Toughing it out
Participants need to assess for themselves whether they are capable of taking part in the sea conditions on the day.
The 12th edition of the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile will take place on 27 December in Swakopmund, with an expected 250 participants set to brave the sea conditions.
The main swimming event of the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile, with a distance of 1.85 km, will start at 15:30 at Tiger Reef. Swimmers will then make their way around the jetty and finish at The Mole.
Event organisers OTB Sport said even if sea conditions are extremely rough it is unlikely that the event will be cancelled.
According to Yvonne Brinkmann, one of the organisers, competitors, inclusive of minors in consultation and agreement with their parents, need to assess for themselves whether they are capable of taking part in the sea conditions on the day.
Brinkmann also said the competitors need to be self-sufficient in the water, as the rougher the conditions, the more difficult or impossible a sea rescue operation is.
The sprint swim of 600m will take place in the more protected waters of The Mole at 16:30 and at 17:00 there will be a kiddies' fun event where children accompanied by their parents or another competent swimmer, can make use of any flotation device.
The favourite for the male category is five-time consecutive winner, Phillip Seidler.
“The Pupkewitz Jetty Mile awoke my interest in open water swimming (OWS). As a big wave surfer and competing at an international level in OWS, the ocean will always be my playground to test my limits against the wind, current and swell.
“Every race is unpredictable. My ideal Jetty Mile would be big swell that would help me break my previous record,” said Seidler.
He is also busy preparing for the 10km FINA Open Water Swimming World Championship in South Korea next year.
“The Jetty Mile finish is perfect to polish my sprinting ability, which is the crucial finish of every marathon swim. Thank you OTB for hosting the competition; I'm looking forward to an amazing event to end another year of swimming.”
Favourite amongst the females is last year's winner, 16-year-old Heleni Stergiadis. Stergiadis first competed in the Jetty Mile in 2016.
She was the first female across the finish in 2016 and 2017 and is the firm favourite for 2018. She will also represent Namibia next year at the 2019 CANA Zone IV Championships. She also qualified for the FINA Junior World Championships in Budapest in August 2019.
“This is always a very exciting and fun event. I love open water swimming and competing in the Jetty Mile. I will definitely do my best again this year. It always helps to train before the time with Seidler, my dad and other swimmers to get used to sea swimming
OTB Sport thanked the Pupkewitz Foundation for their generous sponsorship over the past 12 years. All entries and race information is available at www.otbsport.com.
Online entries close on 25 December.
SPORTS REPORTER
The main swimming event of the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile, with a distance of 1.85 km, will start at 15:30 at Tiger Reef. Swimmers will then make their way around the jetty and finish at The Mole.
Event organisers OTB Sport said even if sea conditions are extremely rough it is unlikely that the event will be cancelled.
According to Yvonne Brinkmann, one of the organisers, competitors, inclusive of minors in consultation and agreement with their parents, need to assess for themselves whether they are capable of taking part in the sea conditions on the day.
Brinkmann also said the competitors need to be self-sufficient in the water, as the rougher the conditions, the more difficult or impossible a sea rescue operation is.
The sprint swim of 600m will take place in the more protected waters of The Mole at 16:30 and at 17:00 there will be a kiddies' fun event where children accompanied by their parents or another competent swimmer, can make use of any flotation device.
The favourite for the male category is five-time consecutive winner, Phillip Seidler.
“The Pupkewitz Jetty Mile awoke my interest in open water swimming (OWS). As a big wave surfer and competing at an international level in OWS, the ocean will always be my playground to test my limits against the wind, current and swell.
“Every race is unpredictable. My ideal Jetty Mile would be big swell that would help me break my previous record,” said Seidler.
He is also busy preparing for the 10km FINA Open Water Swimming World Championship in South Korea next year.
“The Jetty Mile finish is perfect to polish my sprinting ability, which is the crucial finish of every marathon swim. Thank you OTB for hosting the competition; I'm looking forward to an amazing event to end another year of swimming.”
Favourite amongst the females is last year's winner, 16-year-old Heleni Stergiadis. Stergiadis first competed in the Jetty Mile in 2016.
She was the first female across the finish in 2016 and 2017 and is the firm favourite for 2018. She will also represent Namibia next year at the 2019 CANA Zone IV Championships. She also qualified for the FINA Junior World Championships in Budapest in August 2019.
“This is always a very exciting and fun event. I love open water swimming and competing in the Jetty Mile. I will definitely do my best again this year. It always helps to train before the time with Seidler, my dad and other swimmers to get used to sea swimming
OTB Sport thanked the Pupkewitz Foundation for their generous sponsorship over the past 12 years. All entries and race information is available at www.otbsport.com.
Online entries close on 25 December.
SPORTS REPORTER
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