Iceberg swim a success on Waiheke

It’s hard to know what would persuade more than 1000 intelligent people to throw themselves in the sea in the middle of winter to swim long distances.

Nevertheless, that’s what happened on Waiheke Island during the weekend.

The Hot Springs Spas Iceberg Swim was the brainchild of the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.

Director Scott Rice said that the restrictions of Covid seemed to be causing people to look for new challenges within New Zealand and that entry numbers had exceeded expectations.

Ocean Swim Series entries last summer were up 20 percent, and the Iceberg swim seemed to have struck a chord with cold water adding to the challenge of completing the distance on Waiheke.

On offer were four different swim challenges, from the in and out Ice Splash to the Ice Cube 250m, the Icicle 750m and the Iceberg 2000m, with nearly 600 taking on the longest distance and everyone finishing in less than an hour.

First out of the water in the 2000m swim was veteran Brent Foster in 23 minutes and five seconds, with a clear lead over a tight bunch comprising Steve Kent, Ben Isles, Nick Bone and Axel Wohlfarth.

Ella Crowe, Sally Mcmath and Emilia Finer took out the overall women’s medals.

Although cash prizes were on offer for the first three male and female swimmers and age group winners were awarded medals, most swimmers were there for the satisfaction of completing the event.

Although Aucklanders thronged to the event, participants came from all over the country, travelling from the far reaches of Te Anau, and all over the South Island.

Most gained huge satisfaction from overcoming the chilly water and taking a break in the north of the country.

Nine Nelson swimmers travelled to the event, with Angus Perham finishing in 28min 51 sec to take gold in M60-69, while 79-year-old Derek Eaton took 32.32, winning silver in M70-79.

Full results at oceanswim.co.nz