San Francisco Bridge to Bridge swim (Golden Gate to Bay Bridge, July 2nd)

lakespraylakespray Senior Member

Any opinions on the organization that runs this event? I.E. well run, safe, etc.

https://waterworldswim.com/swims-events/bridge-to-bridge/

Comments

  • dc_in_sfdc_in_sf San FranciscoCharter Member

    I've never done any of their swims, but have had friends who have done the swim with Pedro program on Sundays to train for Alcatraz and other Bay swims. They seem well run, never heard anything bad about them.

    You are probably getting at least a 2mile/hour push from the tide for the swim, so while it is a spectacular swim (and makes you feel briefly like Michael Phelps) it's more like a 5km than 10km in terms of effort, which may or may not be relevant depending on what you are looking to get out of the swim :)

    JenA

    http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer

  • TMcQueenTMcQueen Belton, TXMember

    I have done the Winter Alcatraz and Swim Around Alcatraz swims with Pedro's Water World Swim, and I thought both events were well run and safe. I have the Bridge-to-Bridge Swim tentatively penciled in my swim calendar to do this summer.

  • TMcQueenTMcQueen Belton, TXMember

    Erased Bridge-to-Bridge from my swim calendar as I just checked and registration is full. Now I will need to find different swim adventure to do on the Fourth of July weekend.

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    TMcQueen said:
    Erased Bridge-to-Bridge from my swim calendar as I just checked and registration is full. Now I will need to find different swim adventure to do on the Fourth of July weekend.

    That's when I'm planning my next attempt at crossing lake Issyk Kul. Come to beautiful Kyrgyzstan, the Switzerland of Central Asia, @TMcQueen! (Yes, they call this place that.)

    TMcQueen

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • suziedodssuziedods Mem​ber

    I have other opinions... about WWS...

    malinaka
  • NikkiNikki Member

    I did the bridge to bridge. It's sort of a scam because they do it with the tide so it's hardly 10k. Also it seems Geared to triathletes or people with little swimming experience. In that way it seemed a little unsafe. That was my n of 1 experience.

  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    IronMike said:

    TMcQueen said:
    Erased Bridge-to-Bridge from my swim calendar as I just checked and registration is full. Now I will need to find different swim adventure to do on the Fourth of July weekend.

    That's when I'm planning my next attempt at crossing lake Issyk Kul. Come to beautiful Kyrgyzstan, the Switzerland of Central Asia, @TMcQueen! (Yes, they call this place that.)

    How expensive is it to get from Houston to Kyrgyzstan?

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    timsroot said:

    IronMike said:
    That's when I'm planning my next attempt at crossing lake Issyk Kul. Come to beautiful Kyrgyzstan, the Switzerland of Central Asia, @TMcQueen! (Yes, they call this place that.)

    How expensive is it to get from Houston to Kyrgyzstan?

    As I see no smiley there, I'm going to assume you're serious.

    Roughly $1300 round trip if you're not particular about how many stops (2) and how long the layovers are (2 hours and almost 10 hours). $1350 gets you one stop in Istanbul of about 5 hours.

    suziedods

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    Honestly, wasn't sure if I was serious or not. If there weren't a wife and two young boys to bring along, I'd be very interested. I'm curious about that part of the world

    IronMikessthomas
  • lakespraylakespray Senior Member

    FYI - I did do the bridge to bridge swim, July 2016. I probably should have listened to @suziedods a little more.

    For what you paid, the Bridge to Bridge was poorly organized and safety was less than it should have been.

    1. They did not require individual kayak escort unless you had your own kayaker. They relied on zone coverage which I out swam about 3-miles in. I was like where did everyone go? I knew enough aim for the right tower of the bay bridge and I'm a confident and faster open water swimmer but it was still a bit disconcerting to find myself in the middle of San Francisco bay with no visible support. I didn't see any other swimmers or support until about 500 yards from the finish. I ran into two other skins (non wetsuit) swimmers who both had the same issue as myself. We ended up being the first three non wetsuit swimmers in. Apparently the lead escort boat went with the two fastest wetsuit swimmers leaving us to find are own way.

    2. T-shirt, I didn't get my damn t-shirt. Half the reason I do these organized swims & races is to get the t-shirt ;-) I went to the pre-race check-in and briefing the night before, well before the end of the check in period. When they handed me goodie bag there was no 2XL T-shirt as promised/ordered. I asked the women manning the table and she responded rather nonchalantly that they had exchanged sizes with other swimmers. I responded, you did that before all the swimmers checked in?????? I pointed out the illogic of them doing this prior to all the swimmers checking in but she was nonplussed,
      She did promise me she would get me a shirt by the next day (race day) but that didn't happen, I've emailed them several times since but no joy.

    Anyway, my opinion of WaterworldSwim is low, I'd look for another organization or provider in San Francisco bay.

    I did my fastest and slowest 10K's in the span of 8-days. The tidal assisted bridge to bridge was 1:18 a week later in high winds and 8500 feet of elevation in Lake Wellington, Colorado a little over 3 - hours.

    ssthomas
  • suziedodssuziedods Mem​ber

    I can't "like" your comment .. but I'm glad to have this additional information.

    lakesprayIronMikessthomas
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