Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mona Vale, Port Campbell, Sorrento/Rotto Rehearsal...



Grey day at Mona Vale... how was your swim? Click the comments button below to tell us...

24 comments:

  1. What a great swim. Although it was overcast at least we didn't have to worry about sunburn. Luckily as one of the blue caps the timing of our start was pretty kind getting out nicely between the bigger sets. Traveling north was nice and satisfying as we had the help of a northerly set. Clear water and the temperature was comfortable.
    Finally around the last mark and heading for the beach started ok but halfway in an outgoing current seem to make it a bit difficult to get in. The last 20 metres was the hardest for me.

    Many thanks for the great organization. Much appreciated to the sponsors.

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  2. Having read all the comments from last weeks Avalon ocean swim Im happy Im an old fella at the back of the field missing all the agro from what seems to be bullies who feel they have more rights than all the other swimers out to enjoy an ocean swim.
    The Mona Vale swim was magnificient even though difficult to get in the last 200 metres.
    Well done to the lifesavers especially at the end and organizers.

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  3. What a fantastic swim! My expectations were low this morning, but it turned out to be one of the best this season so far.
    Well done to all involved!

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  4. It was one of the first ocean swims, and still the best - well done to the organisers. Good to see so much water safety - thank you - I really enjoyed it!

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  5. Getting out was the hard part in this lovely destination swim.

    I'm still slower than peak-hour on Victoria Road, but that's not a problem when I get to swim out behind the breakers where you can see all the way down to the ocean floor.

    Unreal.

    Unreal.

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  6. A lovely swim, thanks to Mona Vale SLSC for your excellent organisation, water safety, and for the bus back to Warriewood, and thanks all the other sponsors and organisations who helped put it together.
    Last bit was interesting, hey.
    After getting back to Warriewood, I looked up towards Mona Vale, not quite believing that I'd just swum out into the ocean and all the way up there.
    Farout.
    Bring on the next one :) It's no wonder ocean swimming is becoming so popular

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  7. Great swim. I was glad to see the lifesavers at the finish in such big numbers. I thought nearly everyone was going to win a lucky door prize. Congrats to the organisers and will be back next year.

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  8. Have to agree with everyone, what a beautiful swim, none of the problems people were complaining about from Avalon. I hardly saw any swimmers on my enjoyable swim up the coast.

    The last 100 meters was probably harder than the rest of the race.

    Well done to the organisers, this is one of the best swims on the calendar.

    Se you all next week for the BIG SWIM!

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  9. Fantastic swim, with a bit of ocean swimming in it at the end was good to see so many lifesavers in and around the breakers drirecting people away from the rip and helping the tail enders. Cannot believe how clear the water was can't wait for the big one next week.

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  10. Hello and thanks to the swimmer in board shorts I synchronised with for the entire race. I also can't wait for next week, except maybe for the parking bit.

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  11. I have lost my nerve recently after near drowning at another ocean swim with big swell so was a bit anxious coming in at Mona Vale. Thank you so much to the gorgeous female lifesaver and male with flippers who swam with me through the breakers. I was glad to not finish on the jetski. Fingers crossed for a very low swell at the Big Swim!!! Anne

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  12. Must express my thanks to lifesaver who helped me out in waves coming into Mona Vale. After the first wave hit me from behind, I took on some water and had a bit of a panic. I was so relieved after a couple of waves being pummelled to see the lifesaver and his flotation device. My first ocean swim of this distance and with surf, I wasn't ready for those type of conditions coming in. Apart from that moment, had an awesome time.

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  13. One of our swimemers is 71 and was rather disappointed that all the over 60's were grouped together for the results. A bit hard for him competing against 60 year olds. I know there are not a lot of over 70 swimmers but it is a real achievement that they are even do the swim and it would be good to see them acknowledged in the presentation.

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  14. Another well organised swim - in some challenging conditions which kept the lifesavers busy! Thank you to all.
    Congratulations to Bill from Queensland who set a good pace and continued his good form in surf swims around the traps.
    Some great holiday spots added to his surf swim interest resume - Noosa, Mooloolaba, Palm Beach, Lorne, Yamba and Mona Vale.

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  15. I really enjoyed the swim, pretty calm out the back but some challenging surf on the way out and in. Buoy placement was perfect, each time I looked I just had to make a slight adjustment towards shore and went round with barely a stray foot to be avoided. Plenty of clubbies out there to guide you in the right direction too. I was however a little disappointed that there was no record of your time available after the race. Timing chips are great but why can't there be a display board to flash up the finishing times as you cross the line. If you can't discuss your time with other swimmers after the swim it takes a little of the enjoyment away.

    Looking forward to the Big Swim next week.

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  16. Warriewood to Mona Vale 2010 was a great swim and a textbook example of how to organise a smoothly running event.

    Instructions to swimmers were clear and unambiguous, including advice on the course and the best way to come in at the finish.

    Plenty of parking (well that may have been the weather) and the bus shuttle service between beaches was top notch and included a free T shirt(!).

    Wate safety was abundant, efficient, and from the number of retrievals I saw, absolutely essential in the conditions. It even included wave calls, luckily for two younger competitors who were warned off a nasty one just in time.

    Presentations were fast, slick, and entertaining, and the raffle was great fun, especially as Bronwyn drew Orange F33 which meant I got to go and collect a six pack.

    The only thing I would have changed on the day would have been to get one of my fellow competitors to cut his/her nails. The g/f ended up with a bleeding graze (gouge?) to the forearm, not that it stopped her winning her age group (yet again) and placing 6th overall.

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  17. Are there drinks on at Palm Beach Surf Club after the swim next week?

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  18. Finish the swim first then worry bout drinks!!!!

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  19. If he/she is asking about drinks at Palm Beach Surf Club after the swim next week I don't think 'finishing the swim' is on the agenda.

    Moose

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  20. The concern would be if I was asking about drinks BEFORE the swim!
    Cheers,
    Evan.

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  21. It was great to see Harris Farm again supporting the Warriewood to Mona Vale swim. I always look forward to their fruit at the end of the race.

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  22. Has anyone else noticed that its mostly the over 40s crowd at the pointy end of the Hahn point score...

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  23. Fantastic event ,but....my 14 yr old daughter was refused entry online, you must be 15yrs,apparently !!! We respected this its the clubs call. However it is part of the Hahn series of which she has gained top placings in previous swims but her ineligibility to swim Mona Vale has stuff this tally.
    We were dissappionted & somewhat angry to then see 10 to 14 yr olds running up to the finish line & then there being prizes for this category & seemingly all these participants were from Mona Vale SLSC. For a young girl who trains 5 days a week ,did all ocean swims in 2009 & a DYSL member this wasn't a good example of fairness & sportsmanship .It is also advertised as "The Family Swim" & as our daughter swims all with her Dad it wasn't much fun for her on the sidelines.They will be back for the winter swim & in 2011 but disappionted nevertheless

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  24. Sorry about your daughter not being able to swim,we had the same trouble with the online entries so we decided to enter on the day.The Mona Vale SLSC had no problem, their age limit, was 10 and up.I think it was more a problem with the website for whatever reason I don't know.

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