What a year it has been...
December 30, 2011
Well by this stage we are deep into the Silly Season... I trust you all are well rested and enjoying the fabulous Cape Town weather... The other day I was chatting with a friend who was telling me of a friend that is a triathlete that was planning to do this "Crazy" New Year's Day Swim at Clifton... Is that not the Clifton Cold Water Mile I fished... Yeah something like that...
Well the Clifton Cold Water Mile has been a part of my life for quite some time - when I joined Clifton SLSC back in 1986 it was already a lifesaving tradition - a recovery session after New Year's Eve festivities before duty started. If memory serves ;-) Then it used to be a swim that was closed to the public and used to alternate annually between a 1st to 4th route with a 4th to 1st route.. A revival led to mass participation in the 90's and then a hibernation for a couple of seasons.
In December 2005 I had a bee in my bonnet while being Patrol Officer at Clifton and gave instruction to my squads that the swim was going to be resuscitated and they were expected to complete the swim before duty... word got out and the squads started fielding inquiries.. Sunday 1 January 2006 I was accompanied by some of my squad on the swim... a couple of hours later a group of 5 came down and asked what the start time was for the swim...Oops! Oh well we will swim it again I said.. This was the start of the 1st Sunday of Month Swim at Clifton (aka 1SOMS).
That was the start of something special... This year 1SOMS (with an early starting time) falls away with its source Clifton Cold Water Mile taking precedence... A midday start is on the cards...
From www.magicseaweed.com
The winds should result in some nippy (but hopefully clear) conditions. The route will be 4th to 1st and back.. The format will be mass wet-start with racers standing waist-deep ahead of those who are there for the tradition .This I hope will allow everyone to enjoy their swim.
I look back at 2011 with its challenges, highs and lows and wish you all of you that the Highs of 2011 are the Lows of 2012.
Sea u in the water
Waz
Well the Clifton Cold Water Mile has been a part of my life for quite some time - when I joined Clifton SLSC back in 1986 it was already a lifesaving tradition - a recovery session after New Year's Eve festivities before duty started. If memory serves ;-) Then it used to be a swim that was closed to the public and used to alternate annually between a 1st to 4th route with a 4th to 1st route.. A revival led to mass participation in the 90's and then a hibernation for a couple of seasons.
In December 2005 I had a bee in my bonnet while being Patrol Officer at Clifton and gave instruction to my squads that the swim was going to be resuscitated and they were expected to complete the swim before duty... word got out and the squads started fielding inquiries.. Sunday 1 January 2006 I was accompanied by some of my squad on the swim... a couple of hours later a group of 5 came down and asked what the start time was for the swim...Oops! Oh well we will swim it again I said.. This was the start of the 1st Sunday of Month Swim at Clifton (aka 1SOMS).
That was the start of something special... This year 1SOMS (with an early starting time) falls away with its source Clifton Cold Water Mile taking precedence... A midday start is on the cards...
From www.magicseaweed.com
| Sun 1/01 |
6am |
|
100% |
3m |
12secs |
|
|
|
|
18c | ||||||||
|
Noon |
|
100% |
2.7m |
12secs |
|
|
|
|
20c |
I look back at 2011 with its challenges, highs and lows and wish you all of you that the Highs of 2011 are the Lows of 2012.
Sea u in the water
Waz
Posted by Warren Fialkov.
Cape Town born and bred..I grew up on Clifton beach..as a nipper the lifesaver at Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club...1SOMS has it roots in the annual Clifton Cold Water Mile.
I enjoy open water swimming and come from a clan of swimmers
