FINA/HOSA 10Km Swimming World Cup Noumea

Opportunities to do what one loves while in a location akin to Paradise don't often come about. Yet I recently found myself in that exact position while I raced in Noumea for the third event of the FINA/HOSA 10Km Swimming World Cup Series.

The location was Anse Vata Bay - about a 40 minute drive from the airport. I had never visited New Caledonia and had no idea what would greet me. Turns out that the sun sets pretty early this time of year and so with a 6pm arrival, I was greeted with complete darkness as the hotel bus chauffeured me to Château Royal. I would have to wait until morning to have my pupils pleasured.

I was joining my team mate Rhys Mainstone who was already settling in and Samantha Watts along with Head Coach Ron McKeon who would arrive 24 hours later. Perfect timing to get a few night shots in:

Anse Vata Bay - Noumea

Course Recon with fellow Australians Rhys Mainstone & Samantha Watts

We were to race on Saturday, a couple of days after my arrival, which would allow enough time to settle in, get some time in the pool and ocean and to relax and enjoy the eye candy that was right outside my bedroom door. I was pleased to find that Noumea is actually a beautiful spot in the world featuring European familiarities being a French territory, crystal blue water, friendly French speaking inhabitants and decent food, all while being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and giant mountain ranges. This would make for a perfect backdrop while racing.

Rest Day before Race Day

This trip however wasn't all sunshine and rainbows with cute Labrador puppies sliding down them. I was here to compete in my first World Cup - a 10Km, 4 lap race in Anse Vata Bay against the best swimmers in the world. The field was slightly smaller than usual with some federations deciding to concentrate on the next leg of the series - Cozumel, just two weeks later. But this wouldn't stop the race from being a gruelling two hour event. The Island Gods decided to treat the field to a 35Km/h wind blowing from slightly behind us and over our right side for half of the clockwise course, allowing us to hone our body surfing skills and get some mad waves. Sure, getting some swell similar to what you'd find at home on your local surf beach is all good and fun for a time, but when that time is two hours in duration, a rain storm is thrown in for good measure and you have a field of competitive swimmers wanting to be in the same place as you, that frothing surf can get a little old.

Strong winds would add to the excitement of the race

Nonetheless we pushed forward. The start of the race was magnificently slow with nobody wanting to lead. Rhys soon made a small surge after the first buoy to test the waters but came back to the pack. On turning the second buoy most of the pack sighted slightly left of where we actually wanted to go. Rhys being the experienced professional saw an opportunity and took a different line to the pack - a line that would see him reach the finish line first and a line that made us never see him again in the race!

We continued as a pack for the first lap (2.5Km) and fed together before three Frenchman lifted the pace and broke away. I found myself nestled in another group of three featuring two Olympians in the likes of Frenchman Anthony Pannier and Venezuelan, Erwin Maldonado (Double Olympian). We would sit together for the best part of 6.5Km with only a few centimetres separating us in the washing machine that was Anse Vata Bay. Just like that annoying intruder while riding public transport that wants to sit on you, chew their gum in your ear, pick their nose, eat their toe nails, try to eat your toe nails, talk on the phone loudly, belt out the lyrics to their favourite song from the 80's while assuming you can't hear them because they can't hear themselves over their headphones, all while the entire carriage is completely empty with a myriad of seat selections - Anthony, Erwin and myself would replicate this scenario, albeit without toenail eating, for the best part of 1.5 hours. It was clear that this would not just be a physical battle, but also one of mental strength.

Photo Credit: Rhys Mainstone

Eventually Anthony and I took a slightly different line to each other on the last lap with him finishing a few seconds up the road in front of me. It was down to Erwin and I to battle for 7th position. I was able to hold him level with me right to the finishing pad and in all honesty I was sure that I had finished in front -  with photos that I have seen backing up this self thought. However I was officially classified in 8th place, still within the points classification and prize paying spots. Sometimes in sport, these kinds of things happen and although I would have like to have finished a little further up the road I thoroughly enjoyed the battle I had with Erwin right to the end.

Two hours of racing comes down to a split second touch

An official ceremony would take place that night, allowing us to briefly meet the locals and be spoilt with a delicious buffet dinner before backing up for the 5Km French Cup the next morning. I would place 7th in this race with my own professional photographer and escort boat following me the whole way. Cheers to Rhys!

Official Ceremony

I need to take a moment to make a special mention of the local resident on the beach outside the resort. We named him Salt Dawg. This particular gentleman would set up his beach rug, two bags of personal grooming products and food at 6.30 each morning and then proceed to strip down to his very small, black budgy smugglers and enter the water to knee depth. Once there, with divine form and prowess similar to a peacock, he would walk in a large rectangular shape, arms still by his side with a firm gaze in front of him - only stopping to exit the water to comb his luscious grey beard. Sunscreen was a prohibited substance for Salt Dawg as you'll see in the below photo. Each day he would retire from the beach at precisely 5.30pm after witnessing the sublime sunset. His display of mental strength throughout the daily ordeal of heat exhaustion and fluid dehydration definitely left us mortal athletes in awe!

Local Resident - Salt Dawg

So what comes next? It will be head down for me into a training block at home in Brisbane where I will aim to increase both my aerobic fitness and anaerobic threshold ceiling, allowing me to better challenge for places at the pointy end of the field when it is next time to race.

Thanks to everyone who has shown interest and given support - I hope this blog brings some light entertainment to you!

A full but brief photo timeline is available over at Flickr for your visual enjoyment.

Cheers,