Season Opener Doubleheader (6/23/01)

(With assistance from Bill Ireland. Thanks Bill!)

The opening half of the season-opening doubleheader dawned clear, and lovely in Huntington Beach.  The water was a choppy 65 degrees, with moderate but strong surf, and the Pier looming large and barnacle encrusted.  A powerful north current pulled swimmers towards the pier on the return leg and away from the pier on the outward leg, swimming north to south. 
 
Peter Egan dominated the race, finishing 21 seconds ahead of the second place finisher in a brisk 9:51(unofficial time courtesy of Lucy Johnson who has entry forms for the July 29, 2001 Naples Swim and thinks they may have been posted on the Swim.net website).  Almost home boy Parks Wesson finished 15th overall and 3rd in the 40 to 49 expanded age group--the largest and most competitive age group even before Parks, Mike Frazer, Craig Nadel and David Nelson aged up into it--just ahead of Bill Ireland who finished 16th after having repeated his performance of two years previously and shooting the pier.   Ironically, in his swan song season in the 40-44 age group, Tracy Edwards resisted the current, avoiding the pier, having learned from past experience not to follow Bill Ireland anywhere, anytime.  The irony was that shooting the pier was probably an advantage this year because of the strength of the current, and Tracy finished in 19th just behind Jenny Buys, of San Diego, who also intended to attempt the doubleheader with the afternoon's Nissan Santa Monica Swim, along with Parks, Tracy and Bill.  Tegze "Tex" Haraszti finished a surprisingly strong 13th overall.
 
On the drive back, the carpooling SCAQers had a chance to admire the serene natural beauty of the Bolsa Chica beach and wetlands nature preserve, punctuated by nodding donkeys--that same pleasing juxtaposition of natural beauty and resource extraction may also be possible soon in many other locations, including the Florida coast and the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.  Incidentally, extensive research has confirmed that the colloquialism of "nodding donkeys" is used for oil derricks both in the mainland United States, and by our friends across the pond.

In the second race of the day, we all trouped down to the North side of the Pier (another example of ESP from last year?) for the Santa Monica 2 mile slated to begin at 4pm. We were regaled by commentary from our very own Craig Hummer, and suitably impressed with his Spanish. Later we realized that no, his voice doesn't change when he speaks Spanish, it was actually his colleague speaking Spanish but nonetheless we remained impressed, especially with the musical choices dominated by Queen (“We are the champions…”). The 2 mile was preceded by an ocean clinic led by Alex K. with many SCAQ coaches helping out and two RANDites Shannon and Stephanie in attendance, as well as dory races and a Beginner's 1 mile. We two-milers waited on the beach for the starting horn, which bellowed just as the first one-mile finisher hit the surf. Mindful of Clay's advice to just “run that swimmer down,” we rushed the water with all the enthusiasm we could muster on a beautiful Southern Californian day. The course was clearly marked, though the chop interfered with navigation, stroke, and for some of us, settled stomachs. Still we plowed forward in almost 70 degree water and a delightful 4.5 on the SCAQ shivering scale, rounding the course twice before making for home. Handsome lifeguards on the Nissan raft and in dory pairs marked the route for all of us. I for one waved at them.

What do you know! To start the season, there was an amazing upset by Alex Kostich (who did admit during a post-race conversation some trepidation about Morton), closely followed by Dawn Heckman in second. I direct you to the SCAQ website for the official and correct results, reporting here only what I could write down in my weakened state after the race (and yes, as usual, I cannot believe I said that). Tracy and Grant swam together almost the whole way and landed on the beach at the same time. Tracy, recalling Grant's recent knee operation, smiled as he had the advantage. But then, in true oceanswimming buddy style, Grant tripped Tracy and thundered on home for 6^th with Tracy having to be content with 7th. Dave Nelson avec wetsuit was 9th, closely followed Coach Kim Davis at 10th. Bill Ireland in his stylish long shorts (news is that both Pat and Tracy own similar pairs, we can only hope they will wear them soon – the pictures ought to be worth quite a bit) splashed home in 12th. Parks traded rankings with Bill from the morning swim and was lucky at 13th. Eric was next in, and certainly increased the handsome men in speedos quotient for the day. Jenny Cook powered home for 16th, picking up right where she left off last summer and keeping those guys in line. Richard Elder came in strong (did you know he did the Californian Ironman earlier this year?), Pat Dixon was in the next wave, then Mac, and Kathy Mann finished with her usual brilliant smile. Susan swam I think but I could not find her finish time in the results (update: she was just behind Jenny and 4th woman overall - wow!). Ralph from the LMU morning practices also finished strong. Cindy L. cheered her colleagues up the beach, and the boost was much appreciated by weary swimmers as they made their way home.

The majority of SCAQers and other oceanswimmers stayed down at the beach to view the rest of the lifeguard competitions followed by a happy hour. Bill and I graciously accepted an invitation from Grant to hottub and swim at the Levy beachfront mansion. Little Patrick Levy had waterwings. At almost six feet, I could stand up in the shallow end and so fortunately I did not have to steal these apparati from a three-year-old though I eyed them jealously as I pondered upcoming ocean races. Patrick, Sam and Bill's nephew David entertained us with cannonballs and the occasional can-opener and were met with loud applause. We dined on chocolate chip cookies and root beer. All in all a wonderful double-header day to start Oceanswim Season 2001!

See you at Santa Barbara next weekend oceanswimming buddies!