If it was the Cole they would've deadset had everybody marshalled on tsunami alert up in the carpark on the bluff. Hats off to the organisers and their minions for going ahead with it. The challenge was great, and I loved the "puffin Billy" hot showers.
But what made things a little it harder was the water safety people out the back continually telling me to veer left at the end when having taken a deep sea course up the beach, I really wanted to swim wide to the northeast of the aforementioned dreaded rip. I know there are submerged rocks up the northern end but I reckon the tide was well high enough to swim in over them; and the waves didn't seem to be sucking up quite as bad and were breaking much more consistently over there. But if time is money, we certainly got our money's worth swimming in against that bloody rip! And just like Bilgola the week before, I ended up with enough sand where-the-sun-don't-shine to fill the kids play pit, and enough seaweed to roll up sushi for the whole family.
Speaking of family, I'll bring em along next time for the whole day of family fun: i.e. the face painting and sand modelling comp, etc.
See yuz in the infamous Bar Beach bone-jarring shorebreak next year.
Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year,
Davo.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Big Billy
Methinks they'll be doin well to keep the "boutique" tag goin on Billy. With so many punters, getting aroung the cans, 'twas like the foyer at Myer's for the opening of the post christmas sale. Nothin wrong with a bit of competitive argy bargy but one had to be well on ones guard for those deadly breaststrokers; they was everywhere.
Along with the slightly challenging conditions of a brisk southeast chop, atop a low nor'east swell, the madding crowd made for a pretty scrappy race. But I wasn't there for a haircut. It was one o those real ocean swims, but blessed with lovely sunny day.
The shuttle bus was bit on the "mini" side so maybe a couple of buses next year. As usual the apre race Billy barbie was in top nic and 'twas a great day. Well done to the billy mob, especially considerin the record setting entries.
Bilgola, you've come of age now, you belong to the world of oceanswimming; maybe "Big Billy" next year, but no longer "Boutique".
Regs,
Davo.
Along with the slightly challenging conditions of a brisk southeast chop, atop a low nor'east swell, the madding crowd made for a pretty scrappy race. But I wasn't there for a haircut. It was one o those real ocean swims, but blessed with lovely sunny day.
The shuttle bus was bit on the "mini" side so maybe a couple of buses next year. As usual the apre race Billy barbie was in top nic and 'twas a great day. Well done to the billy mob, especially considerin the record setting entries.
Bilgola, you've come of age now, you belong to the world of oceanswimming; maybe "Big Billy" next year, but no longer "Boutique".
Regs,
Davo.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Hustle and Bustle of Oceanwims
There's been a fair bit of comment of late on the subject of , how should we say; over enthusiastic swimming tactics such as scratching, grabbing, kicking and just plain swimming over the top of one another, particularly around the buoys.
One point of view is that oceanswims are like some sort of marine love-in, and should be an aquatic stroll in the park. Of course there are those who are diametrically opposed to this and for the most part have far less to say on the matter; possibly because they are the accused kickers and scratchers. But they may well be the silent majority.
Whilst I respect the right of quiet enjoyment of an oceanswim for those who so desire, 'tis not really an opinion that I subscribe to. I make no secret of the fact that I enjoy a bit of slap and tickle at the start and around the cans, but despite being a self declared slow but strong swimmer, I have an uncommon fear and loathin for breast strokers at any close proximity. I've always reckoned that if you want to breast stroke or don't like the rough and tumble, then you can always start at the back or your group and swim wide of the peloton round the cans.
Sure there are the elites; cyborgs, supermodels and circus freaks who tear off on there own at a cracking pace and can kick and scratch each other to their hearts' content. But there are many fellow oceanswimmers, who like me mostly race against the clock, constantly trying to improve upon there last performance in each event, using their brains as much as their brawn to efficiently navigate an otherwise tricky course, seasonally adjusting times to account for the conditions of the day or the variations in course layout, and occasionally having a bit of a match race with their contemporaries. Then of course there is the Hahn SuperDry Series where swimmers of slightly higher calibre can win something extrinsic as well as intrinsic for their efforts.
As long as such an esprit de corps exists in ocean swimming we are bound to have varying levels of competitive vigour and proficiency that transgress the categories of age and gender, and as such will always have traffic problems as swimmers pass one another. Perhaps swimmers should be categorised going on past performance with all novices at the back, as some races already do? But then all you need is one burglar to be a ring in for the first time and you have a cat amongst the pigeons again. There was plenty of that action goin on and the associated whinging thereafter at the inaugural (by posponement) Tama to Cloey race last season. And if you over categorise the swims, the large ones will take all day to be done; as is already the case down at Lorne where you have to take a cut lunch with you while you wait to start.
So perhaps Mr Os.c, you can knock up one of those votin thingies on the subject of kickin n scratchin etc.
Should over entusiastic swimmers just chill a bit?
Should the slower swimmers just toughen up or swim wide?
Should swims be categorised by pace and not age and gender?
Should swims be categorised more or less?
Should breast stokers have their feet amputated? Ok, I spoze that's goin a bit far coz their boney stumps would hurt even more when they kick ya.
Maybe you can improve upon this guvna?
And maybe youz, Oceanswimmers the lot of yuz, can have yer two blob's worth on the subject too?
David Love.
One point of view is that oceanswims are like some sort of marine love-in, and should be an aquatic stroll in the park. Of course there are those who are diametrically opposed to this and for the most part have far less to say on the matter; possibly because they are the accused kickers and scratchers. But they may well be the silent majority.
Whilst I respect the right of quiet enjoyment of an oceanswim for those who so desire, 'tis not really an opinion that I subscribe to. I make no secret of the fact that I enjoy a bit of slap and tickle at the start and around the cans, but despite being a self declared slow but strong swimmer, I have an uncommon fear and loathin for breast strokers at any close proximity. I've always reckoned that if you want to breast stroke or don't like the rough and tumble, then you can always start at the back or your group and swim wide of the peloton round the cans.
Sure there are the elites; cyborgs, supermodels and circus freaks who tear off on there own at a cracking pace and can kick and scratch each other to their hearts' content. But there are many fellow oceanswimmers, who like me mostly race against the clock, constantly trying to improve upon there last performance in each event, using their brains as much as their brawn to efficiently navigate an otherwise tricky course, seasonally adjusting times to account for the conditions of the day or the variations in course layout, and occasionally having a bit of a match race with their contemporaries. Then of course there is the Hahn SuperDry Series where swimmers of slightly higher calibre can win something extrinsic as well as intrinsic for their efforts.
As long as such an esprit de corps exists in ocean swimming we are bound to have varying levels of competitive vigour and proficiency that transgress the categories of age and gender, and as such will always have traffic problems as swimmers pass one another. Perhaps swimmers should be categorised going on past performance with all novices at the back, as some races already do? But then all you need is one burglar to be a ring in for the first time and you have a cat amongst the pigeons again. There was plenty of that action goin on and the associated whinging thereafter at the inaugural (by posponement) Tama to Cloey race last season. And if you over categorise the swims, the large ones will take all day to be done; as is already the case down at Lorne where you have to take a cut lunch with you while you wait to start.
So perhaps Mr Os.c, you can knock up one of those votin thingies on the subject of kickin n scratchin etc.
Should over entusiastic swimmers just chill a bit?
Should the slower swimmers just toughen up or swim wide?
Should swims be categorised by pace and not age and gender?
Should swims be categorised more or less?
Should breast stokers have their feet amputated? Ok, I spoze that's goin a bit far coz their boney stumps would hurt even more when they kick ya.
Maybe you can improve upon this guvna?
And maybe youz, Oceanswimmers the lot of yuz, can have yer two blob's worth on the subject too?
David Love.
Coog Rocks!
P.S. Huey turned on a crackerjack day at Coog on Sundy and the good folk of Coog put on yet another great race to boot. Congrats and thanks to all those involved. Youz are a credit to yerselves and yer cummunity.
However I must say the comic paradox of the Member for Midnight Oil, The Federal minister for the'viroment, a former North Shore surfie, standing on an Eastern Suburbs beach, fully clothed, discharging a firearm (well, a relpica at least) in a built up area, on a Sundy (which used to be illegal in it's own right) gives me a cheap pre-christmas giggle every year.
I hope he can see the mirth in it too.
Regs,
Davo.
However I must say the comic paradox of the Member for Midnight Oil, The Federal minister for the'viroment, a former North Shore surfie, standing on an Eastern Suburbs beach, fully clothed, discharging a firearm (well, a relpica at least) in a built up area, on a Sundy (which used to be illegal in it's own right) gives me a cheap pre-christmas giggle every year.
I hope he can see the mirth in it too.
Regs,
Davo.
No Crying Over Spilt Leadership
I'd like to state, for the record, that Mr Os.c has my full support and undivided loyalty, and should be free to appoint an oceanswimming cabinet of his choice, and thus be allowed to get on with the business of oceanswimming, which has been made all the more difficult by those milign and disloyal factional figures within the oceanswimming community who have sought to undermine his authority, only to serve their own interests. There will be no challenge and I expect, come Monday, this will have all blown over and we'll all be able to get back on with the business of oceanswimming, something that all oceanswimming Australians rightly expect and deserve.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
No Crying
I'd like to state, for the record, that Mr Os.c has my full support and undivided loyalty, and should be free to appoint an oceanswimming cabinet of his choice, and thus be allowed to get on with the business of oceanswimming, which has been made all the more difficult by those milign and disloyal factional figures within the oceanswimming community who have sought to undermine his authority, only to serve their own interests. There will be no challenge and I expect, come Monday, this will have all blown over and we'll all be able to get back on with the business of oceanswimming, something that all oceanswimming Australians rightly expect and deserve.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
No Crying
I'd like to state, for the record, that Mr Os.c has my full support and undivided loyalty, and should be free to appoint an oceanswimming cabinet of his choice, and thus be allowed to get on with the business of oceanswimming, which has been made all the more difficult by those milign and disloyal factional figures within the oceanswimming community who have sought to undermine his authority, only to serve their own interests. There will be no challenge and I expect, come Monday, this will have all blown over and we'll all be able to get back on with the business of oceanswimming, something that all oceanswimming Australians rightly expect and deserve.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
No Crying
I'd like to state, for the record, that Mr Os.c has my full support and undivided loyalty, and should be free to appoint an oceanswimming cabinet of his choice, and thus be allowed to get on with the business of oceanswimming, which has been made all the more difficult by those milign and disloyal factional figures within the oceanswimming community who have sought to undermine his authority, only to serve their own interests. There will be no challenge and I expect, come Monday, this will have all blown over and we'll all be able to get back on with the business of oceanswimming, something that all oceanswimming Australians rightly expect and deserve.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
Unequivocally yours,
David Love.
The member for my place.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Alma Maters and Bombies Galore
I would like to see Mr OS.c's alma mater Caves Beach added to any top ten list too. Where else can you pick up a wave on a bombie about 300m out and half way around the course? Not to mention the free apre race barbie and band. Legendary!
On the subject of alma maters and bombies, I just noticed a new event at Black Head on the calender in May. Black Head is a bit of a Love family alma mater and has a bombie out in front of the middle of the bay to boot. Other wise known as Halliday's Point, it's like a miniaturised version of Crescent Head; not quite as good a surf spot as Cresso, but still has great point potential in decent sized south-southeast swell. Still a few Loves livin around there. I'm excited about this one. Hope it's a ripper!
David Love.
On the subject of alma maters and bombies, I just noticed a new event at Black Head on the calender in May. Black Head is a bit of a Love family alma mater and has a bombie out in front of the middle of the bay to boot. Other wise known as Halliday's Point, it's like a miniaturised version of Crescent Head; not quite as good a surf spot as Cresso, but still has great point potential in decent sized south-southeast swell. Still a few Loves livin around there. I'm excited about this one. Hope it's a ripper!
David Love.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Poolside Posers
Yes Johnny,
I reckon it is joke.
In the words of former "Shadow Minister for Sun Tan" and Member for Kooyong, the RH Andrew Peacock (as often repeated by the immortal HG Nelson) describing government policy in the 1987 election campaign:
"It's a joke! A cruel hoax, a hastily cobbled together sham, and a loose bunch of promises!"
But this is nothing new for that bunch of poolside posers known as FINA. They've been changin the rules to suit themselves since Puss was kitten. And do ya reckon they're gonna stop now? Of course not.
Remember, it wasn't that long ago when you had to touch the wall with ya hand before making a freestyle tumble turn. How many new olympic and world records did that create, hey? And what about all the other various little tricks they've gradually meted out like lollies to a bunch of kids, such as the dolphin kick you're allowed off the wall in breast stroke.
I reckon they've got em all in a box and they just pull one out every now and then when the balance sheet is lookin a little lean.
Gimme strength! You deadset wouldn't feed em if ya saw em starvin on the side of the road.
So what has all this been driven by? I'll tell ya, telly rights. To put it bluntly, more OR's and WR's means more viewer interest, and more advertising potential, and thus more money for TV rights. You don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to work that one out.
I say let em go as hard as they like, knock em selves out. We in the ocean swimmin caper will never go down that path coz we're not such a bunch o posers. We're hard "to the power of sick" and we don't give a stuff about our audience.
Unfortunately that's blatantly obvious if you've ever seen me paradin round the beach in a pair o budgee smugglers.
Regs,
Davo.
I reckon it is joke.
In the words of former "Shadow Minister for Sun Tan" and Member for Kooyong, the RH Andrew Peacock (as often repeated by the immortal HG Nelson) describing government policy in the 1987 election campaign:
"It's a joke! A cruel hoax, a hastily cobbled together sham, and a loose bunch of promises!"
But this is nothing new for that bunch of poolside posers known as FINA. They've been changin the rules to suit themselves since Puss was kitten. And do ya reckon they're gonna stop now? Of course not.
Remember, it wasn't that long ago when you had to touch the wall with ya hand before making a freestyle tumble turn. How many new olympic and world records did that create, hey? And what about all the other various little tricks they've gradually meted out like lollies to a bunch of kids, such as the dolphin kick you're allowed off the wall in breast stroke.
I reckon they've got em all in a box and they just pull one out every now and then when the balance sheet is lookin a little lean.
Gimme strength! You deadset wouldn't feed em if ya saw em starvin on the side of the road.
So what has all this been driven by? I'll tell ya, telly rights. To put it bluntly, more OR's and WR's means more viewer interest, and more advertising potential, and thus more money for TV rights. You don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to work that one out.
I say let em go as hard as they like, knock em selves out. We in the ocean swimmin caper will never go down that path coz we're not such a bunch o posers. We're hard "to the power of sick" and we don't give a stuff about our audience.
Unfortunately that's blatantly obvious if you've ever seen me paradin round the beach in a pair o budgee smugglers.
Regs,
Davo.
Mid Winter Madness!
I'll tell ya what Bambi,
You know your an oceanswimming trajic when you plan family holidays to coincide with events. Not too bad when you consider such delightful locations as Southwest Rocks, Mollymook or Fiji, just to name a few.
But I'll be buggered if we're ever gonna get back to the snow again now. Unless of course they come up with a mid winter event in them thar mountains.
How about the "Guthega Gift" run over about 1500 centimetres on the pristine reaches of the Island Bend Pondage, with wetsuits of any thickness allowed? That'd sort the punters out from the posers.
Actually you know you have gone just plain mad when you start dreamin up events in improbable places just to justify a holiday there.
Anyway, back to the winter asylum,
David Love.
You know your an oceanswimming trajic when you plan family holidays to coincide with events. Not too bad when you consider such delightful locations as Southwest Rocks, Mollymook or Fiji, just to name a few.
But I'll be buggered if we're ever gonna get back to the snow again now. Unless of course they come up with a mid winter event in them thar mountains.
How about the "Guthega Gift" run over about 1500 centimetres on the pristine reaches of the Island Bend Pondage, with wetsuits of any thickness allowed? That'd sort the punters out from the posers.
Actually you know you have gone just plain mad when you start dreamin up events in improbable places just to justify a holiday there.
Anyway, back to the winter asylum,
David Love.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Errant Boardriders and Mona's Winter Warmer
As an avid ocean swimmer and recreational surfer I can attest that surfers are not particularly interested in running over swimmers, or other surfers, or anybody for that matter; not the least of which because it might simply spoil a good wave by causing one to fall of one's board.
And has one who has on more than one occasion been on the receiving end some pointed loud hailer action, I can also tell you that the organisers of surfing contests don't have too much trouble in shoeing recreational surfers off a particular break when they need to either. Surfers are like naughty children who, when told to stay away from something or somewhere, will inevitably try to incrementally sneak back into the fobidden zone; constantly testing the vigilance of their parents or teachers.
In short, give em a blast when ya need to. They should move pretty well straight away, but keep an eye on them, and get up em again if they creep back in. It's not like their gonna be excluded all day.
A few loud mouth clubbies scattered amongst the inshore water safety and just beyond the break wouldn't hurt either. In fact they should relish the opportunity to revive some o that 1970's style rivalry between surf lifesavers and boardriders.
By the way, great swim to all those at Mona who ran it. It just goes to show that you can safely run a swim with a bit o surf on, and in full agrement with Natali above, the challenge makes it even more fun.
Great minestrone too. Call me soft of you like, but maybe a little fromaggio di Parmigiana to go with it next time?
Contently (if not Continentally) yours,
Davio.
And has one who has on more than one occasion been on the receiving end some pointed loud hailer action, I can also tell you that the organisers of surfing contests don't have too much trouble in shoeing recreational surfers off a particular break when they need to either. Surfers are like naughty children who, when told to stay away from something or somewhere, will inevitably try to incrementally sneak back into the fobidden zone; constantly testing the vigilance of their parents or teachers.
In short, give em a blast when ya need to. They should move pretty well straight away, but keep an eye on them, and get up em again if they creep back in. It's not like their gonna be excluded all day.
A few loud mouth clubbies scattered amongst the inshore water safety and just beyond the break wouldn't hurt either. In fact they should relish the opportunity to revive some o that 1970's style rivalry between surf lifesavers and boardriders.
By the way, great swim to all those at Mona who ran it. It just goes to show that you can safely run a swim with a bit o surf on, and in full agrement with Natali above, the challenge makes it even more fun.
Great minestrone too. Call me soft of you like, but maybe a little fromaggio di Parmigiana to go with it next time?
Contently (if not Continentally) yours,
Davio.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Swim That Dare Not Speak It's Name?
Carn all you C2B 5k'ers!
Did summint happen out there that no one wants to talk about? After all the brou-ha-ha following the Mollymook swim there doesn't seem to be too many of youz havin ya two blob's worth about it! Didn't anybody swim over the top of anyone, or scratch or heel-waft, or miss a bouy, or simply marvel at the beauty of the marine reserve that youz were swimmin over, or anythin?
I wish was out there with yuz, it was such a crackerjack day. I opted instead for conducting my daughter's 3rd birthday party, bang on her actual birthday, at the kiddies bike track in Centennial Park, where she went absolutely mental on the prezzie we gave her, her first bike. I reckon the swimmin race mighta been easier work but I don't regret for a second missin the it for the sheer joy we saw her experience.
Even so on Satdy night I was secretly hopin for accutely localised subtropical cyclonic coastal weather conditions to visit themselves upon youz, but not us in the hinterland of the park of course, so that I could perhaps join youz on a rain date later this month.
I'm glad it went off for yuz, but yuz should whoop it up a bit more to tease me for next year. ANZAC day falls on a Sundy next year thus my daughter's birthday will be on the Monday. Tell me, which day do I have to schedule the party for?
David Love.
Did summint happen out there that no one wants to talk about? After all the brou-ha-ha following the Mollymook swim there doesn't seem to be too many of youz havin ya two blob's worth about it! Didn't anybody swim over the top of anyone, or scratch or heel-waft, or miss a bouy, or simply marvel at the beauty of the marine reserve that youz were swimmin over, or anythin?
I wish was out there with yuz, it was such a crackerjack day. I opted instead for conducting my daughter's 3rd birthday party, bang on her actual birthday, at the kiddies bike track in Centennial Park, where she went absolutely mental on the prezzie we gave her, her first bike. I reckon the swimmin race mighta been easier work but I don't regret for a second missin the it for the sheer joy we saw her experience.
Even so on Satdy night I was secretly hopin for accutely localised subtropical cyclonic coastal weather conditions to visit themselves upon youz, but not us in the hinterland of the park of course, so that I could perhaps join youz on a rain date later this month.
I'm glad it went off for yuz, but yuz should whoop it up a bit more to tease me for next year. ANZAC day falls on a Sundy next year thus my daughter's birthday will be on the Monday. Tell me, which day do I have to schedule the party for?
David Love.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Open Your Eyes!
The middle buoy at the Mook was definitely moved just BEFORE the start of the race, I saw it with my own eyes; and rightly so for the abovementioned reasons. It happened just after receiving our last briefing and blind Freddie could see it being done with a rubber duckie. I pointed it out to a bloke right beside me, remarking that the course was now virtually a straight line between northern and southern headlands. He in turn pointed it out to some one else, and within a coupla minutes a coupla ladies told the man with the loud hailer, who had his back turned to the action while he was adderessing us. He in turn responded by telling everone who would listen that this was the case, and even stated the worsening reefbreak reasoning.
I reckon that swimmers should keep their wits about them while still on the beach and take notice of stuff like this. It ain't rocket science.
It's commonsense that one wouldn't wanna swim too far into the bay anyway; not only because of the worsening beach and reef break, but also beacause you are swimming further than you have to, and have to fight the swell a little harder, more head on and standing taller in the shallower water, to get back out to the final mark.
Such navigational tactics are one of the few advantages that a slow but strong, portly middle aged swimmer such as myself has to remain in the slightest bit competitive. I should've kept me mouth shut on the day and even more of youz would've wandered off like Brown's cows into the bay.
So to read the rest of yuz all whinging about it really get's my goat. Get over it, it's OCEAN swimming, warts and all, and it's part of the challenge. Isn't that why we we're in it?
If ya don't like ocean swimming, stick to so called "open water" swimming which pretty well just means there's no roof on it. The water might be a bit muddy sometimes and there may be a bit of a current or wind chop, but the buoys will be a lot easier to see, there'll be heaps more of em, and they won't move around, or be moved round half as much. I hear FINA do a nice line in it! (Shameless dodgy pun fully fully intended yet again)
David Love.
I reckon that swimmers should keep their wits about them while still on the beach and take notice of stuff like this. It ain't rocket science.
It's commonsense that one wouldn't wanna swim too far into the bay anyway; not only because of the worsening beach and reef break, but also beacause you are swimming further than you have to, and have to fight the swell a little harder, more head on and standing taller in the shallower water, to get back out to the final mark.
Such navigational tactics are one of the few advantages that a slow but strong, portly middle aged swimmer such as myself has to remain in the slightest bit competitive. I should've kept me mouth shut on the day and even more of youz would've wandered off like Brown's cows into the bay.
So to read the rest of yuz all whinging about it really get's my goat. Get over it, it's OCEAN swimming, warts and all, and it's part of the challenge. Isn't that why we we're in it?
If ya don't like ocean swimming, stick to so called "open water" swimming which pretty well just means there's no roof on it. The water might be a bit muddy sometimes and there may be a bit of a current or wind chop, but the buoys will be a lot easier to see, there'll be heaps more of em, and they won't move around, or be moved round half as much. I hear FINA do a nice line in it! (Shameless dodgy pun fully fully intended yet again)
David Love.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Hard to the power of sick!
Hard to the power of sick down The Mook or what!
(for full bibliographical reference please follow the link http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150323844720 )
The weather turned pretty nasty down The Mook on Sundy but to the credit to of the organisers, they still held two of the three races. The 2km was the toughest bloody race that I’ve ever been in, even tougher than the B2B of ’07, where plenty of punters couldn't get out and had to do "the walk of shame", as me ol' mate Fergie calls it, back to Bronte.
A little after nine o'clock in the morning it looked like there was a real chance of them bailin out on the whole show; with a call for a show of hands at the first race briefing to see if "anyone wouldn’t be too disappointed if they called the races off." Whether it was down to peer pressure or sheer determination, nay a hand was raised. That's why I reckon youz're all hard to the abovementioned power; water safety personnel, volunteers and competitiors alike. None of us was there for a haircut!So they ran the kiddies’/novices/old farts’ warm-up 500m race first off the beach in worsening but challengingly manageable conditions, which I did as registered participant. A few parents went in it unrego’ed as well just to give the kiddies a bit of support and extra safety. Good on em I say!
By the time that was done and we’d been shuttled up the Northern end o the beach to start the biggie, the swell wind and rain had worsened considerably. But the organisers held their nerve, as did we. We set off tucked right into the corner of Banisters Head and caught the equivalent of the North Bondi Express out. Even so plenty of swimmers still got clobbered by a set or two on the way. Then it was simply the hardest 2km slog I have ever swum, against the increasing Sout-east ground swell and Southerly Buster wind. The rain squalls and mist were so bad at times you could hardly make out the shape of the southern headland, the only available point of reference, let alone see the buoys. Without a glimmer of exaggeration I reckon this race is probably one of the best and toughest dead reckoning navigation exercises any of us will ever experience at sea in our lives.
Thence upon return to the southern end o the beach, most of us got dumped by a 5-6ft sucky close-out beach break over a shallow bar. And it was still f!@#ing raining. I reckon there’ll be plenty more written about it on The Two Blob's Worth!
I reckon we should all get triple Hahn points just for completing it!
A massive thanks to the organisers and their seconds, loved the free sausage sizzle van out front o the Surf Club, just what the doctor ordered.
All up a great weekend. Fridy’s n Satdy’s weather was lovely. We (my wife n kids loved it too) will be back next year for a longer stay for sure. Plenty of pretty places around there to visit, and the Mook n Dulla itself is just gorgeous.
David Love.
(for full bibliographical reference please follow the link http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150323844720 )
The weather turned pretty nasty down The Mook on Sundy but to the credit to of the organisers, they still held two of the three races. The 2km was the toughest bloody race that I’ve ever been in, even tougher than the B2B of ’07, where plenty of punters couldn't get out and had to do "the walk of shame", as me ol' mate Fergie calls it, back to Bronte.
A little after nine o'clock in the morning it looked like there was a real chance of them bailin out on the whole show; with a call for a show of hands at the first race briefing to see if "anyone wouldn’t be too disappointed if they called the races off." Whether it was down to peer pressure or sheer determination, nay a hand was raised. That's why I reckon youz're all hard to the abovementioned power; water safety personnel, volunteers and competitiors alike. None of us was there for a haircut!So they ran the kiddies’/novices/old farts’ warm-up 500m race first off the beach in worsening but challengingly manageable conditions, which I did as registered participant. A few parents went in it unrego’ed as well just to give the kiddies a bit of support and extra safety. Good on em I say!
By the time that was done and we’d been shuttled up the Northern end o the beach to start the biggie, the swell wind and rain had worsened considerably. But the organisers held their nerve, as did we. We set off tucked right into the corner of Banisters Head and caught the equivalent of the North Bondi Express out. Even so plenty of swimmers still got clobbered by a set or two on the way. Then it was simply the hardest 2km slog I have ever swum, against the increasing Sout-east ground swell and Southerly Buster wind. The rain squalls and mist were so bad at times you could hardly make out the shape of the southern headland, the only available point of reference, let alone see the buoys. Without a glimmer of exaggeration I reckon this race is probably one of the best and toughest dead reckoning navigation exercises any of us will ever experience at sea in our lives.
Thence upon return to the southern end o the beach, most of us got dumped by a 5-6ft sucky close-out beach break over a shallow bar. And it was still f!@#ing raining. I reckon there’ll be plenty more written about it on The Two Blob's Worth!
I reckon we should all get triple Hahn points just for completing it!
A massive thanks to the organisers and their seconds, loved the free sausage sizzle van out front o the Surf Club, just what the doctor ordered.
All up a great weekend. Fridy’s n Satdy’s weather was lovely. We (my wife n kids loved it too) will be back next year for a longer stay for sure. Plenty of pretty places around there to visit, and the Mook n Dulla itself is just gorgeous.
David Love.
After The Buoys Of Tama Have Gone
On the subject of the relative visibility of various types of bouys, what about those cylindrical ones with the helium filled balloons floating a metre or two above. I seem to remember them being used at Bilgola over the past coupla years, and not having any trouble seein them at all; even before Santa got me a pair of those specky prescription goggles from View for Chrissy. Since then I've been able to spot markers of all shapes and sizes much more easily, as well as have a much better gander at whats goin on below the water (shameless testamonial plug fully intended in the hope of scorin a freeby or summint).
As for the Tama2Cloe race, what a ripper, hey?
This race has deadset got legs!
Thanks to the Tama n Cloe clubbies, their respective sponsors and event partners, youz put on a great event. A new classic is born; but don't use the word "classic" to promote it coz the word's so five years ago now! Call it a "derby", "stakes", or "championship", or sumfin sporty like that. Get ya spin doctors onto it, I'm sure they can come up with sumfin.
David Love
As for the Tama2Cloe race, what a ripper, hey?
This race has deadset got legs!
Thanks to the Tama n Cloe clubbies, their respective sponsors and event partners, youz put on a great event. A new classic is born; but don't use the word "classic" to promote it coz the word's so five years ago now! Call it a "derby", "stakes", or "championship", or sumfin sporty like that. Get ya spin doctors onto it, I'm sure they can come up with sumfin.
David Love
Monday, March 30, 2009
South West Rocks, Rocks!
What a great day twas on Sunday. The threat of inclement weather hangin around just before the race, had evaporated before too long and glorious sunshine, light off shore winds, warm water and slight seas prevailed.
The race: very well run, modestly priced, straight forward instructions, and an easily read course. Although there was a little trap for younger players in the form of an unforseen rip that took me slightly off course sideways when rounding the last buoy and providing a slight head current to swim against coming into the beach at the end.
Even though twas my first time in this race, judging by the smiles on the faces of the organisers and volunteers, and the general conviviality of the atmosphere about the race I got the impression that the number of participants was up and that Huey was smiling upon them this year. Congratulations to all involved. I for one will be back, and I'll give youz a good rap to anyone I find who hasn't been up for it yet.
And the camaraderie: well as Mr OS.c states so eloquently, "it's all about the culcha." Thanks Mr O for organising the Satdy night dinner at The Riverside Tavern. His rousing speech, where he intruduced all us newboys-and-girls to Lord Ron of Riverside, extolling his and his fair Lady's efforts in organising the event over so many years. And Lord Ron's response, reciprocating praise on Mr O for standing up as such a cultural pillar of the Oceanswimming community; it brought a tear to me eye and a lump in me throat to be associated with such a great mob, even so newly and on the fringe. Twas a great evening, even though my wife and I had to make a relatively early departure on account of the slumberous requirements of our two young children. We would love to have stayed on chinwagging the night away.
And as I said before, South West Rocks does Rock! A truly lovely location. Staying in a cabin at the Horshoe Bay Caravan Park; going to sleep and waking up to the meditative sound of rolling surf; the reminiscence of childhood holidays aplenty up the coast; midnight sleep interrupted by heavy rain storms battering the thin sheet metal clad cabin, an early morning stroll where everybody says g'day to each other, chatting to the "Grey Nomads" that proliferate the park in this day and age; walking with the kids from the cabin over some immaculatley kempt grass directly to the golden sand of the beach, like it's your own private piece of paradise; and then strolling directly from the beach to the main street of the village. Sorry Mr O, I should leave the pitcher postcard stuff to you coz you do it better and you'll probly have proper pitchers in it as well.
I thought that making a three day weekend of it was plenty o time, but twas far too short. We'll be back for at least a week next year.
David Love.
P.S. I thought I might have started some trouble with my smartarse banter about the Bikies vs the sharks in the meeja with my two blob's worth last week; when the Gladiators MC turned up in all their thunderous pageantry to the Seabreeze Hotel, right in the centre of town on Satdy arvo. I didn't see any leather vests in the swimmin race the next day though.
The race: very well run, modestly priced, straight forward instructions, and an easily read course. Although there was a little trap for younger players in the form of an unforseen rip that took me slightly off course sideways when rounding the last buoy and providing a slight head current to swim against coming into the beach at the end.
Even though twas my first time in this race, judging by the smiles on the faces of the organisers and volunteers, and the general conviviality of the atmosphere about the race I got the impression that the number of participants was up and that Huey was smiling upon them this year. Congratulations to all involved. I for one will be back, and I'll give youz a good rap to anyone I find who hasn't been up for it yet.
And the camaraderie: well as Mr OS.c states so eloquently, "it's all about the culcha." Thanks Mr O for organising the Satdy night dinner at The Riverside Tavern. His rousing speech, where he intruduced all us newboys-and-girls to Lord Ron of Riverside, extolling his and his fair Lady's efforts in organising the event over so many years. And Lord Ron's response, reciprocating praise on Mr O for standing up as such a cultural pillar of the Oceanswimming community; it brought a tear to me eye and a lump in me throat to be associated with such a great mob, even so newly and on the fringe. Twas a great evening, even though my wife and I had to make a relatively early departure on account of the slumberous requirements of our two young children. We would love to have stayed on chinwagging the night away.
And as I said before, South West Rocks does Rock! A truly lovely location. Staying in a cabin at the Horshoe Bay Caravan Park; going to sleep and waking up to the meditative sound of rolling surf; the reminiscence of childhood holidays aplenty up the coast; midnight sleep interrupted by heavy rain storms battering the thin sheet metal clad cabin, an early morning stroll where everybody says g'day to each other, chatting to the "Grey Nomads" that proliferate the park in this day and age; walking with the kids from the cabin over some immaculatley kempt grass directly to the golden sand of the beach, like it's your own private piece of paradise; and then strolling directly from the beach to the main street of the village. Sorry Mr O, I should leave the pitcher postcard stuff to you coz you do it better and you'll probly have proper pitchers in it as well.
I thought that making a three day weekend of it was plenty o time, but twas far too short. We'll be back for at least a week next year.
David Love.
P.S. I thought I might have started some trouble with my smartarse banter about the Bikies vs the sharks in the meeja with my two blob's worth last week; when the Gladiators MC turned up in all their thunderous pageantry to the Seabreeze Hotel, right in the centre of town on Satdy arvo. I didn't see any leather vests in the swimmin race the next day though.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Insurance Companys: Land-Sharks
Aside from the dipensation of liability issues discussed on the OS Blog, why can't the SLSA give Lloyds the flick n find another insurer, preferrably a domestic one?
Surely a local biggie like IAG (not the Seppo one, AIG that nearly went broke) could come to the party. It'd have to give their Aussie icon brand NRMA a good run in the meeja by taking a risk like this into their book. They could tie it in with their whole H.E.L.P. campaign which would sit nicely beside their CareFlight activities.
Fair dinkum, how much could they really be up for if somethin went pearshaped anyway? It'd have to be no more than the change from their lunchmoney. Even if every Clubby patroling every race on their planks on any given Sundy got munched by a pack of man-or-woman-eating sharks! They're used to underwritin natural disasters like cyclones n stuff, and that's gotta be a much more expensive proposition.
Now, goin by the mug spottin that Mr Os.c goes on with, I reckon that the big end o town is fairly well represented within the ranks of the Oceanswimming fraternity or sorority. So maybe some of you bigwigs could practise a bit of digitis extractus and pull a few strings to sort it. I'm sure that something can be done, hey?
By the way, how pissed off must the aforementioned sharks be since the Bikies stole their meeja limelight? If any of youz Bikies do oceanswimmin, ya better watch out, I hear the sharks are filthy about it!
David Love.
Surely a local biggie like IAG (not the Seppo one, AIG that nearly went broke) could come to the party. It'd have to give their Aussie icon brand NRMA a good run in the meeja by taking a risk like this into their book. They could tie it in with their whole H.E.L.P. campaign which would sit nicely beside their CareFlight activities.
Fair dinkum, how much could they really be up for if somethin went pearshaped anyway? It'd have to be no more than the change from their lunchmoney. Even if every Clubby patroling every race on their planks on any given Sundy got munched by a pack of man-or-woman-eating sharks! They're used to underwritin natural disasters like cyclones n stuff, and that's gotta be a much more expensive proposition.
Now, goin by the mug spottin that Mr Os.c goes on with, I reckon that the big end o town is fairly well represented within the ranks of the Oceanswimming fraternity or sorority. So maybe some of you bigwigs could practise a bit of digitis extractus and pull a few strings to sort it. I'm sure that something can be done, hey?
By the way, how pissed off must the aforementioned sharks be since the Bikies stole their meeja limelight? If any of youz Bikies do oceanswimmin, ya better watch out, I hear the sharks are filthy about it!
David Love.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A Crackerjack Day At Forster
Another "real" oceanswim just a week after Caves Beach. Christmas might have come late this year but its been well worth the wait!
Forster was great, and I reckon Mr OS.c is too right when he says that we are just heading into best time of year for oceanswimming. The water was warm, not to windy, just enough swell to both give you a help along, but also just enough to reflect off the rocks and make things a little bumpy, and a little wave at the end to pose on regardless of your placing; as I shamelessly did. There were a few sightings of small to medium, probably Grey Nurse Sharks goin about their business, as well as other assorted marine life adding to the colour and repartee of the event.
The short course event was held wholly within Forster Main Beach with the start having been moved from the adjacent Pebbly Beach to the finish line at Forster. I'm not sure for what reason exactly, but it just may have been that the seasonally unusual early Nor'easter was making things a bit bumpy early in the morning and the organisers may not have wanted to stress out any novices that we giving it a go perhaps for the first time; which I reckon is fair enough. However we still got our monies worth. It was definitely longer than 1km, more like a metric mile (1500m) as the times will attest. While on the subject of value, I'd like to applaud the extremely reasonable entry fees: $10 for the shorty and $30 for the biggy. At those prices there was plenty of punters doin both races, yours truly included.
By the time the biggy got under way, the Nor'easter had dissipated and conditions were ideal. The water was clear and calm with a little wave breaking at start at One Mile beach. The distance of 3.8km was a good test of stamina for me, the longest ocean swim I've done so far; and I'm sure everyone who did it will agree with me that it was well worth it. The only downer on the day was the barbie got wound up early so we had to seek apre swim sustenance elsewhere, and the water was bit murky from Bennett's head to Forster and pretty weedy at the finish line. I'll leave it to the organisers to decide which one of those problems they will try to tackle for next year's race, if there is one? See the latest Oceanswims.com newsletter at:
http://www.customercommunity.com.au/communities/newsletter.asp?Issue_id=1126
Do the new SLSA rules mean that this gonna be the last event of this distance at Forster? I bloody well hope not! I know this might sound trite, but get another f...ing insurer!
Davo.
Forster was great, and I reckon Mr OS.c is too right when he says that we are just heading into best time of year for oceanswimming. The water was warm, not to windy, just enough swell to both give you a help along, but also just enough to reflect off the rocks and make things a little bumpy, and a little wave at the end to pose on regardless of your placing; as I shamelessly did. There were a few sightings of small to medium, probably Grey Nurse Sharks goin about their business, as well as other assorted marine life adding to the colour and repartee of the event.
The short course event was held wholly within Forster Main Beach with the start having been moved from the adjacent Pebbly Beach to the finish line at Forster. I'm not sure for what reason exactly, but it just may have been that the seasonally unusual early Nor'easter was making things a bit bumpy early in the morning and the organisers may not have wanted to stress out any novices that we giving it a go perhaps for the first time; which I reckon is fair enough. However we still got our monies worth. It was definitely longer than 1km, more like a metric mile (1500m) as the times will attest. While on the subject of value, I'd like to applaud the extremely reasonable entry fees: $10 for the shorty and $30 for the biggy. At those prices there was plenty of punters doin both races, yours truly included.
By the time the biggy got under way, the Nor'easter had dissipated and conditions were ideal. The water was clear and calm with a little wave breaking at start at One Mile beach. The distance of 3.8km was a good test of stamina for me, the longest ocean swim I've done so far; and I'm sure everyone who did it will agree with me that it was well worth it. The only downer on the day was the barbie got wound up early so we had to seek apre swim sustenance elsewhere, and the water was bit murky from Bennett's head to Forster and pretty weedy at the finish line. I'll leave it to the organisers to decide which one of those problems they will try to tackle for next year's race, if there is one? See the latest Oceanswims.com newsletter at:
http://www.customercommunity.com.au/communities/newsletter.asp?Issue_id=1126
Do the new SLSA rules mean that this gonna be the last event of this distance at Forster? I bloody well hope not! I know this might sound trite, but get another f...ing insurer!
Davo.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Caves Goes Off!
Huey turned on a deadset pearler for the little journey swim at Caves Beach today. Glorious weather, lovely water temperature, with a southerly swell standing, and even breaking at times on the bombie out the back, halfway along the course. Followed by four to five foot faced sets on the beach break. Not too sucky to ride but more than steep enough to send you down the mine if you didn't time it right.
Congratulations to the organisers and volunteers on a very well run event, particularly the water safety people. Clubbies of lesser mettle would have called this one off, on account of the aquabumps. Your clear and concise directions and easily read buoys, along with a bit of help from Huey made for some pretty quick times.
I'll certainly be back next season with my wife n kids. The live entertainment, free barbie, great venue, and convivial atmosphere of this event have certainly raised the bar in the family friendly stakes. Keep the date, it's yours now.
A warning to any organisers of other swims who are thinking of going up against this one at the same time next year:
You will lose!
David Love.
Congratulations to the organisers and volunteers on a very well run event, particularly the water safety people. Clubbies of lesser mettle would have called this one off, on account of the aquabumps. Your clear and concise directions and easily read buoys, along with a bit of help from Huey made for some pretty quick times.
I'll certainly be back next season with my wife n kids. The live entertainment, free barbie, great venue, and convivial atmosphere of this event have certainly raised the bar in the family friendly stakes. Keep the date, it's yours now.
A warning to any organisers of other swims who are thinking of going up against this one at the same time next year:
You will lose!
David Love.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Threat of Noah's In The Harbour Swims?
Perhaps I should have responded to this before I had my whinge to OS.c about anonymity n prizes.
Until recently I wasn't game enought participate in harbour swims because of the deep water and aggressive nature of Bull Sharks in particular.
But considering all the reportage of last weeks attacks, I reckon the organisers of all events are on notice to keep a vigilant lookout for sharks and well and truly shoe them off with motorised craft. It would only take one attack during a race to have the meeja and probably the pollies get into a tiz and call us a bunch of irresponsible so-and-so's.
So with that comforting thought and the statistical probability of safety in numbers, we've probably never been safer. So I'll be swimming both races at Farm Cove next month. But the "seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care" derby is a bit too long for me just yet.
Davo.
Until recently I wasn't game enought participate in harbour swims because of the deep water and aggressive nature of Bull Sharks in particular.
But considering all the reportage of last weeks attacks, I reckon the organisers of all events are on notice to keep a vigilant lookout for sharks and well and truly shoe them off with motorised craft. It would only take one attack during a race to have the meeja and probably the pollies get into a tiz and call us a bunch of irresponsible so-and-so's.
So with that comforting thought and the statistical probability of safety in numbers, we've probably never been safer. So I'll be swimming both races at Farm Cove next month. But the "seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care" derby is a bit too long for me just yet.
Davo.
Who am I?
Sorry the OS.c,
I thought my name was on display with my other details on my own blog which can be accessed from my follower icon on the left; and successfully so on over 130 occasions since I set it up last month (but sadly no comments yet).
In any case I'm not the only one using a "nom de plume" - present company included!
Regards,
David Love (AKA Davo).
I thought my name was on display with my other details on my own blog which can be accessed from my follower icon on the left; and successfully so on over 130 occasions since I set it up last month (but sadly no comments yet).
In any case I'm not the only one using a "nom de plume" - present company included!
Regards,
David Love (AKA Davo).
Beer Gorn Walkabout?
Carn OS.c?
there's plenty of us "nominees" who've put our names to our comments to pick a weekly winner of the slab o Squirey's, despite the multitude of "anonymees".
Surely our humble two-blob's worths (dodgy pun fully intended - even if it rules me right out of contention for da beer) are not that devoid of value that you could withold the prize on account of lack of quality like they might do for some poncey architectural gong or sumfin? Or do ya wanna make a skins tournament out of it and jackpot the kitty to next week?
I look forward to your positive and expedient response,
Davo.
there's plenty of us "nominees" who've put our names to our comments to pick a weekly winner of the slab o Squirey's, despite the multitude of "anonymees".
Surely our humble two-blob's worths (dodgy pun fully intended - even if it rules me right out of contention for da beer) are not that devoid of value that you could withold the prize on account of lack of quality like they might do for some poncey architectural gong or sumfin? Or do ya wanna make a skins tournament out of it and jackpot the kitty to next week?
I look forward to your positive and expedient response,
Davo.
A Long Day at Long Bay and Little Bay
The conditions? Bloody tough!
The clubbies and swimmers? Bloody tougher!
The event? Absolute gold!
Thankyou organisers and volunteers, champin' at the bit for next year,
Davo.
The clubbies and swimmers? Bloody tougher!
The event? Absolute gold!
Thankyou organisers and volunteers, champin' at the bit for next year,
Davo.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Cooks Hill ice cream headache , Nov 23
Congratulations to the Cooks Hill, Dixon Park and Merewether surf club members and their helpers and sponsors for the innaugural Bath2Bar last Sunday.
A little bit rough and a lotta bit cold with a swift little south running sweep in the gutter right at the finish; just the ticket to attract hard core ocean swimmers.'Twas a great well run event. The pack of tough clubbies out with us in the freezing green soup, shepherding us along the course, to savour hot veggie broth at the finish line (in place of the usual isotonic sports drinks); the kero or diesel powered (I'm not sure which) water heater supplying a rack of at least half a dozen continuous hot showers on the beach; the generously served, reasonably priced, and perfectly positioned delivery of freshly barbequed, bacon and egg sangers; it was all rolled gold!
And as I was standing in the freezing cold wind and rain, listening to the motivating spray at the pre-race briefing, contemplating the "oops! I've eaten my iceblock too quickly" headache that was awaiting me shortly after I dive in; I couldn't agree more that we were indeed "making history".
My only suggestion to improve the event in the future, encourage more people to wear wetsuits; thus rendering them inelligible for prizes. Then I may stand a chance of actually winning something.
Cheers
Davo
A little bit rough and a lotta bit cold with a swift little south running sweep in the gutter right at the finish; just the ticket to attract hard core ocean swimmers.'Twas a great well run event. The pack of tough clubbies out with us in the freezing green soup, shepherding us along the course, to savour hot veggie broth at the finish line (in place of the usual isotonic sports drinks); the kero or diesel powered (I'm not sure which) water heater supplying a rack of at least half a dozen continuous hot showers on the beach; the generously served, reasonably priced, and perfectly positioned delivery of freshly barbequed, bacon and egg sangers; it was all rolled gold!
And as I was standing in the freezing cold wind and rain, listening to the motivating spray at the pre-race briefing, contemplating the "oops! I've eaten my iceblock too quickly" headache that was awaiting me shortly after I dive in; I couldn't agree more that we were indeed "making history".
My only suggestion to improve the event in the future, encourage more people to wear wetsuits; thus rendering them inelligible for prizes. Then I may stand a chance of actually winning something.
Cheers
Davo
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wafting schmafting! Get over it.
I reckon I might have been yer man Tamsin. A 43 year old solid sorta bloke, red speedos, not particularly quick but constant, with a penchant for getting around the buoys as quick as poss; doing a bit of a double dolphin kick and an arched back flick around the cans, keeping my head pretty well up to avoid any kicks in the face; and woe betide anyone who should try on any breast stroke in front of me lest I should swim straight over em, or accross them as often is the case; never grabbing hold or deliberately pushing their head under water or anything like that though.
Yes, I did feel a fair bit of finger tip action on the soles of my feet but I'm not that ticklish any more after having kids.
No, I don't really mind heel wafting, it's hardly an infringement of my civil liberties or anything. I dunno why people carry on like it's such a travesty of etiquette. If anything I might even get a little push along out of it. Although if anyone should grab my ankle I might get a little upset.
I'm not really a wafter myself. I prefer clear undisturbed open water and being able to see further than a foot in front of me through the bubbles, and to chart my own course rather than rely on the often flawed navigation of those in front of me.
You've got to be careful wafting coz sometimes swimmers will pull up and do a spot of breast stroke at any stage of the course, not just at the buoys. It may be just to defog or reseat their leaking goggles, or get a quick bearing, but you could quite accidentally end up with a foot square in the face or head.
I'm not one to do that but it happened to me when I was overtaking a girl at fairly close quarters on the back stretch of The Roughy coming into the Icebergs from McKenzies. She was immediately apologetic, which I graciously accepted, but it hurt like hell all the same. And I know of others who've copped it like that too.
Kind regards,
Davo.
Yes, I did feel a fair bit of finger tip action on the soles of my feet but I'm not that ticklish any more after having kids.
No, I don't really mind heel wafting, it's hardly an infringement of my civil liberties or anything. I dunno why people carry on like it's such a travesty of etiquette. If anything I might even get a little push along out of it. Although if anyone should grab my ankle I might get a little upset.
I'm not really a wafter myself. I prefer clear undisturbed open water and being able to see further than a foot in front of me through the bubbles, and to chart my own course rather than rely on the often flawed navigation of those in front of me.
You've got to be careful wafting coz sometimes swimmers will pull up and do a spot of breast stroke at any stage of the course, not just at the buoys. It may be just to defog or reseat their leaking goggles, or get a quick bearing, but you could quite accidentally end up with a foot square in the face or head.
I'm not one to do that but it happened to me when I was overtaking a girl at fairly close quarters on the back stretch of The Roughy coming into the Icebergs from McKenzies. She was immediately apologetic, which I graciously accepted, but it hurt like hell all the same. And I know of others who've copped it like that too.
Kind regards,
Davo.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Speed suits my arse!
What's goin on with all this psuedoscientific equine excrement about high tech body suits makin ya go faster in the water? As if!
I can't wait till some hirsute Mark Spitz type of dude, with a shaggy mullet, an Austin Powers fur back, and a massive 1970's Aussie cricket legend of a catarpillar on his top lip, comes along n gives youz all a touchup. We might have to wait for Movember to come round again before we see that.
It works for spiders in the swimmin pool; storin air in the hair. So why can't it work for us too?
If the Cole goes the whole hog down the City2Surf path, then perhaps it won't be long before we see someone doin it in a gorilla suit from the back o the pack. Put your order in with your local costume shop now coz I reckon this ideas got legs (so to speak) and they could be a bit hard to come by closer to race day.
Remember you heard it from me first.
Davo.
I can't wait till some hirsute Mark Spitz type of dude, with a shaggy mullet, an Austin Powers fur back, and a massive 1970's Aussie cricket legend of a catarpillar on his top lip, comes along n gives youz all a touchup. We might have to wait for Movember to come round again before we see that.
It works for spiders in the swimmin pool; storin air in the hair. So why can't it work for us too?
If the Cole goes the whole hog down the City2Surf path, then perhaps it won't be long before we see someone doin it in a gorilla suit from the back o the pack. Put your order in with your local costume shop now coz I reckon this ideas got legs (so to speak) and they could be a bit hard to come by closer to race day.
Remember you heard it from me first.
Davo.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Was it just me?
Was it just me or did they whack a few hunjee metres extra onto the course of The Roughie at Bondi on Sundy?
Me ol' mate Fergie n I were a little disappointed with our times in the 2km compared to last year; and I thought my 1km was a bit on the slow side too. Neither of us reckon the races felt particularly slow and I was hopin for a bit of PB action in the pristine conditions.
So after conducting a bit more research, I discovered that the winning times for both races were propotionally a bit on the long side as well, compared to last years 2km results.
So did they overdo it, stretchin the course in an attempt to compensate for the calm conditions? Or did ol' Huey whip up some challenging currents that ran in several different directions just to give us a good workout.Well, a good workout it was; both races. And I spoze in terms of metres for money, we certainly got our monies worth. Hats off to the North Bondi clubbies and their seconds. 'Twas a well run event; except for the shortfall of postrace refreshments. At least the barbie hadn't sold out before I got in, like it did in the unseasonally cool weather of last seasons race.
See yuz all for the daily double next month,
Davo.
Me ol' mate Fergie n I were a little disappointed with our times in the 2km compared to last year; and I thought my 1km was a bit on the slow side too. Neither of us reckon the races felt particularly slow and I was hopin for a bit of PB action in the pristine conditions.
So after conducting a bit more research, I discovered that the winning times for both races were propotionally a bit on the long side as well, compared to last years 2km results.
So did they overdo it, stretchin the course in an attempt to compensate for the calm conditions? Or did ol' Huey whip up some challenging currents that ran in several different directions just to give us a good workout.Well, a good workout it was; both races. And I spoze in terms of metres for money, we certainly got our monies worth. Hats off to the North Bondi clubbies and their seconds. 'Twas a well run event; except for the shortfall of postrace refreshments. At least the barbie hadn't sold out before I got in, like it did in the unseasonally cool weather of last seasons race.
See yuz all for the daily double next month,
Davo.
No Third Umpire Please.
Yeah Bill,
I'm with you. I don't reckon we need the immediate intervention of a third umpire in ocean swimming.
I don't often applaud the mistakes of others but I do derive a modest degree of satisfaction to see faster swimmers than me heading of on a wild goose chase, and then meeting up with them at the next mark knowing that they've just spent a lot more energy getting there than I did. I suppose the only concern is that the clubbies have to keep such wayward swimmers away from the rocks and beach break (if there is one on the day), or indeed New Zealand, and it would be a lot harder to manage them if they were spreadout all over the place like Brown's cows.
However I reckon you are right in that half the job of ocean swimming is being able to hold a good course in the rough and tumble of the field and the sea, and indeed turn the latter to your advantage wherever possible by such means as tracking for swell or foxing for a wave. And for those who like me are a little optically challenged (and I don't mean just plain ugly), I can thoroughly recommend investing in a pair of those you beaut View goggles with the prescription lenses. They've made a massive improvement in my seeing the bouys and landfall alike.
I hope I haven't given away too many tricks. I suppose if you know what I'm talking about then you're probably doing it already, and if you don't, then don't worry yourself with such weighty matters.
Happy navigating,
Davo.
I'm with you. I don't reckon we need the immediate intervention of a third umpire in ocean swimming.
I don't often applaud the mistakes of others but I do derive a modest degree of satisfaction to see faster swimmers than me heading of on a wild goose chase, and then meeting up with them at the next mark knowing that they've just spent a lot more energy getting there than I did. I suppose the only concern is that the clubbies have to keep such wayward swimmers away from the rocks and beach break (if there is one on the day), or indeed New Zealand, and it would be a lot harder to manage them if they were spreadout all over the place like Brown's cows.
However I reckon you are right in that half the job of ocean swimming is being able to hold a good course in the rough and tumble of the field and the sea, and indeed turn the latter to your advantage wherever possible by such means as tracking for swell or foxing for a wave. And for those who like me are a little optically challenged (and I don't mean just plain ugly), I can thoroughly recommend investing in a pair of those you beaut View goggles with the prescription lenses. They've made a massive improvement in my seeing the bouys and landfall alike.
I hope I haven't given away too many tricks. I suppose if you know what I'm talking about then you're probably doing it already, and if you don't, then don't worry yourself with such weighty matters.
Happy navigating,
Davo.
Shark plague, my arse!
For many of us (particularly the fellas) 'tis the fear that dare not speak its name; lest it should erode our sense of bravery. I'm sure that pilots have a similar attitude towards crashing or soldiers being shot. It is a calculated but not altogether controllable risk. I suppose that if we humans were particularly averse to such risks we would never have climbed down out of the tree or wandered out the cave, let alone entertain such dangerous pursuits as circumnavigating the globe or flying to the Moon.
If we analyse the risk of shark attack we can draw a couple of fairly comforting conclusions:
1. We are not on the menu. If sharks which have been around for nigh on 450 million years and we have been around in various incarnations for less than 3 million years; and popping in for a dip in significant numbers on a regular basis for only a hundred years. So if sharks, being creatures of habit were particularly dependant on the likes of us for a feed, they would have starved out of existence quite some time ago.
And;
2. There are many, many sharks out there and many, many types of sharks out there. Even though their numbers are dwindling due to reduced fish stocks and seal populations etc, there are still a lot more of them in the water all the time than us on any given sunny day. So once again, if they need to switch food sources in hurry to survive, methinks we're gonna sorely disappoint them into extinction.
The bottom line is that sharks, like spiders and snakes and all the other nasties are a lot less interested in us than we are in them. Yes, there have been horrible stories of shark attacks over the last century; some particularly frightful ones involving feeding frenzies on sailors awaiting rescue when their ships were sunk during wartime. But with rubber duckies buzzing around us and the watchful eye of the clubbies on the look out when we race, I reckon the risk is negligible. I certainly hope it never happens to any of us, but it may one day and there will probably be plenty of witnesses and possibly even TV coverage, and the proverbial excrement will certainly hit the fan.
It's a matter of personal choice, and I chose to swim. How about youz?
Davo.
If we analyse the risk of shark attack we can draw a couple of fairly comforting conclusions:
1. We are not on the menu. If sharks which have been around for nigh on 450 million years and we have been around in various incarnations for less than 3 million years; and popping in for a dip in significant numbers on a regular basis for only a hundred years. So if sharks, being creatures of habit were particularly dependant on the likes of us for a feed, they would have starved out of existence quite some time ago.
And;
2. There are many, many sharks out there and many, many types of sharks out there. Even though their numbers are dwindling due to reduced fish stocks and seal populations etc, there are still a lot more of them in the water all the time than us on any given sunny day. So once again, if they need to switch food sources in hurry to survive, methinks we're gonna sorely disappoint them into extinction.
The bottom line is that sharks, like spiders and snakes and all the other nasties are a lot less interested in us than we are in them. Yes, there have been horrible stories of shark attacks over the last century; some particularly frightful ones involving feeding frenzies on sailors awaiting rescue when their ships were sunk during wartime. But with rubber duckies buzzing around us and the watchful eye of the clubbies on the look out when we race, I reckon the risk is negligible. I certainly hope it never happens to any of us, but it may one day and there will probably be plenty of witnesses and possibly even TV coverage, and the proverbial excrement will certainly hit the fan.
It's a matter of personal choice, and I chose to swim. How about youz?
Davo.
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