I'll be doing the Alcatraz Invitational on September 21, 2008. Although I've been swimming in the bay this will be my first crossing. I'm in the non-wetsuit division. My question - are neoprene caps (Barracuda, Blue Seventy, etc.) legal in the non-wetsuit division?
Any other tips for a first-timer?
Will a neoprene cap be needed (it's a pretty short race)?
Former Member
Thanks Ron. I just got an e-mail from the race director that said that neoprene caps are legal. I'll have one on-hand just in case.
I agree with your view about not wearing a wetsuit. Besides, who wants to look like a seal while in the ocean?
Former Member
I wear a white long sleeved rash guard shirt when I swim. Last night @ 7 I swam around the Oceanside Pier, twice,..at shark feeding time. The sunset was spectacular, water 70 degrees and just enough chop to make it FUN. I love the ride in,..feeling the swells and the acceleration you get as the waves take you in. Life is Grand! Swimming in a pool isn`t.
Former Member
I was told that it was legal when I did the Sharkfest in June. I swam it in the non-wetsuit,.and wore a blue seventy cap ...they claimed that the water was 52 at the island and around 57 in Aquatic Park. In order to stay warm,..never stop to rest ( go verticle ) . You will enjoy it! I believe that a crossing from Alcatraz should only count if you are only wearing a bathing suit,..a prisoner would not have a wet-suit.
Former Member
Ron,
Can I infer that you will be at the o-side pier swim next week? I'll be there. We will bump into one another one of these days...
Former Member
YEAH!!!! I`ll be there,..wearing a LOUD multi-colored swimsuit I just bought from Dolphin. THis will be my 6th Labor Day Pier Swim. I`m looking to beat 25 minutes,..altho no two Ocean Swims are the same,..one time I did it in 45 minutes :dunno:, and another 27 minutes:wine:.
Keep an eye out for me,..you can`t miss me!!
Ron %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ><>
Former Member
Yeah, I have looked at the results for the last few years, the course definately varies.
Former Member
Waves are th ONE thing that do not concern me...bodysurfed for years.
Former Member
I did the Escape from Alcatraz tri this year in a wetsuit. I agree you can't count the crossing if you are wearing a wetsuit. I had limited training before the race because of injury. My entire training for all 3 sports spanned only 5 weeks. While I admit I did terribly in the run and bike, the swim was a non issue. When I jumped i, I bobbed up and down like a cork. Out of 1600 I was 112 and passed hundreds of people (over 40 means you wait for everyone else to go first.). This was no great accomplishment. If I had gone to a local Masters meet I would have got creamed by the 70 year olds.(Well, OK one of those guys is blistering fast either way)
Former Member
Last year,..a HUGE set of waves came in as the last heat ( the old folks) started,..some turned back,..I made it thru but spent alot of energy. It was fun!
Former Member
Ron, quit talking about La Jolla you're making me jealous :( I'm not going to get a chance to go down there again until next year. Not swimming in the ocean for a whole year really sucks...
Speaking of shark feedings, I saw this crazy show on Animal Planet a couple of weeks ago where they did an experiment to see which colors a great white would find most attractive. They tested various colored mannekins in the water and filmed the shark's response. It circled the black one but didn't attack. I don't remember what happened with the white one... it may have done one of those investigative "bumps" (yikes). The red one it took a bite of. But the yellow one... it went nuts on and tore it up. This will definitely influence my future swimsuit color choices!