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.
Former Member
I do have pics,..but I do not know how to post them here,..perhaps someone will help me out.....:agree:
I think I figured it out,....
There are some great swims around--the Waikiki Roughwater and the Maui Relay are great events. Worth doing. Bermuda Round the Sound is a fascinating race with more technical elements than any race I have done. You have to sight and aim and swim straight. Which for some reason I really couldn't do last year. St. Croix is another great event, as is Big Shoulders, La Jolla Roughwater.
The most interesting race that I did in 2007 though was the Fiji Open Water swims in early August. This year they are on July 24 and 26. The first is an 18 k 5 person relay race and then on Saturday there is a 2.6 k solo swim. There is also a fun fin race and a shorter 1k swim option on Saturday. The race is organized by some Australians who are raising money to help reduce drowning in Fiji, and the race is largely Australian with New Zealanders. Fijians, and the odd American.
I had never been to Fiji before and can't wait to go back. Beautiful warm water(in their winter). Amazing sea life, etc. but the best is the organization and warm greeting. The organizers include some meals, some socials and a lot of warm hospitality. Last year there were several Olympians participating including Natalie Coughlin, Shane Gould, Danyon Loeder. The race organizers will help get your relays together and get support boats and kayakers. There are some Australian teams who try to win the championship--so you can be as competitive as you like. Or just enjoy the spot, and do some diving, some sailing, and some social drinking with incredibly friendly folks.
Its about a 10 hour nonstop flight from LA so its not as far as it sounds. They would like more Americans to join up--and I hope they get some. I'm going back if not this year soon
I second and triple Wahoo's mention of the Bonaire EcoSwim (www.aquamoonadventures.com/page2.html). Great challenge.. and so much incredible beauty underwater that you will forget to breath. Yes.. literally.. that actually happened to me. I was well over 10 strokes before I figured out why my chest was hurting.
As for that Xmen 5 mile he mentioned... it is no longer.
That was a great race. And was my first ocean swim race ever on its last year in 2004.
The Wilmington YMCA has since picked up the baton and will be having their "Pier 2 Pier Swim" on Wrightsville Beach for the 4th year this coming September. It is a 1.7 mile one direction swim down the beach from one pier to another. http://www.pier-2-pier.com/
