Welcome

This season Tamarama hosts its inaugural ocean swim event. You are invited to join us on the 13th of April 2008 for one of the most unique swims on the calendar.

This information is subject to change both in the lead up to the event and in response to conditions on the day.

Sponsors and Supporters

Swims like this could not happen without the continued support of local business and the community. In particular Tamarama would like to thank the following organisations for their contributions of prizes and assistance.

Key Information

When	10am (Dash for Cash 9:30am) 13th April 2008
Where	Tamarama Beach
Cost	$30 Prepaid, $40 On the day
Distance	2 kilometers

Registrations close 9:30.

All proceeds to Tamarama SLSC.

Entries

Online and postal entries are closed. Late entries are accepted on the day until 9:30am.

Online progress entries can be viewed here.

Categories and Prizes

Servcorp Virtual Office "Dash for Cash"

The true test of surf swimming acumen, an approximately 400 meter 'dash for cash' event will start the day's racing at 9:30 am. The intent of this event is to test competitors surf knowledge on one of the most challenging beaches in Sydney and demonstrate the best way to enter and leave the beach to spectators. This event is open to anyone competing in the main event and prizes are awarded for the first male and female to cross the line.

Overall

The swimmers who place with the overall best time, regardless of age group, will be awarded prizes in the following categories

Category Name
Male
Female

Age Groups

Vici swimwear are proudly supplying age group prizes as well as high quality, silicone competition caps for all competitors..

Individual competitors will be eligible for prizes for placing in their respective age and gender categories

Age Group
Under 19
19-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Over 60

Teams

Members of a team are still eligible for individual prizes. First prize only is awarded for team entries.

We will do our best to ensure that competitors in the same team will leave the beach in the same wave, so if you want to swim with your friends enter a team together. Note that the wave a team swims in is determined by its slowest swimmer, by doing this we are trying to reward the entry of well-balanced teams.

Category Name	Number of Members	Restrictions
Open	4	None
Open Women	4	All team members must be female
Under 120	4	Combined team members ages must be less than 120 years
150+	4	Combined team members ages must be equal to, or more than, 150 years
Family/Company Duo	2	Must be related or work together

Due to popular demand we've also added in a duo category for families or workmates, you must be related or work together to qualify, and you will start in the same wave together.

To enter a team, email the names of the members of your team to oceanswim@tamaramaslsc.org along with which which category you want to compete in and your team name.

Lucky Draw Prizes

Pacific Swims have donated two swims, one to Fiji one to Vanuatu, to be given out on the day of the swim. These packages include flights and accommodation as well as entry into the event. These prizes will be given to two competitors based on a combination of luck and skill as worked out by the Tamarama SLSC super computer. Stay around after the swim and listen out for your name being called, if you're not there, we will be forced to give these amazing prizes to someone else!

A Note on Waves

Because of the nature of the beach, we'll be breaking the event up into waves based on your average time in previous ocean swims. The wave containing the fastest swimmers will leave the beach first, followed by the second fastest, etc... By doing this we can maximise the effectiveness of our water-safety and ensure that all swimmers have an enjoyable swim. Depending on the predicted conditions, waves will contain roughly 40 people each and will leave the beach approximately 3 minutes apart.

If you are not on our records as having competed in an ocean swim in the last 5 years you will be allocated a wave based on historical data for your age and gender. You can search your swimming history here, if you have at least one swim against your name, you will be allocated a wave based on that time. If you have no swimming history and wish to swim in an appropriately graded wave, contact the race director at oceanswim@tamaramaslsc.org with your 800 meter time.

There is no elite or preferred wave. Once assigned, wave allocations are non-negotiable.

We will attempt to ensure that all members of team entries will start in the same wave based on the slowest member of the team.

In short ENSURE YOU GO OFF THE BEACH WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME COLOURED CAP, NOT PEOPLE IN YOUR AGE GROUP, this is vital to Tamarama being able to give you the correct times.

Course

The course is subject to change, as well as conditions on the day, however the plan is a lap of Mackenzie's Bay starting and finishing at Tamarama. Being surrounded by a natural amphitheatre, Tamarama offers unique opportunities for spectators of the event.

The following image indicates the preferred route which follows a "coat-hanger" shape in a clockwise direction.

Alternate Course

In the case of big seas we will move the finish and/or the start to Bronte beach, which is more sheltered than Tamarama.

Training

While we will be doing everything we can on the day to mitigate the risks involved, Tamarama is a challenging beach to swim at. As such we encourage competitors to train as part of a squad in the lead up to the event in order to enjoy the event fully and do the best they can. The following organisations come highly recommended.

Matt Weber Swim in Tune 0410 557 940 Cook and Phillip Pool

Bondi Running and Triathlon Club for all your triathlon needs

Free Surf Session!

On the Saturday before the race, April 12, Bondi Fit is hosting a once-only, first time ever, session at Tamarama. The session starts at 11am sharp at Tamarama SLSC and will go through the basics of entering and leaving the beach as well as general surf tips. If you are a competitor in the event the lesson is completely free!

For any of your surf swimming or trialthon needs Bondi Fit has highly qualfied and experienced coaches to suit any level of athlete.

Parking and Transport

Being a small beach, Tamarama has extremely limited parking facilities. It is highly advisable that competitors and spectators park on Birrell Street and walk through the Park, or in the Bondi or Bronte carparks and enjoy the scenic 10 minute walk to Tamarama Beach.

Buses

The 361 bus services Tamarama directly from Bondi Junction, however it is infrequent and likely to be full on race day.

By catching a 333 (express), 380, 381, or 382 bus from Bondi Junction and getting off at the corner of Bondi Road and Fletcher Street, swimmers can enjoy a short walk to Tamarama Beach.

Contact Us

Chris Glover
Race Director
e-mail: oceanswim@tamaramaslsc.org
Facebook: Tamarama Ocean Swim Group

Ocean Swim Committee

Committee Information (viewable only by committee members)

If you wish to be on the committee contact oceanswim@tamaramaslsc.org