidered with the event name. You do need to be ready for a challenge, b/c there's some pretty fierce chop in the second half of the race, and you're required to have someone to kayak for you, although organizers will help you find a kayaker if need be. My kayaker was awesome (thanks for the lead, sdswimmer, btw!) and really helped see me through (I didn't really have to do a lot of sighting b/c I just kept focusing on the kayak which stayed near me at all times). I'd recommend this event to anyone with some open water experience--although one person I talked to did it as her first open water swim... though she's a strong swimmer with competitive experience.
for more info: www.greatsouthbayswim.com
My other o.w. swim was a more low-key affair--the September Splash in Wildwood Crest, NJ (2, 1, and 1/4 mile swims; I did the mile)--but fun and it marks the first time I felt confident and comfortable during an open water swim, no trouble with sighting or anything, just enjoying the swim, having a nice regular breathing rhythm, and only going off course once--when I tried to re-pass someone who passed me near the end! But I think whatever time I lost by being led off course slightly, I gained by pushing myself more than I might have otherwise. This swim has been around several years at least. I did it in 2002 as a total newcomer to open water swimming and never having been in a masters' swim program... I was an injured runner in search of some kind of race I could still do! Was impressed by their organization and still think it's a well-run event. Not a lot of "schwag" (tho you got a t-shirt and a cap), but great as just a fun event w/ time to meet and talk to friends before and after. The kayakers and support ppl do a great job too, in monitoring swimmers. For more info, www.lmsports.com.
No bad o.w. swim experiences this year, thankfully!
Well, I did just two open water swims this year, although I certainly trained a lot for them, especially the first:
The Great South Bay Maggie Fischer Memorial Cross-Bay Swim (5.25 miles): If you want a SUPERBLY organized event and a good challenge. The cause is also excellent--benefits the Family Bereavement fund of the Hospice care network. The swim was named for a high school girl who died in a car accident a few days before she was to participate in the 1999 swim. Her parents have shown immense dedication and care in helping to ensure that all goes smoothly--they are totally a class act! After the swim, everyone, including the kayakers receives a long-sleeve t-shirt and an invitation to an amazing lunch at a local restaurant. Swimmers receive caps (required to wear), finishers' medals and beach towels embroidered with the event name. You do need to be ready for a challenge, b/c there's some pretty fierce chop in the second half of the race, and you're required to have someone to kayak for you, although organizers will help you find a kayaker if need be. My kayaker was awesome (thanks for the lead, sdswimmer, btw!) and really helped see me through (I didn't really have to do a lot of sighting b/c I just kept focusing on the kayak which stayed near me at all times). I'd recommend this event to anyone with some open water experience--although one person I talked to did it as her first open water swim... though she's a strong swimmer with competitive experience.
for more info: www.greatsouthbayswim.com
My other o.w. swim was a more low-key affair--the September Splash in Wildwood Crest, NJ (2, 1, and 1/4 mile swims; I did the mile)--but fun and it marks the first time I felt confident and comfortable during an open water swim, no trouble with sighting or anything, just enjoying the swim, having a nice regular breathing rhythm, and only going off course once--when I tried to re-pass someone who passed me near the end! But I think whatever time I lost by being led off course slightly, I gained by pushing myself more than I might have otherwise. This swim has been around several years at least. I did it in 2002 as a total newcomer to open water swimming and never having been in a masters' swim program... I was an injured runner in search of some kind of race I could still do! Was impressed by their organization and still think it's a well-run event. Not a lot of "schwag" (tho you got a t-shirt and a cap), but great as just a fun event w/ time to meet and talk to friends before and after. The kayakers and support ppl do a great job too, in monitoring swimmers. For more info, www.lmsports.com.
No bad o.w. swim experiences this year, thankfully!
