THE INTENSITY AND TENSION IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I’VE SEEN IN OPEN WATER SWIMMING
Francisco Bay. The event is televised and its announcers have won eight Olympic medals between them. It has unpredictable course conditions so diff erent people win – its races are exciting and oſt en extremely close. Also, it allows wetsuits, but also only permits traditional swimsuits in the elite divisions, and its organization and safety plans, procedures and protocols set standards for the open water swimming world.” Munatones says of the course: “The water can be cold (under 15°C) and the currents in San Francisco Bay are notoriously tough. With the massive fl ow of water in and out of the San Francisco Bay, eddies and rivulets are created throughout the course. This means that one’s selection of where exactly to swim will lead to diff erent results.” His favourite part of the event is the tense start of the Elite
race. “On the shoreline, there are Olympic medallists from the pool and open water, all with their eyes on the prize. Because the course is only one mile, this doesn’t give a clear advantage to either the pool swimmer, who can easily blast a fast mile, or the open water specialist, who normally prefers longer races. Therefore,
the intensity and tension at the start is unlike anything I’ve seen throughout the world of open water swimming.” Like many of the swimmers that take part, he also enjoys what goes on out of the water. “The intrinsic beauty of San Francisco Bay from the perspective of a swimmer looking at the coastline and Golden Gate Bridge, the post-race outdoor banquet that features the food of many of the best local restaurants overlooking San Francisco Bay, and the overall festive camaraderie all help make it very special.” Bill McCracken is a Texan open water swimmer and race director
for the TVM Del Valle Open Water Swim (every June, also in California). He’s one of the many swimmers who come back to Tiburon year aſt er year. “My fi rst year was 2003. I’ve always competed in the age group division. I realised early on that I wasn’t likely to win in the elite division. I’ve won the 40-49 year age group four times.” (Although they don’t get a cash prize, winners of the age group divisions receive a plaque and giſt certifi cates.) “The event is challenging because the start is very competitive,” he says of the race. “There are a lot of young fast swimmers that can sprint quickly. It is anywhere from a 22 to 25 minute race. You can’t blast out 200 metres and expect to fi nish strong. I just use these swimmers to draſt off of and usually pass most of them. It’s also challenging because there are no sighting buoys. I just go, keep swimming and hope to end up in the right place. It’s a great swim. I also like the start. All the kids take about three steps into the water and freeze, I just fl y by and get going.”
Hundreds make the dash for the cash
45
Photo © RCP Tiberon
Photo © Ian Thurston
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76