4,000 swimmers in an open water swim is an incomprehensible number for me to get my head around. From a distance, the neoprene suits must have looked like an oil slick. Since the the race is a short 1.2-kilometers long, I suspect that the last swimmer into the water was probably told who won the race before he or she was even able to get wet. Here is some press on Australia's Lorne Pier to Pub swimFrom The Age:WHEN you are tossed about in the water like a sock in a washing machine, certain truths become clear. Manners, for example, have no place in the Lorne Pier to Pub swim. Hands, feet and thighs crash about the salt water; goggles and gentle tempers disappear.
Wayne Sweeney, winner of the first Pier to Pub 30 years ago, was in the water of Louttit Bay yesterday, along with more than 4000 swimmers.
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7 comments:
Since there are different color caps, they probably had waves of people entering the water at intervals, perhaps 10 minutes apart, and fastest to slowest.
Still, the pink wave alone looks bigger than the last open water race I did.
P-I-E-R pressure? I think you mean P-E-E-R pressure since the La Jolla/Scripps pier is several miles north of the Cove entry site.
I copied the headline word for word. It was suppose to be a pun on the writers part.
Lorne Pier to Pub swim
Its interesting that I saw at least one reference to this swim being the largest open water race. And even though 4,000 is a lot, there are larger races. In our own sport, there is a South Africa Lake Swim (Midmar I think)which has between 16,000 and 17,000--and there is an Asian swim which is similarly sized to Midmar.
And there are similarly large swims as part of Triathalons.
and here Clay tries to get the hermosa to manhattan pier to pier cancelled because he is "concerned" about the 1000 swimmers "safety." yeah right..
Total distortion of what Clay Evans Suggested. He suggested to the lifeguards that they implement a staggered start which is a reasonable request even if you or the lifeguards in charge disagree.
Note that this Australian race had a staggered start.
My personal point of view is that the first 300 yards of the Dwight Crumb Pier-to-Pier race is the most "complicated" start than any other open water race in California. Alcatraz is much safer, La Jolla, Nautica Tri, etc. etc. are safer too.
open races each year.
I am swimming in the 2011 race next weekend. It is a staggered race, and it is from a floating start. The photo does not show the start, only people entering the water. I used to live in La Jolla, and now in Australia. The Aussie beaches and races are much better than the CA events. There are perhaps 150 races around Australia each summer. I race every weekend in summer as it is a good excuse to see new places. Join us or go to oceanswims.com.
I did a race last weekend with 1200 people. THe staggered start took 3 hours to get through so it was quite comfortable and safe.
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