Santa Cruz Roughwater OW Championships

Photography and Story by Bart Selby

500 swimmers ready to go

On Saturday, August 1, seven intrepid Marlins ventured into the early morning fog at Santa Cruz for the 36th Annual Roughwater "around the pier" swim.  This year it was a Pacific Masters One Mile Championship swim.

If you have not done the swim you are missing a good one, it is one of my favorite open water swims of the summer.  To the best of my knowledge it is the only swim in North America where you can look up at sea lions and not be drowning or shark food.  Yes that's right, as the pack rounds the end of the pier if you interrupt your stroke and gaze skyward you will see 800 pound pinnipeds a few feet above you, lounging on the support beams of the pier, oblivious to the melee below.

Nearly 500 swimmers participated, and I'm pretty sure about 490 did not pre-register.  The weather was as expected - overcast until after the swim, but the water was a balmy 61, no wind, no sharks, no orcas, no jellyfish.  And there was almost no swell, enabling a smooth start and an easy surf free finish.  The swim is put on by the Santa Cruz lifeguards, they did not use the USMS timing chips, but results were up pretty quickly.

We started at 11:20 am, about 300 yards south of the pier, with a rousing dash into the waves.  The pack went off in three heats, under 40, old people, then the very young.  It ended north of the pier, near the hotel formerly know as the Dream Inn.  Because there is only one turn, and many swimmers tend to stay away from the pier getting mauled at the turn is unusual.  It's also very easy to navigate, provided you can right side breathe.

Ann Lambertson was able to put her new wetsuit to good use, swam a blistering 40:06 and took second in her age group, without risking frostbite.  Leon Kief led the Marlins with a 22:31, Cheryl Hardin turned in a very respectable 27:14, Bart Selby had a wetsuit assisted 23:58, Tim Bodkin a 23:59 and Meghan Hays zipped in at 28:52.  Virginia Waik did not swim, she came for the ambiance and in support of her fellow Marlins. Webmaster's note: CLICK HERE for the complete meet results.

The rubber hits the waves

The only minor disappointment was the shirts--known far and wide for their awesome sweatshirts, this year in honor of the recession, we got the swimming equivalent of coal in our stockings; short sleeve tees, but with the traditional graphics.  I'll hope for a return of the classics next year, but I'd do the swim even if we did not get logo-wear.

The sun did make an appearance during the award presentation, and a few of the swimmers ventured over to the Boardwalk to take in the sights.  Not to be missed are the culinary treats--including hard to find Deep Fried Twinkies--and other delicacies guaranteed to take years off your circulatory system's working life.

All in all it was a good day in the water.  Unlike many non-masters salt water swims, some now over $150, it was a very reasonable $30, shirt included.  We had no trouble finding parking and were done by 1 pm.  The trip back over the mountain was simple, but west bound traffic was backed up to about Fresno.  If you go next year take lots of quarters (for parking), dress warmly, and don't worry about the sea lions.

————————————

More Pictures: