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 completely agree with Dave that the Sydney beaches OW swims are great fun, and can be very challenging. I have done a couple during vacations down there a few years ago - one at Malabar (a fairly protected bay swim) and the Warriewood - Mona Vale Swim (an ocean swim from one beach to the next around a headland). The second swim was toughest getting out through the surf among the melee of starters, but thereafter was in an ocean swell - quite easy for ocean conditions. Water was super clear so I spent a lot of time keeping an eye out for the big fish (there were none). After about 1km (2k swim) I was on my own - then another swimmer moved up beside me and started, well, bumping and bashing. Not necessary as there were acres of open water. I am normally a shy retiring sort but this teed me off a bit so I shifted into water polo mode and mixed it up a little. Anyway, this continued on and off for the rest of the swim and the two of us raced and finished together. After the run to the finish line up the beach the other guy (who was as tired and beaten up as I was) had a broad smile on his face and stuck his hand out to me and said "good on ya mate, great swim, I loved that!" I guess he hadn't been able to get to his usual bar fight the night before. Anyway, just be aware that for some OW swimming is a contact sport.
The swim was really good fun, but you needed to be fairly comfortable in surf and open ocean. And I would say that the safety cover was light for the conditions and the numbers. The offset though is that the cover was provided by trained surf lifesavers who are well equipped and experienced. (As Dave said, many of the swims are fundraisers for the many Aussie surf lifesaving clubs).
There has been an alarming increase in shark attacks in the Sydney area this year, so this may affect some of the swims. In some they will put divers or helicopters out onto the course to keep watch.
I completely agree with Dave that the Sydney beaches OW swims are great fun, and can be very challenging. I have done a couple during vacations down there a few years ago - one at Malabar (a fairly protected bay swim) and the Warriewood - Mona Vale Swim (an ocean swim from one beach to the next around a headland). The second swim was toughest getting out through the surf among the melee of starters, but thereafter was in an ocean swell - quite easy for ocean conditions. Water was super clear so I spent a lot of time keeping an eye out for the big fish (there were none). After about 1km (2k swim) I was on my own - then another swimmer moved up beside me and started, well, bumping and bashing. Not necessary as there were acres of open water. I am normally a shy retiring sort but this teed me off a bit so I shifted into water polo mode and mixed it up a little. Anyway, this continued on and off for the rest of the swim and the two of us raced and finished together. After the run to the finish line up the beach the other guy (who was as tired and beaten up as I was) had a broad smile on his face and stuck his hand out to me and said "good on ya mate, great swim, I loved that!" I guess he hadn't been able to get to his usual bar fight the night before. Anyway, just be aware that for some OW swimming is a contact sport.
The swim was really good fun, but you needed to be fairly comfortable in surf and open ocean. And I would say that the safety cover was light for the conditions and the numbers. The offset though is that the cover was provided by trained surf lifesavers who are well equipped and experienced. (As Dave said, many of the swims are fundraisers for the many Aussie surf lifesaving clubs).
There has been an alarming increase in shark attacks in the Sydney area this year, so this may affect some of the swims. In some they will put divers or helicopters out onto the course to keep watch.
