news

1SOMS 2012 April

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 06:14:14 +0100

Swims in open water are continuing to grow.. new routes.. long forgotten routes.. What is the attraction??
Capetonians live in a glorious part of the world.. pristine mountains , superb beaches we are spoilt for choice as to how we spend our free time.. If asked the question - Are you enjoying yourself there are only 2 answers Yes and NO...If Yes - continue doing what you are doing ..If No - Change what you are doing as you have one life to live .

For me - I enjoy open water and especially cold water .. Why? Partly this is due to coming from a water based family and how I grew up.. partly its due to the sense of being alive after being in open water ... and partly (that is primarily) due to the great friends I have shared the open water with.

As a teen I spent most of my time in and on the water... on the beaches I was not someone who could sit still or sloth in the sun but someone who would be in the water - body surfing , surf-ski paddling or malibu wave-riding. Not only was I independent but I was learning self-reliance and life lessons. The view from the beach out to sea differs from the sea back to beach - I can't quite put my finger on why - maybe its how time slows down and I am my senses are aware of the continuity of the ocean - the energy that I can harness for a brief moment before I return to the shore.

In the last 6 years on a minimum of twelve occasions a year (1st Sunday of every month (except May) + New Years Day) I get to share my playground with others who come from all walks of life and introduce them on how to stay out-of-trouble in the open water. The Ocean is not mine alone and common sense goes a very long way... so ever so often I am obliged to cancel 1SOMS as a mass swim-race not because I cannot swim it myself but because I have too much respect for emergency services who are obliged to put themselves in harms way due a call-out from a bystander who wants to help - and sees someone doing something which seems to be "dangerous". I take as many precautions as I can - I wear a bright swimcap (so I am highly visible), I tell someone who is shore bound were I am going and what I am doing, I generally find a swim buddy to come with , I spend at least 5 minutes in the shallows assessing the conditions before starting off... These are the same skills and common sense I "train" others to do at 1SOMS.

Tomorrow is the last early 1SOMS until September (Spring).. Clifton bay calls - I am shore-bound due to a broken elbow (cleats on bicycle - long story) but all the things you have come to expect from 1SOMS have been arranged. I look forward to race briefing tomorrow ; chatting to the Polarbears and catching up on the Langebaan Round the Island Swim today; hearing who is going to the Bell Buoy Challenge (PE) next weekend; who is Iron-Man bound at end of April and sharing a hot chocolate and recounting the 40 minutes of race-time that has just taken place..

Sea u tomorrow
Waz

March 1SOMS not taking place due to venue clash

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:18:47 +0100

FLASH!!! WP Lifesaving are having WP Championships on Clifton 4th on 3-4 March. This leaves NO water space and with expected 3.9m swell (and growing!) this leaves no alternatives available.

Result (I am disappointed to say) is NO 1SOMS this month.
Please spread the word.
Waz

PS Good news though is 5 1SOMS and u qualify for 5000 Vitality points it seems

What a year it has been...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:21:02 +0100

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

Sun
1/01

6am

100%

12secs

14
kph

18c

Noon

100%

2.7m

12secs

32
kph

20c

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

Its the last "Late" Swim of 2011

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:07:00 +0100

What a Winter its been.. thankfully a couple of drops of rain in the last couple of weeks have eased the dams (I hope!).. This is important not only for the crops and like but also for those who use the dams for recreation.

I believe I am on the road to recovery - the physio should shortly confirm this. I have learnt that short of NZ IRB wrestling is unlikely to gain ground as a sport...I will be the first to say DON"T DO IT!... I will also be the first to say go out and get yourslef a bright/dayglo silicon swimcap to make it that much easier for you to be seen.

1SOMS is this weekend ... and please remember that the AquaSphere team will be there with their array of goggles and swimcaps...

1SOMS has also recently been featured on Open Water Source... and this is the first indicator that the plans are afoot to grow 1SOMS in popularity... watch this space for September news..

C u in the water
Waz

Its downhill to Summer!

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:14:39 +0100

Yes - the Winter Solstice has come and gone... well done to those who braved the V&A Winter Solstice dip..

This Sunday is 1SOMS and the weather forecast is bizarre . Bizarre is not a word I use lightly so what on earth am I saying should be expected?
Friday has a SE blowing - great ! that clears the water, improves the visibility and flattens the swell
Saturday starts with the wind SW and swings around the compass to NW through the course of the day==> lumpy onshore and cross-swell conditions
Sunday starts with a NE (!! Berg wind??) before turning S (??) and then switching SE again clearing up the water.

The swell on Sunday starts at 3m and keeps building to 3.7m...now that is more than a fair size. Of course size is relative.. in this case it should be about half the size of Thursday's forecast (enjoy Dungeons guys and gals).

This time around I am going so far as to guess the water temp at 14'C (soothsayer? No - but cannot really expect a temperature warmer than the air temp and that is in a very narrow band 12-14'C for the next week).

Okay! I have put my peg in the ground...

I have also recently developed an allergy to IRBs in the wave-zone. Yup I have heard about the advantages of tow-ins but I am an open water swimmer not a surfer so unless there is a need for a pick-up please stay clear. To see me more clearly than ever before I am planning to wear day-glow swim-caps in future and hoping that the sensible ones out there join me in advocating swim with a buddy and wear a "here I am you can see me" swim-cap.

Sea u this Sunday -
Registration 09h15-09h50
Briefing 10h00
Start 10h15 (Hares >30minutes) /10h20 (Hounds sub-30 minutes)
Warren

PS Remember the AquaSphere guys will be down with goggles.

1st Swim of Winter ! What a jol...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:05:37 +0100

Its been quite a season... summer that is. A new record number of participants in April (147 for those keeping count) followed by a successful participation at Iron Man South Africa (for the triathletes) and a number of Robben Island crossings.

This Sunday the 1st Sunday of Month Swim was slightly different.... I have my reasons and I believe they are sound.. Its been a long season and the number of newcomers has grown significantly. This is great to see but it does mean that I have not been as able to chat and find out who-is-who and I am sure that some have experienced a bit of confusion of where-is-where..

Sunday became a concertina group swim - passing comfortably outside Cherry reef and the occasional set and stopping at the turning marker for a group photo. Its not often one sees so many smiles but then everyone who got out of their warm beds -while it was cold and wet outside - had already proved they wanted to be out there. For those not there but still following this blog - the groups were set into groups of 10~12 based on swim speed . Setoff was in reverse order so that the concertina effect was at the turn . Time between groups was 2 minutes. At the turn the landmarks were all sighted/identified and the groups were setoff back to the 4th beach finish.

Water temp was a measured 13'C - with water visibility being poor. On the return leg the cross swell made for a bit of wobble.

Next month the timing switches back on ... I think the distinction between the Hares and the Hounds will be based on the expected >30minutes (Hares) and the sub-30minute (Hounds). Lets keep it Simple.

Forries was the selected location to convene for lunch...and a much fun and laughter was had by all. The convener (aka Terry) is likely to be tasked with lunch on a more regular basis..after all is not the 1st Sunday of the Month excuse enough to forage?

Sea you all soon ;-)
Waz

PS Enjoy the pics.. those who want to view the facebook albums please make contact with me and I can add you ;-)
PPS This means commenting on pcis and tagging mates is imperative...

Almost April!

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:56:20 +0100

What a year so far...
This 1st Sunday of Month Swim (aka 1SOMS) is the last before a well deserved month break... Yes I know that for many of you out there you still have a goal to accomplish before the Winter weather sets in..

South Africa Iron Man 2011 takes place in 12 days... making 1SOMS (probably) the last long open water swim ahead of race day...I trust that the water will be a tad warmer as you go up the coast to contest but if not you will have the edge on the warm water brigade.

Freedom Day Swim - Robben Island to Blouberg is about 35 days away and the here is not much left to do.. last qualifying swim I see clashes with 1SOMS... a pity I know but not through my planning..after all 1st Sunday of the Month only comes about 12 times a year. For those who have qualified start getting your feeding patterns right. You are going to need fuel to keep you going.

South African Lifesaving Nationals is currently on the go at Camps Bay and will finish on Saturday. Congrats to the Masters who contested yesterday... always good to see them racing . It brings to mind a T-shirt I saw before 1996 World Club Championships in Durban - "Last one alive wins!" . These days the youngest Masters are a sleep over 30 with the oldest competitive group around the 64+ mark. I am hoping that some of the up country competitors make a turn around the beach on Sunday morning and show a turn of speed and clubmanship.

This month I have managed to secure lucky draw prizes from AquaSphere and Hammer Nutrition. Many thanks to them and I hope that stay involved into the new season. To add to this I will shortly be a distributor for AquaSphere so you will be able to place orders via email and/or this website.

Polarbears.. what are they up to?
A couple of swimmers are on standby for their own Robben Island solo attempts... Good luck and good swimming.

I know there are many watching for news of Theo's Epic 35km Hout Bay to Robben Island.... The current news is that daylight hours are too few so next standby will be October.

Roger's progress for the Channel continues unabated...and many have just shrugged to see his (frequent!) jaunts down south to extend his swimming training. With interest I am following this.

Feedback from the Langebaan around the Island swim is all good as far as I hear..definitely seems to be an event to mark down on the calendar.

Admin for this week is a tad different.. On registering you will be given a swim-tag . When you finish you will be given a finish-tag. The two tags need to be joined and handed in at the control desk ....along with your FIRST NAME, RACENO, WETSUIT ? FINS?
As there is a lucky draw return to the start to clap in the last swimmer (this may be me!) and we will promptly do the lucky draws.

Best wishes and sea you soon..

Odometer reading checked ..now for March

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:35:22 +0100

This past week I aged.. literally.. but I have also had some very interesting moments...
I have new respect for TV ads and the details that goes into the back of them. To be frank more communication and the ad would possibly have been shot quicker/cleaner/with less effort...but that is a story for another day. Last comment on that was how shooting was stopped as pod of dolphins (for the 2nd day in a row) did a swim-by of the Sea Point Pavilion..the water almost boiled with activity.

How did I come about to be at a film shoot? I have been tweaking a couple of swimmer's open-water swimming technique at the Pavilion between Internet searches.and in a moment of madness consented to be "an extra"... Bright eyed (not!) and bushy tailed (definitely not!) at 5:45am I arrived at the Pavilion. Little was I to realize that there were already swimmers in the water. What memories that brought back - you see I grew up in Sea Point - not too far away from the Pav . My earliest memory was at 6 months being dropped into the Pav... I come from a water-born family (my Grandad Aaron was a feature of Sea Point; this was taken up by my Dad -Kevin who was well supported by my Uncles Bram, David and Michael).. I too progressed to 5am training swims...

Where to next I ask... Well 1SOMS (aka 1st Sunday of Month Swim) will continue to grow.. more "landlubbers" will remember their earliest memories of being waterborne and come enjoy the Open Water...

Expect improvements ... look for efficiencies .... they are out there.. they are attainable...

Sea u on the beach 08h15 on Sunday 6 March...

Yours
Warren

NEWSFLASH! Prescription swim goggles available!!

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:39:11 +0100

NEWSFLASH! Prescription swim goggles available!!
I've made inquiries & sourced an optometrist able to provide these.
(Lenses should be claimable via Medical Aid)

Please emai me if u are interested with the following:
Full Name:
1SOMS RaceNo :
               Sphere     Cylinder     Axis     Add     Prism
OD (Right)     -               -           -     -     -
OS (Left)               -                 -           -        -        -
Prescription Date :     -   -
PD:

I will accumulate the requests and pass these on to the optometrist.
While the goggles are unlikely to be claimable from Medical Aid the prescription lenses can be.
The goggles are a tad pricier than those in the sports store but I did find them to be a comfortable fit.

2011 is here... and so far it looks good

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:35:53 +0100

New Year's Day has become synonymous with the annual Clifton Cold Water Mile. This year started on a Saturday and I fielded calls until 9.30pm on New Year's Eve as to the details of the swim... Inclement weather was not on any forecast I saw so it was a surprise to wake at 5am to the sound of rain...35 Polar bears started - 2 withdrawals due cramp and asthma... and once all were in the sun came out !

1st Sunday of Month was on 2 January - a bit soon for a recovery and rain was forecast so when 31 Polar bears started I was thoroughly impressed...once again as soon as all had safely returned out came the sun in all its glory... is it only me or do others see a pattern here.

Mario keeps asking when will I be back in the water - for those who have asked I have told about my neck/back concerns. A fair whack of research as regards the spine and specialist opinions and I am getting up to speed on the topic. With the assistance of a biokineticist I have been doing weight training with the focus on tricep/lat strengthening. I am hoping to get back in the water next week..

I am keeping busy (and some would say in say out-of-mischief by doing some housekeeping on the site)..I hope that it is a tad easier to use..I have bigger plans for the site but more to that as the year progresses.