This is going to be my first 70.3, and I guess it will be my first beach start, ocean swim. Don't know what to think of this. All I know is now I'm a bit nervous.

humans have been navigating ocean waves for thousands of years.... you will be fine. It will be a blast!

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
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Thanks. I'll just have to make sure I practice some beach starts. Only concerning part is I've never swam against the surf, I'll talk to some local fishes and ask them for some tips. I'm in San Diego, so there is no lack of beaches to practice.

that's the spirit

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

Might end up looking something like this.






Speaking of which, I think it would be awesome to have a Tri start at the Wedge. It would level the playing field for the strong swimmers/weak runners.

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Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA

Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/

Pick a day and drive up to Oceanside and take a look at the entry point.

Surf entry can be very different depending on the beach and weather.

Nice to have a picture in your mind to calm the fears.

You will be fine: Even if it’s a bit rough, there will be breaks that allow you to swim through.

SO that is the same swim as the short Tiki swim, thats great. Of course it would be best to have to come back in through the surf, but one way is better than no way. And surf could be 1 ft or 8 ft that time of year. There have been two triathlons over the ages that had some pretty big surf. In the 80's there was the Triterium where the waves were breaking over the end of the oceanside pier. It was a pro/elite race only and still a lot of people did not finish the two lap swim.

And I think one year when Dan brought back the old USTS series they had a swim on the outside and it was pretty big too. Of course don't worry folks, if it even got 1/3 of those old swims it would be cancelled, so good chance it will be a duathlon now. At least in the harbor there was always a guaranteed swim. Guessing they want a one way swim to reduce the bottleneck at that tiny boat ramp. Makes sense to do this one way for sure...

The old swim course could certainly be their contingency plan.

The harbor start was tough. Cold water and no warm-up area available meant just jump in and go.

I remember IM Cal in 2001, that was when we swam 2.4 from the Marine base harbor through the channel with zig zags. Dark, cold, spooky. The first year (2000), they mis measured the course long by about a 1/2 mile. Lots of hypothermia that day. Erraaah! as the Marines say.

The first year (2000), they mis measured the course long by about a 1/2 mile. //

Ha I was the lead kayaker that year!! Ya something about them using Nautical miles instead of land ones, I think that was the excuse. As I recall I was paddling around Chris Leigh I think it was and the lead swimmers were around an hour or so, so definitely off by quite a bit.

This definitely will help separate strong and weaker swimmers by a bit more. Also benefit those who know how to get out through waves.

All in all a positive change imo

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
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I remember running up the swim exit, looking at my watch and being concerned. Volunteers were telling us 'everyone was slow, don't worry.' Returned in 2001 and had quite the improved swim time :)

Also recall that USTS Oceanside race you mentioned. Big waves indeed, but swimmable if you didn't panic. Those swells made for a fun roller coaster out past the break. I recall the biggest issue not being the waves but the strong current running north from the pier on swim entry. Watched all the earlier waves drift way off course.

I love ocean swimming and do it 9 months out of the year (i'm not crazy). But this is why I don't like it. March surf could be big as noted, this raises the possibility of a cancellation from 0 (save that super duper cold winter, I think they made it optional, or shortened it?) to, what, 50%?

Done it 5x and even though the boat ramp isn't ideal, at least it's a swim

I'm in the losing end of that equation. :P

My goal was to swim around 33:00-33:30, I don't know how the surf will affect my time.

 

And I think one year when Dan brought back the old USTS series they had a swim on the outside and it was pretty big too
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glory, that was a day! the women went last, and my lasting memories are:

1. unending female screeches

2. trying to swim, seeing that the waves were timed such that a normal swim-dive-under series wasn't working, and going to doing a couple of breaststrokes between each dive-under. i told myself that sometime, ever hopeful it'd be within the same calendar day, i'd get behind the last wave and get to swim.

needless to mention, i was very, very nervous and conservative coming back in. it was something else.
peggy

Sweet!!!!! I was so disappointed last year when finding out that we didn't get to swim in the Ocean. This will make it way more fun!

I raced the Oceanside Spring Classic swim in May 2016 as part of the Trident swim series (along with the Labor Day Pier swim and Tiki). The draw of the race was the blow-up ducks as the course markers, all of which blew away in the crazy wind and surf. And the ducks as the AG prizes. They delayed and then almost cancelled, and more than 15% of the people who actually checked in chose to DNS. RD said if we could get to the turnaround (at the pier), we should "get back any way you can, including swim to shore and run back." Took almost 10 minutes for me to get through the (double) break, and I saw a lot of people turn around and quit. I am seriously proud of that duck. And sorry I am not registered for Oside, except that I am the absolute worst at sighting properly into the harbor.

There was a warm up area, but hard to get to with all the timed groups lined up.

I think the bottleneck to get to swim start, coupled with the previous timed waves coming in made them switch to this format. I personally love it as I’m in the ocean all year in SoCal. It will be tough getting out and the first turn, but ease up once inside the harbor. Looking forward to it!

I follow wedgemel on instagram he posts lots of crazy wedge photos and vid clips

If you picked a random day the surf will be a total non factor 80-90+% of the time. And by non factor I mean 1-3ft or less. Definitely no southern swell this time of year. Possible northern storm but it's a little late for a winter storm but if they had one I think the jetty and harbor entrance would block it some and worst case they could move the start closer to the jetty where the surf would be smaller.

Really??? Winter training is hard enough...hope it's flat that day

 Waves north of the pier are more tame. I did the 1.2 mi tiki swim, and because they dredged the rocks there recently, had to swim extra long distance making it 1.4mi swim

That USTS Oceanside race with the big surf was probably the most fun I have ever had on a tri swim. I remember my wave going off right as a set was starting to come in. It was hilarious. After the first 6 footer rolled over my wave, I remember popping out the back, looking left, not seening a single person, looking right, and seeing two other guys, and the entire rest of our wave had gotten washed back about 50 yards.

I was a ocean lifeguard at the time, turned out so were the other two guys that made it through the back of that set.

It was 1990 something, right?

If you, or anybody else wants to practice surf entry, I live just down the street from the course. Always happy to add in a little bit of Open Water practice.

One warning to everybody doing this race, there have been a ton of stingrays in that area, so be careful

Ya early 90's sometime, Dan would know when exactly as he put the race on!! And the other one was in 87 I think, and to this day it is about as big as I have ever seen oceanside pier break. Literally waves over the end of the pier, it was a sight to behold, and a race for the ages. Just no way a race like that ever happens again, and like I said, even 1/3 of that surf gets race swims cancelled.

#lovetheolddays

That's exactly what I was worrying about. Even if the surf is 3 feet, they would either cancel the swim, or shorten it. As One of those people who's a strong swimmer and crappy Runner, I really hope this doesn't become an excuse to kill the swim

Things like this that put the "MAN" back into Ironman makes me smile :)

Except it’s not an Ironman

And it will result in cancelled swims. Guaranteed

Check out Carlsbad Open Water swim group on meetup or TCSD for ocean swims. Several weekly ocean swims are offered.

That's exactly what I was worrying about. Even if the surf is 3 feet, they would either cancel the swim, or shorten it.//

Well it all depends on the RD, not sure who it is. And really no reason to shorten the swim, because if it is too bad to go through the surf, it would just move inside like it has always been. They would just lose the point to point nature of the race and the surf entry, which would be too bad, but as long as they had the old swim at least it is still a triathlon...

Why wouldn’t they just go back to old course? I think that is easier than cancelling it

I guess my information was a bit out of date, I haven't been there since 2005.

I didn't do my first triathlon until I was 35 but duck diving waves is a skill I've had since I was a kid... and I'm not even a surfer or waterman, just some random kid who grew up near the ocean. So I'm somewhat less than empathetic when I hear anxiety about the surf... it's something you can learn how to do in 5 minutes.

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

Works for me!

---

Jimmy
http://www.Riccitello.com

I think it's the fear factor. YOU know it's not a big deal. I know it's not a big deal, but until people experience, actually experience in the real world, how easy it is to get underneath a big wave, it's intimidating.

As you said, you grew up near the ocean. I was the same way. All I can remember is my dad and my grandfather taking me out in big waves.

It's got to be way different for somebody who grew up in a landlocked area.


That or people are just generally skittish cowards. I prefer to think it's the former

If it all depends on the RD, then I'm hoping the RD has a serious set of balls on him/her, and it's 10 ft with sets pushing 15. Got to maximize my strong points :-)

Actually don’t the lifeguards make the final call in a situation like this? I don’t really know but imagine they’d have a big say.

It’s also one thing for any of us that have done a lot of surf entries, a different animal for guards that’s have to watch out for 2k people with limited resources.

I race in so cal and every beach start has a good share of folks getting pulled out and dragged back on the skid. Even in small surf.

IM has plenty of dough to hire extra water safety. Plus any gaurd worth their salt can cover several thousand trained swimmers.. remember, the oside LGs are trained pros. They can handle it. On a daily basis all summer long those guys and gals cover several thousand people ranging from exepert swimmers to complete non swimmers in all sizes of surf.

IM should be a piece of cake

Don't forget Carlsbad Tri. I don't think there's ever been a swim cancelled there and I've gone through easily double-overhead waves there. Not so bad getting out, it's getting in, keeping an eye on what's about to hammer you!

(I so want to get back into Oceanside 70.3, and now with this swim, all that much more.)

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Proud member of FISHTWITCH: doing a bit more than fish exercise now.

How to duck dive:
1. Begin dive before the break lands on you

Here's a good video of Superfrog surf entry and you can see some people pushing under and thru the waves, some are trying to stroke thru the wave and others are taking the wave straight in the chest.

Nervous too--really have anxiety with surf after getting stuck in a huge shore break in Maui once. Guess I better get practicing soon!

I think this is a dangerous move and serious risk by the organizer. I have done oceanside 4-5 times and several other 70.3s and IMs but never done a true ocean swim - not in a race and not in practice. While I'm all for making courses more exciting I find it concerning this change is announced less than 3 months from race day, in winter when it will be very difficult for many people to go and learn how to swim in the ocean and navigate the waves. There isn't that much time to go to the coast and learn and some will totally underestimate the ocean entry. I think there is going to be some major discussion around liability when things go wrong.

Totally agree.. why was this not made public way sooner? It could be a nightmare for those without any opportunity to practice?

It will be a clusterfuck. Next year the swim will go back to how it was. Giving weak tri swimmers this swim would be like expecting amateurs to descend the crazy Giro courses, or run in Death Valley. Guaranteed some people wouldn't have signed up if they knew the swim course was going to be this.

I surf so I don't care. But some people will find themselves at the mercy of waves unable to get out of it. It will all depend on surf that day.

Thankyou. I completely agree. I live in a landlocked area and while I can swim in a lake or river, I've never swam in an ocean. I talked with several about the Oceanside swim before signing up, and was reassured it was a protected swim in the harbor. So-- my husband and I are making a vacation of it. Flying out to SD for a week, rental car up to Oceanside; bike coming by tri bike transport... only to find out now I have to swim in the surf??? Suddenly now I am worried, and need to find time to get down to Florida (8 hour drive) to practice.... I'm so disappointed. Yes I'd like to embrace my fear and conquer the ocean swim. But now I'm also aware I may DNF if the surf freaks the shit out of me.

I remember the USTS Oceanside race (in 1999?) waiting for my wave to start and seeing the 8 foot sets rolling in. Having grown up playing in the surf at Huntington, Bolsa Chica and Seal (about 60 miles north), I thought, "This will make it interesting".....The guy standing next to me had traveled from Wisconsin and had never seen the ocean before. About a minute before we were going to go he said, "Screw it", walked back to the transition area and left. Getting out was a little rough. but it was fun coming back in

The variability and what the day may bring are part of the fun of triathlon, but I understand that safety of participants has to be considered.

I was at IM Utah in 2002, when the cancelled the swim in the middle of the swim. The wind swell made it feel like you were trying to get out past the break the entire time you were in the water. Sighting was terrible because of the swell, buoys were blown out of position and you couldn't tell where to go. I was in the water for almost an hour because I didn't want to get in a rescue boat for fear I'd be DQ'ed, and I ended up swimming back to shore. There was a fatality that day, and resulting changes to swim safety protocols.

Given today's safety environment, I would expect that if it's over about 3 feet that day, the swim would be canceled or moved back to the harbor.

The thing is, everyone is coming from a different set of experiences and situations. For those of us living near the ocean, an ocean swim is no big deal. If you haven't ever been to the ocean, I could understand how it could be intimidating.


If it came down to it, I would not be interested in a 2100 (or 4200) yard pool swim, 56 (or 112) mile trainer ride, and 13.1 (or 26.2) mile treadmill run. It would be really safe though....;)

I'm signed up for Oceanside and I'll swim in whatever. I don't care.

My concern is this decision could lead to a swim cancellation or shortened swim. I hope their contingency is to go with the old course if necessary.

I'm not an experienced ocean swimmer, with my only similar experience really being IMFL 2x, but I'm up for anything. That stated, it's pretty shitty to spring the ocean swim on people less than three months from race day. A friend of mine is also doing the race and I don't think this news was much appreciated by her at all. She's going to worry about it and my guess is that she would not have registered for the race had this been the swim course of record at the time.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

I hate the ocean. I've done plenty of ocean swims and have gone through waves many times. That doesn't mean I like the ocean. So, hearing the news makes me very nervous.

Watching this video, though, gives me some peace of mind knowing that I'm not as bad as they are at getting through the waves.

The setup logistics would not (IMO) allow for a morning-of race day call to move the swim into the harbor. Maybe, but doubt it as it’s quite controlled and has to be set up.

If the surf is big(ish) the swim will cancel

I understand the apprehension of newbies or those who have never swam in an ocean, but sweet Jesus, it is an Ironman. Its not supposed to be 'easy'. No offense, but if you picked Oceanside as your first tri and you are nervous about your open water swimming skills, then you made a poor decision.

If you can swim 1.2 miles then you'll be fine. We'll all be there at least a day before...go check out the entry. Put on your suit and get acclimated to the water, temp, salt and tempo of the waves. Take 30min to learn to dive under incoming waves. At most you'll have to dive under 2-3 breaks, then swim over rollers to the turn. Some of you are cramming too much fear into 150 yards.

I remember both those races! Oceanside was my first full in 2000, I
am looking forward to coming back to where it all began! Beach start will be fun.

These days they have wave height models and predictors so its never a surprise when the surf is high. If its predicted to be big they will know at least 3 or 4 days ahead. The problem is that they will end up with a 2-4ft forecast that ends with "occasional overhead sets possible" and this will cause it to be cancelled when if fact it ends up being a normal 2-3 ft day.

This course will be a lot of fun as long as they let us actually do the swim!

Swimmers, divers and surfers know, you can look at surfline all day but until you go look at the water you won't know if it's swimmable, surfable or diveable. Until I drive down and look all bets are off, whether I'm looking for glass or waves

I've had many shore dives planned that the models said should be good that were bailed on as too sketchy. I've had many days where magic seaweed says 3-5 and it's 2 foot at the beach...

Regardless of anything though, overall i don't think this is good for the race. Swim will get cancelled - guaranteed - and ST will go ballistic at all the "pussies" that can't swim

This will come in handy closer to the race-

Surf forecasting source and live video feed of Oceanside beach, enjoy the link below: http://www.surfline.com/...ern-california_4238/

So a student goes to class and the professor says "I have an exam for you today". The student looks at the professor, thinking that, had he known there would be an exam, he could have studied for it, but he wasn't offered that option. The professor sees the confused student and says "But sweet Jesus, college is not supposed to be easy. No offense but if you picked this class and can't pass the exam, you made a poor decision. "

I guess you never had a prof who administered pop quizs?

So you’re surprised an ocean swim might actually include swimming in the ocean? You analogy might hold up if Oceanside was advertised as a lake swim then moved to an ocean swim. Or if the RD made it a beach start AND finish, but geez, you’ll have to dive under 3 sets, swim over 2 or 3 rollers then make your way into a protected harbor. If you signed up for an Ironman that has an ocean swim be prepared to swim in the ocean.

The real danger is coming in when there is rough surf. Getting out there is easy. Coming in and getting caught by set can really knock your block off.

Here, here, applause!!!

That's exactly what happened. The race has been a swim in a protected harbor ever since it was a 70.3, it has been advertised as such, the course map at time of registration showed it to be a harbor swim, I have done it 4-5 times, always as a harbor swim. The change to a swim with ocean start was only communicated on their website since this week (yesterday) - it has not even been communicated to participants yet officially.

This is not the same as adding a hill (or 5 hills) on the run or bike because "it's supposed to be hard" - this is about adding an element that requires an additional skill and not mastering that skill could make it an increased safety risk. With the change being announced in Winter and close to the race itself, it means undoubtedly some people will not get the opportunity to work in this new skill in time, hence there is a significant risk for those people. Remember people are coming from not just the California coast but probably from 30+ different states, many of which don't have a coast line.

Yes, a harbor. That opens to the ocean. The turn in the old course was at the mouth of the harbor, and depending on what was happening in the surf you could get some rollers and current out there. It’s nature, not a pool. You should be comfortable swimming in open water if you’re going to do an open water tri, especially if it is part of an ocean....even if inside a harbor.

IM Corp should have better communicated the change. But it’s 4 months away...start those dolphin diving reps at the pool!

Stop it. That line of argument does not hold water.

And the race is less than 3 months away.... in the winter. WTF are people supposed to do now? Buy a ticket to Hawaii to practice the swim?!

A beach start is not that crazy. There are dozens of tris up and down the west coast, many full of new swimmers and they can complete the swim, I'm sure you guys can too. You're only psyching yourselves out...its not the north shore of Oahu!

I think the biggest point is the race change should have been communicated from the start when people were signing up, not less than 3 months from race day--in the Winter. Everyone should have the chance to be as prepared as possible, and make good choices when choosing their race. All in all, it probably won't be that big of a deal, but people will be unprepared, and the swim is where people die in tris. I don't think people are complaining it's too hard, just that we all want to feel like we did the best preparation possible.

Maybe one or two sessions are enough, maybe not. Not everyone who signed up will have the capability to go and learn between now and race day. This isn’t about it being ‘hard’ and people finding it unfair towards those that can practice, it’s more about a safety concern towards themselves. Given the switch was made after the race was sold out, if something happens it’s bound to become a major liability issue for WTC.

That's stupid. I live in LA and swim in the ocean every other week year around - and I can tell you that no amount of pool reps will prep you for going under the big sets near San Diego. The waves there tend to be come at a very frequency between the sets and the entry is oftentimes harder than it is in say Zuma or Venice or Redondo which is where most people end up doing their ocean swims It is more of a mental thing than the physical skill, you just need to be comfortable with it, and someone from the MidWest or even Florida won't like it.

I agree with what @ChrisM said - the swim is likely to be cancelled if the surf gets big. That's a bummer - finally my schedule allowed me to do Oceanside in 2018, I sign up and they do this.

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Next races on the schedule: none at the moment

Digging up this old thread . . . I assume you can practice swim off the same beach where the start is in the day or two leading up to the race?

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

Ya, it is a regular public beach there, and used by a lot of surfers as there is usually a decent wave there.