Bone Jarring Bar Beach

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.