Coogee Island Challenge
Ocean swimming enters a new decade where kids count!
Preparations are now well underway at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club for the 2011 Express Glass Island Challenge Ocean Swim and this year it’s all about the kids.
For the 2011 event the surf club has introduced a tailored 800m Junior Dash swim leg especially for kids aged between 11 and 13 years.
“We are really excited about including the kid’s swim leg to this year’s event,” Coogee Surf Club President Tony Waller said.
“Our Nippers are the future of Coogee Surf Club and across the years the request for a junior swim has been made countless times.
“We are really proud to be able to deliver a junior swim leg. It has taken a while, but before announcing the swim we wanted to ensure that all safety elements had been taken into account.
“It is vital for our club to ensure that not only can the kids have a crack at the sport in a safe environment, but also the parents can relax on the beach knowing their kids are in safe hands.”
For over 10 years the Express Glass Island Challenge has launched the ocean swimming season in Sydney. It continues to increase in popularity with entrant numbers increasing steadily since the swim's inception, with a record 2500 swimmers taking the plunge with sensational beach conditions last year.
The event is now open and boasts three race courses on offer, including the new 800m Junior Dash; a shorter course (1 km) which follows a circuit inside Coogee Bay; and a longer course (2.4 km) which circumnavigates historic Wedding Cake Island.
Coogee Bay is protected by headlands to the south and north and also by Wedding Cake Island which sits offshore. Conditions are normally fairly calm - Coogee is not known for currents, rips, or difficult surf. But don’t relax too much; previous competitors have been known to find the ride around Wedding Cake Island a little choppy and challenging.
Ocean swimming continues on track as one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with thousands of keen competitors gathering, virtually every weekend in summer, at beaches around the country for another gruelling swim. Ocean swimmers can be found from Bondi to Bronte, from Perth to Rottnest Island, Byron Bay to Wategos and even in the arctic temperatures of the Victorian coastline.
Ocean swims are also a vital part of the fund raising activities of the hosting surf life saving clubs where entry fees contribute to the purchase of vital surf life saving equipment required during the warmer seasons.
The Express Glass Island Challenge is free for spectators with competitor entries are now available online at www.oceanswims.com. Added incentives for the day include a $500 lucky prize draw, and for the kids the annual Golden Thong competition.
