Email us comments about your experience with the Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim Event.
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Point Proved
"Mark and I had a laugh on race day. We recalled you saying something like "check out the waves at Bronte and before starting, they're often significantly different at each beach". Sure, we thought, rolling our eyes. Like, how different can they be? As you said in your email "On the morning at Bronte, the conditions were rough and ugly ...". At Bondi the waves were gentle. Your point was proved...hence why we did the training i guess. To misquote Donald Rumsfeld: We didn't know what we didn't know. Nearly pulled the pin after seeing those Bronte waves, justifiably i would have thought seeing i wanted my first swim to be a happy experience, but the optimism of everyone at the beach convinced me that it was OK to go. Figured i had to trust you and your teams judgement, (plus the training we'd put in!). The pushing back of the 'old farts' start increased anxiety a bit but one minute out from the gun i asked the lifeguard nearby what Bronte was like."It's come good just as the race has begun" he said. That sealed the deal. The guards at Bronte were superb, especially those treading water in the swell at Bronte guiding the swimmers through. Appreciate all the work you put into making this event happen, happen safely and happen with a great sence of fun and accomplishment". Ross

Such a Good Swim
"I just want to say that I had an absolutely amazing day - it was such a well organised event. I really couldn’t believe that with over 2000 swimmers, I didn’t have to wait in a queue to collect my timing chip and cap nor did I have any issues whatsoever in handing in my bag at the start nor finding it at the end. Well done! The only suggestion I would make is to perhaps separate the men and the women. It was such a good swim for me but I often had clearly ultra competitive men swimming over the top of me. Really stuffs your rhythm. Not sure why they kept doing it either seeing that there’s a whole ocean there. I was not surprised to see an attendance rate of 73% (men) & 27% (women). Or perhaps, even if it was 50/50, I would have got trampled by the ultra competitive women?? Anyway, it won’t stop me from ensuring that the Bondi-Bronte is on my annual must do list". Anita

Overome my Fear
"My goal was to overcome my fear of the ocean after having been caught in a rip 25 years earlier. Had prepared for a year doing laps in a pool; endurance not speed the goal. As I lost the crowd who swam ahead I felt totally alone out to sea, but completely in control. The ocean embraced me. Just me and the ocean. The next wave of swimmers caught up, giving me the orientation I needed. Leaving Bondi behind seemed like forever, yet the longer distance between the point and Bronte seemed to fly by in comparison. I arrived on shore feeling more alive than ever before, on my 42 birthday. It was the swim of my life, for my life." Edward

Name Called
"Great day.. Good swim well organized, loved hearing my name called as I crossed the finish". Richard

A Must Do
"The Bondi to Bronte is a magnificent, spectacular swim, one that any self-respecting, half-way committed ocean swimmer wants, yearns to do and must". Paul Ellercamp - Oceanswims.com

Great Praise
"Great praise from me to everyone involved particularly the first aid people (thank you Siobhan, Trish F, Helen Bours, Sal Fleeting, Bron Johnson my Milli) and to Col McD for letting me have a rest on his tube. What a swim! Thank you also for the great organisation by Stephen and Graham Ford and all the key players, you did a fantastic job". Coleen

New Boyfriend Concerned
"Bondi Bronte, what a way for me to start the season. Five years ago this was my very first ocean swim. I did breastroke back then for the entire swim. That was before Spot taught me to do freestyle. Well with the swell being so good my breaststroke did come in handy at times. At the start it was lovely to bump into Fifi and I introduced her to the boyfriend for the 2006 season. We are hoping for it to last past 2006 but he was concerned I would not last the swim. He found it rather a stressful first time experience being there at the start and end of the swim. He had to endure my adrenaline rush, bluey stings and hypothermia as I was in the water for an hour and a quarter. Thanks to Spot once again, even though I only get to train about once a month, for all the advice. The only time I was nervous was when I was on dry land when a few people told me that I was mad to attempt the swim, I did assure everyone that I would pull out if I felt in danger. Thanks to all the volunteers for an exhilarating morning". Rozanne Green

Tougher than the Gong Ride
"I am not sure whether it is that I am getting older, and hence finding such feats more difficult, or whether world conditions are just getting so much worse. I did the Sydney-Gong bike ride in November, after several years, now that the Coal Cliff bridge is open, and found that riding most of the 90km against the wind totally exhausted me. But this was superceded by this years Bondi to Bronte swim. I remember little as I concentrated all the way, coercing my inner self onwards. I recall huge waves, swimming hundreds of meters off shore in gigantic swell, wondering whether I was moving forwards or backwards, catching huge waves into Bronte, staggering home, and a boiling hot shower. Only the mass pack effect, and the comfort of board riders all over, kept me sane, and from panicking as I realised how insignificant us humans are against the elements". Jerry Schwartz

Out of our comfort zones
"Another hair-raising Bondi to Bronte to get us out of our comfort zones and experience life on the edge. Thanks heaps to the Bondi/Bronte surf clubs for not bailing out and for the superb safety crew paddling/driving around in the inclement weather keeping their eyes on us, and as it turns out especially on me, the oldest, old lady in the swim, and last swimmer of the pack - until I was picked up by a very kind gentleman in a jet ski and transported between two red cans after he told me I was not advancing rather going backward in the Tamarama beach area. I accepted his offer with alacrity, to his great relief I'm sure, as I suspect he thought he might be out there with me until teatime. As the only woman in my age group, apparently I was offered a prize (I was at home at the time under a very hot shower). I have since called the club to let them know that much as I would have loved to claim the only prize ever offered to me in ocean swimming I was unable to accept it as I had, had help from the jet ski. Despite my failure to finish at no time during the swim - or even at the interesting start - did I feel scared or anxious or panic stricken, I just couldn't swim fast enough in the swell and in the nasty current I hit the other side of the point to finish in a reasonable time. Congratulations to all the finishers, especially the white-capped brigade. Beats the hell out of lawn bowls!!" Robin Barker Grandmother and ocean swimmer

Cracker
"That was a cracker of a swim. It sounds like a lot of people started and then turned back. How many turned back? I know that I felt like turning around at the first buoy to come back and warn weaker swimmers. (My brain was thinking like a lifesaver, my body was in competition mode). The waves were still breaking at the first buoy. There were sets coming in when I was getting close to Mckenzies Point. I expect the sets made it more difficult for subsequent waves. I tried to sneak a peek of the buoys from the top of one of those waves, only to fleetingly see bigger waves behind. Fortunately it got easier once around Mckenzie's. But gee that last buoy at Mckenzies was a long way out. It was a real slog up until that point. Well done water safety - it would have been a really tough job - with critical decisions. It's not a thankless job. You have my appreciation. I expect the debrief would be interesting". Scott Miers

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Our love to your mothers!
"After swimming the Bondi to Bronte yesterday I walked back along the Coastal Walk. Looking down I could see some competitors still swimming, being escorted by lifesavers in IRB's, board paddlers, jet skis, and surf boat rowers. As I pulled the zip up higher on my fleece top to protect me from the cold my thoughts turned to those volunteers who had given up their time to sit out there for hours in the cold wind to look after us. I think I speak for all of us ocean swimmers in thanking all of you who worked tirelessly from early Sunday morning to make this a safe event for us - Thanks". William Sidwell

Codgers rule!
"Now that was a bloody tough swim!!! In all my years of doing pool and Open water swimming have I ever experienced conditions like those!!! Firstly I would like to thank the organizers for letting the swim go ahead is it was a true test of will power, strength and conquering the weather/conditions... Being a smallish lady I got thrown battered and bruised quite a bit... the blue bottle stings were nothing like the amazing feeling I had as I was running out of the water.... (ok I was stumbling and my legs went numb). And thanks for the couple of men who I helplessly tried to follow. I don't know who you are but thank you ... If I didn't swim in a pack with you lot I would have been lost for sure... I think Spot Anderson deserves a massive Hi 5'vs... you couldn't loose him in the water if you tried.... Spot your Mo-hawk haircut and white spots are a great safety measure... the lifeguards could spot you a anywhere hehehe. It's people like you and Shelley whose positive attitudes just radiate through ocean swimming, which is what makes this such a fun sport to compete in... And to all the older generations that swam yesterday... You guys rule!!!!! If I can still rough it out and swim in conditions like that when I'm well past my 50s I'd be happy. It was so inspiring to see you all race I think you all deserve a winning lottery ticket or something cool like that... Thanks for a great day :)" Amanda Plescan

Bluey! Thanks.
"Many thanks to the water safety representative off McKenzies point who calmly unraveled a blue bottle from around my neck and let me swim on with the kind assurance that he would 'keep an eye on me'. Only after I finished the swim did I realise, with regret, that his actions probably left his hands in worse condition than my neck! Thanks again". Emma Finnerty

In his Dreams
"I felt like I was in a scene from the movie 'Cold Mountain'." Peter Burge-lopez

Boofy Blokes OK
"I really enjoyed the bondi to bronte swim. It was much more exciting than pristine conditions on a warm sunny day, and definitely better than my local swimming pool. For some of us aging women the biggest challenge was staying warm on the start line. Standing around just in cossies in that cold blustering wind was enough to send any sensible person home to bed. Thanks to all those big 'boofy' 40+ blokes that packed around like penguins enabling us to sap their warmth. However, in future, I will bring an old jumper to discard on the start line. That would have made all the difference. The organisers and safety crew did an awesome job under difficult conditions. Good on them for letting us have a go - it was a memorable swim". Lisa Harvey

Tough Day at the Office
"A huge thanks to the lifesavers and support boaties who supported us from Bondi to Bronte. I don't know how long they were all in the water looking after the pack but they were still out there watching the last swimmers at about 11:40am when I walked around the point back to Bondi. That's about 2-3 hours getting bashed in the surf on a "tough day at the office". THANK YOU." Alex Prendergast

Old Timers Grateful
"I'd like to thank the surf club guys for putting on a great swell for us Canberra lap swimmers at this years Bondi to Bronte swim. Nice of you to also toss a stiff, chill breeze and a few bags of blueys in for good measure... it all makes for a nice adventure. I'd also like to thank them for peppering the course with plenty of lifeguards should the wheels (or rather arms) fall off during this big adventure of a swim. I don't think I have swum in swell that large before - it was solid work all the way - and I certainly feel I earned that sausage sanger at Bronte after I finished. Try as I might, I still managed to miss catching any sort of wave on the way into the beach which leaves me with a perfect record for all the swims so far (dammit). I am glad you didn't cancel the event as we do drive a fair distance to swim at your beaches, and hopefully the Palm to Whale will go ahead, as we missed out on that one last year due to big seas also. Thanks again. I'll be back". Alan Dickson old timers squad

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Vampire Blueys?
"As I am sure many others are saying - what a memorable and exhilarating swim that I thought really drew together the ocean swim community in terms of all the good advice, support and encouragement before and after the swim from both those who did it and also those who didn't who stayed around to cheer on their friends and others! Special thanks to Mr/Mr oceanswims.com, Mr/Mrs Little and Mr/Mrs Leather & co! Like many, I'd never swum in that sort of swell before, but once through the break it was quite a unique and beautiful experience going through the peaks and troughs - surprising you actually go forward when you feel so insignificant versus the ocean - good for confidence. I remember being told "well you can always swim back after the first buoy and the safety people out there are probably the best in the world!" True - thank you to all the lifeguards who did such a good job in keeping an eye on us all! Looking forward to next time! P.S Maybe Cecily Black can also design a stinger protector accessory for wearing around our necks - were they a special breed of vampire bluebottles out there??" Karen Wanless

Room for a View
"Alun was right about the melee in the surf at the start. It was frustrating trying to get past people who had "stalled" in the big surf. Nevertheless congrats to the surf club for continuing to run the event and who had well placed paddlers all the way round. They did a good job organizing an event in challenging conditions which forced them to change things on the run. What a great day for an ocean swimmer though. Big surf going out at Bondi and bodysurf size waves coming in at Bronte. The highlight for me was looking around about 300 metres off McKenzie's Point, paddocks of green ocean, swimmers peppered around and a big swell rolling through. I could see a bunch of people up on top of Mckenzie's Point thinking they had a great outlook. Little would they understand that those below in the water had the best view. A view which only a small part of the population gets to see. Aren't we lucky bastards?!" Mike McLellan

Truth from Fiction
"Congrats to Bronte Surf Club for making an early judgment to proceed with the Bondi to Bronte swim. Great swim in challenging conditions and everyone left with a B2B swim story. By the evening my story had been embellished to such a degree I couldn't remember what the truth was. Thanks Bronte". Ben Hawkins

Favourite Swim
"I look forward to my favourite swim and one of the great events of summer". Gilles Merry

Thanks for Helping
"I hope all went well yesterday. Both Eric and myself really enjoyed the swim and the whole experience. Thanks for helping us out with some swim tips." Leo

Very Enjoyable
"Thanks to all those involved - very enjoyable and well organised." Neil

Really Amazing
"Thanks for the information Stephen. The event was really amazing, and I felt like a pro during the dolphin diving section at the start (due to your good training)." Rainer

Absolutely Loved It
"Firstly, Bondi to Bronte the other weekend was my 1st Ocean swim ever & I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! I’m now proud to admit that I’m rather obsessed with the ocean swims & love the culture & atmosphere it entails. I’ve done the last couple of swims since- love it! Thank you for organising the event & I look forward to next year." Lucy

Will Be Back
Thanks for all the volunteers, both at the clubhouse and out in the water - your hardwork and smiles delivered a great day for all. I will be back next year! Tam

Run Very Professional
Great event. Well run very professional. The bouys are easy to see which is something many events do not do. I hope to see this event continue for a long time. Lloyd

My Maiden Ocean Swim
Just to say that the event on Sunday 7 Dec was fantastic! The organisation (and being a volunteer on the day) was extremely well executed, and the support along the way during the swim by Lifesavers & volunteers really helped to keep me going on my maiden ocean swim. Crossing the finish line & seeing all the colour & support was amazing! Congratulations on the running of another successful event & big pat on the back to all the team involved - was totally awesome experience!! Linda

Well Done
Excellent race. Well run and plenty of alert patrol persons in the water. Well done and thank God it wasn't like 2006 (last time I raced). Fiona

See You Next Year
The marker buoys were fantastic. Water was a bit slow at the finish for the 50+ age group. Overall a great day. See you next year. Peter

Perfect Conditions
Great swim, perfect conditions. Somehow missed the pre-race briefing that was supposed to be held, but that didn't really affect us. Hope to do it again. Jan

Great Goodies
I know it is hard to please everyone and while overall it was a great day, great beaches, generally well run (particualry the registration I thought!), good surf and water temp and great goodies afterwards, I did feel like I was swimming through a maze as I came across the huge numbers in lower age groups that happens in these larger races. I pitied the faster guys in the age groups behind. Well done, thanks. Andrew

Unique Aspects
Thanks for organising a great swim yesterday. Even though you can't take credit for the perfect conditions You still organised a pretty good event. As the website says "Starting and finishing at two different beaches is one of the unique aspects of this journey." In particualr it gives recreational swimmers like myself a real sense of achievement!! - It gave me the opportunity to enjoy a swim in an area that I would not venture into unsupervised. Thanks once again. Steven

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