Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

orca1946 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:39:27 GMT

Try not to look like FOOD !!!!!!! :badday:

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

cedar baldridge — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:11:31 GMT

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:13:11 GMT

Hello, I will be swimming Alcatraz invitatinal for the first time this sept '12. I have just ordered a sleeveless try hurricane 5 women's wetsuit. I ordered the sleeveless as I am typically hot natured- My questions for those of you who have swum Alcatraz before: 1. what brand of neoprene hat do you recommend? 2. should I take a long sleeve wetsuit as well and see which I want to wear? 3. on the entry you can enter as a SUIT or a SKIN... what does this mean? Thank you! I think "suit" means you'll wear a wetsuit and "skin" means you'll swim it no wetsuit. I believe you might still be able to wear a neoprene cap even if you enter the "skin" division and don't wear a wetsuit. You'd have to check with the event organiser though.

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:15:45 GMT

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!

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:37:57 GMT

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!

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:31:25 GMT

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)

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:30:30 GMT

Waves are th ONE thing that do not concern me...bodysurfed for years.

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:18:10 GMT

Yeah, I have looked at the results for the last few years, the course definately varies.

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:49:13 GMT

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 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ><>

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:52:28 GMT

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...

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:57:32 GMT

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.

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:17:26 GMT

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.

RE: Alcatraz Invitational - Neoprene Cap?

Former Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:02:32 GMT

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?