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THE GOOD NEWS:   November 2019 Mollymook Ocean Swimmers update.

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News items:

Ocean swim times adjusted: Advised by the silent respected majority that Sunday swims will commence at 7.00 am. 

Web site ‘Mollymook Ocean Swimmers‘ has been updated with the above time for the benefit of out of town swimmers.

Ocean Swimming Book: Advised by the printer that our books are finished and are being packed this week for pick up in Melbourne the following week.

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An absolute Inspiration – Johnny (L’ETAPE) Louth

 

The L’ETAPE race was run on Saturday November 30, 2019 beginning at 6.30 am. The ‘L’Étape Australia’ is the largest Tour de France event held outside France. It is a torturous 170km bike ride run to Tour de France professional standards. It provides amateur riders with an experience as close to riding in the Tour de France as is possible, with fully closed roads and a mountainous course that is the equal of a mountainous stage of the Tour de France.

The Race took riders from Jindabyne to Rocky Plains, Berridale, then onto the King of the Mountain sections at Col de Beloka and Col de Kosciuszko, thereafter descending back to Jindabyne. The Race route is 170km long with a 3,000m height climb and a long decent. 

John was one of 1224 starters and finished 26th in his 65-69 age category in a time of 10:07:55.

A remarkable effort considering he is only 4 months away from his 70th birthday!

NOTE the course outline, the steep mountains to climb and massive descents to manage

To better understand John’s remarkable achievement, consider the above course outline that graphically illustrates the degree of difficulty with this mountainous course. The very steep ‘Col de Beloka’ 3.04km climb. Later you face ‘Col de Kosciuszko’ a 3,000m height. If those conditions aren’t harsh enough, John and Jacqui reported that yesterday’s conditions were freezing cold with huge head winds, so strong that John was blown off his bike on one occasion.

 

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Graeme (Molly) Wolfenden the Champ

 

This 9.5km Lake Burley Griffin swim is regarded by some as one of Australia’s premier fresh-open water swims. This year Graeme is hoping to break the long standing record of 2: 32: 57 set back in 2008 for his 60 -69 years male age category.

The greatest concern for many swimmers is the weather. It was reported that last year some swimmers became seasick and several were forced to withdraw when choppy waves became unnavigable and support paddlers themselves became swimmers after being upended in the swell. The advantage of a tailwind was largely lost through the extra distance covered vertically as well as horizontally in the effort to maintain any sense of direction. 

News update: Graeme has just completed his swim. Won the 60 – 69 age category for the 4th time albeit missed breaking the record due to the atrocious conditions. (4 wins from 4 starts)

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Peter the Magician?

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Saturday’s swim, straight from the starting block

 

Garry, Tim, Lloyd, Greg and Katie lining up for the start of the Saturday morning 7.00 am swim.

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Ken Banks, Mollymook Beach Waterfront: Editor for Mollymook News and Destination Mollymook Milton Ulladulla