What has been your experience with open water swimming events *outside* the US? I'd like to hear it all; good, bad, and ugly, to gain perspective on these events. Some questions I have are:
Where was the event held?
What were the political conditions like in the host country?
What were the economic conditions like in the host country?
Was the event well-run
Was the event safe
Did you feel you got a good return on your investment of time and money?
Would you do this event again?
What are the best memories of this event?
What were the water conditions like?
What extras did the organizer provide that added value to the event?
What were the distances of the swims?
Was getting to and from the event a hassle?
How easy/difficult was it to get to the host country?
I'd like to hear what you all have experienced on this front. Granted, it may not be a long thread but it should be informative at least.
Thanks!
I had an interesting experience over the holidays. We had a vacation planned to Australia, I found an open water swim and thought it would be fun to participate while we were there. Of course, it is summer in their hemisphere, so water temperature is not an issue like it is here in Maine, and no wetsuits were permitted. This event was run by, and served as a fundraiser for the local surf lifesaving club. I had been to several beaches (as well as the Olympic pool) and while I enjoyed body surfing in the big waves, I was sure our race would be in a more protected, calmer area. Wrong. The Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club swim actually has 3 races - 700M, 2 KM, and a 200M sprint, I had entered the longer one looking for more of a challenge (though some people actually did all 3). Conditions were somewhere between a Beach Boys album cover and "A Perfect Storm'. As the Aussies said, "a bit of a chop out there today, mate". After longingly watch the 200 people in the 700 M race struggle through, they lined up our group of about 150 and sent us off in 2 waves. The run across the beach out to the breaking surf went pretty well. Then we had to either dive through, jump over or swim past the waves. None seemed to have much effect and I seemed to land behind where I started after each attempt. I briefly worried I would still be doing this as the leaders finished, but I eventually got through, though the waves knocked off my goggles a few times. The course was well marked with big buoys every 100 M or so, and guards on surfboards, but most times when I lifted my head to sight, I could only see the next wall of water coming at me. As long as I could see some flailing arms and bobbing caps around me, I figured I was roughly on course. As we got near the end, the waves began to help push us in some, though the brief ride would usually end with a disorienting pounding into the sand, after which you get your bearings, stand up and then get knocked down again. I pulled it together for an impressive run up the beach to the finish line. It took 40 minutes and I finished around the middle of the pack. One of the guys ('blokes') I talked to afterwards said he felt like he was swimming in a washing machine. They did have barbecue and beer at the finish line which helped with the recovery. After we were all in, they did the "Dash for cash" with a $150 prize, and an announcer on the PA calling it like a horse race. The swimmers lined up between 2 buoys 200 M out and at the starting signal sprinted in. The eventual winner started going diagonally away from the field and was last for a while, then caught a wave which he just rode past everyone else for an easy win. Hayley Lewis who was a medalist in '92 Olympics won one of the women's races.
There is a full calendar of events over the season, some in rivers or harbors rather than the pounding surf. Entry fees were very reasonable. I paid $25 Australian, about $18 American. There is a great website - www.oceanswims.com - with calendars, results & photos, and the typical debates over things like bathing suits ('wetties' vs. "budgy smugglers').
Overall, it was a great way to see a different area and meet people and I would certainly recommend it.
I had an interesting experience over the holidays. We had a vacation planned to Australia, I found an open water swim and thought it would be fun to participate while we were there. Of course, it is summer in their hemisphere, so water temperature is not an issue like it is here in Maine, and no wetsuits were permitted. This event was run by, and served as a fundraiser for the local surf lifesaving club. I had been to several beaches (as well as the Olympic pool) and while I enjoyed body surfing in the big waves, I was sure our race would be in a more protected, calmer area. Wrong. The Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club swim actually has 3 races - 700M, 2 KM, and a 200M sprint, I had entered the longer one looking for more of a challenge (though some people actually did all 3). Conditions were somewhere between a Beach Boys album cover and "A Perfect Storm'. As the Aussies said, "a bit of a chop out there today, mate". After longingly watch the 200 people in the 700 M race struggle through, they lined up our group of about 150 and sent us off in 2 waves. The run across the beach out to the breaking surf went pretty well. Then we had to either dive through, jump over or swim past the waves. None seemed to have much effect and I seemed to land behind where I started after each attempt. I briefly worried I would still be doing this as the leaders finished, but I eventually got through, though the waves knocked off my goggles a few times. The course was well marked with big buoys every 100 M or so, and guards on surfboards, but most times when I lifted my head to sight, I could only see the next wall of water coming at me. As long as I could see some flailing arms and bobbing caps around me, I figured I was roughly on course. As we got near the end, the waves began to help push us in some, though the brief ride would usually end with a disorienting pounding into the sand, after which you get your bearings, stand up and then get knocked down again. I pulled it together for an impressive run up the beach to the finish line. It took 40 minutes and I finished around the middle of the pack. One of the guys ('blokes') I talked to afterwards said he felt like he was swimming in a washing machine. They did have barbecue and beer at the finish line which helped with the recovery. After we were all in, they did the "Dash for cash" with a $150 prize, and an announcer on the PA calling it like a horse race. The swimmers lined up between 2 buoys 200 M out and at the starting signal sprinted in. The eventual winner started going diagonally away from the field and was last for a while, then caught a wave which he just rode past everyone else for an easy win. Hayley Lewis who was a medalist in '92 Olympics won one of the women's races.
There is a full calendar of events over the season, some in rivers or harbors rather than the pounding surf. Entry fees were very reasonable. I paid $25 Australian, about $18 American. There is a great website - www.oceanswims.com - with calendars, results & photos, and the typical debates over things like bathing suits ('wetties' vs. "budgy smugglers').
Overall, it was a great way to see a different area and meet people and I would certainly recommend it.
