CHANGE: Why 40+ Is The New Age Of Fitness. But don’t think you’re going to get a “Photoshop physique.” “Believe me, you will never look like the guy in the magazine, the guy in the magazine doesn’t even look like the guy in the magazine.”
Bondi Icebergs on tour: Escape from Alcatraz
But two links between San Francisco and Sydney live on
Between 1849 and 1851, the San Francisco waterfront was overrun by one gang — the Sydney Ducks. They were a group of ex-convicts from Australia who found their way to the gold rush mining town in the wild west coast of America. They terrorised the lawless town by burning one area to distract the authorities while looting the unattended side of town.
A Committee of Vigilance — a lynch mob set up by shopkeepers and citizens fed up with the inaction of the police — caught some of the leaders and publicly hanged them in an attempt to restore law and order.
But two links between San Francisco and Sydney live on: the Bondi Icebergs Club has a sister-club relationship with San Francisco’s South End Rowing Club, mimicking the bond between the cities of San Francisco and Sydney.
Every two years the San Franciscan club attempts an Escape from Alcatraz
Every two years the San Franciscan club attempts an Escape from Alcatraz
swim of 2.4km in 14C fast-flowing, murky waters that run down from five rivers past the fortress island, Alcatraz, out to the Pacific Ocean at more knots than I could count on ties at a royal wedding.
Making it even more nerve-racking, there is only a 40-minute window of opportunity to swim in calmer waters before the tide changes — just 40 minutes before the water runs back into the bay with the same urgency.
Alcatraz was set up in 1850 as a fort on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay by the US government to protect the goldmining town from foreign invasion, and later was turned into a military prison. In 1934 it became the state penitentiary and authorities boasted the prison was inescapable. It housed the most notorious criminals, the best known of whom was Al Capone, who spent four years in the cold cells, and admitted the jail “had him licked”.
It was closed in 1963 because of disrepair, the year after three men attempted an escape through the icy waters on rafts made from prisoners’ raincoats. They were never seen again and are believed to have disappeared in the treacherous currents.
We faced two swimming challenges: to swim away from Alcatraz and, the next day, to swim under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Alcatraz was set up in 1850 as a fort on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay by the US government to protect the goldmining town from foreign invasion, and later was turned into a military prison. In 1934 it became the state penitentiary and authorities boasted the prison was inescapable. It housed the most notorious criminals, the best known of whom was Al Capone, who spent four years in the cold cells, and admitted the jail “had him licked”.
It was closed in 1963 because of disrepair, the year after three men attempted an escape through the icy waters on rafts made from prisoners’ raincoats. They were never seen again and are believed to have disappeared in the treacherous currents.
We faced two swimming challenges: to swim away from Alcatraz and, the next day, to swim under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Eighty-odd swimmers travelled in two small chartered boats to the east side of the island and received a few quick pointers from the swim director, who pointed out some landmarks to the left of a small, 50m opening of the San Francisco Aquatic Park.
Wear two swim caps to stop the ice-cream headaches of the cold water freezing the brain; rub shampoo into the goggles and wash it out, to prevent the lenses from fogging; and take 10 quick deep breaths to help stave off hyperventilation.
Then, one by one, jump in and, oh yes … SWIM!
An earlier briefing gave swimmers tips on what to expect and, more important, what to aim for, the most important landmark being a disused navy troop carrier ship that looked huge when we floated past it on the way out.
But it’s almost impossible to make out from Alcatraz and at water level: navy ships are designed to blend in with the environment. The goal was to head for this navy ship or keep a set of twin-tower apartment buildings — happily named “the David Lettermans”, after the gappy teeth of the former American late-night television show host, — at two o’clock for the whole journey.
In the last 200m you’d hopefully find yourself pleasantly placed to use the “flow” to sweep you into the narrow 50m gap between the two piers of the entrance to the San Francisco Aquatic Park and enter calmer waters after the washing-machine qualities of the tidal action.
Then — all going to plan — we would be able to swim back to the club, be treated to Irish coffees by a rugged-up young lady, and shiver all the way to the men’s sauna, where the tales of the adventure would be recounted over a bottle of whisky and unabashed bohemian nudity.
We, the Bondi Icebergs, who jump into our winter waters for training with blocks of ice on the first weekend of May, in swimming pool brine at 17C, would not be swayed by the legends of Alcatraz. The myth says no man has escaped alive because of sharks, currents and the icy waters.
We jumped in with our sluggos — bathers with the words Bondi Icebergs proudly stamped on our posterior — swimming caps and goggles (no other accessories are permissible), only to be outdone by a SERC member who had his birthday on the day — and swam in his birthday suit.
Eighteen Icebergs were among 80 men and women from both clubs, including a 16-year-old Ice Cube (the name we give swimmers under the age of 18), the youngest Australian male to cross the English Channel, which he finished the week before attempting this swim.
Despite all the briefings and excellent organisation, with strong support crews surrounding us, the swim didn’t go to plan.
The unpredictable flow of the water put the David Lettermans at 10 o’clock instead of two o’clock for most of the swim.
We had to swim hard up against the current most of the way, in the freezing water, with no time to think about the seals that wanted to play with us, fascinated by our presence, or about the possibility of sharks, then had to contend with a morning fog that rolled in quicker than a Tony Abbott anti-Turnbull comment.
There was also the threat of huge container ships that seemed to turn up unexpectedly, as they did during our second swim under the Golden Gate Bridge the next day.
The first two Icebergs to reach the beach after the 2.4km swim, were not in the men’s only sauna.
Young Ice Cube Ned Weiland, (35.14 minutes) and Lauren Spears (35.48 minutes) were dressed and tucking into the pasta, garlic bread and coffee breakfast well before any of the older men could shake off the shivers in the small steaming hot sauna box, with the shared bottle of whisky handed around by the birthday boy.
Eric Lobbecke has been a member of Bondi Icebergs for four years and is an illustrator at The Australian.
Iconic Bondi Icebergs dives into a proud new era
Wear two swim caps to stop the ice-cream headaches of the cold water freezing the brain; rub shampoo into the goggles and wash it out, to prevent the lenses from fogging; and take 10 quick deep breaths to help stave off hyperventilation.
Then, one by one, jump in and, oh yes … SWIM!
An earlier briefing gave swimmers tips on what to expect and, more important, what to aim for, the most important landmark being a disused navy troop carrier ship that looked huge when we floated past it on the way out.
But it’s almost impossible to make out from Alcatraz and at water level: navy ships are designed to blend in with the environment. The goal was to head for this navy ship or keep a set of twin-tower apartment buildings — happily named “the David Lettermans”, after the gappy teeth of the former American late-night television show host, — at two o’clock for the whole journey.
In the last 200m you’d hopefully find yourself pleasantly placed to use the “flow” to sweep you into the narrow 50m gap between the two piers of the entrance to the San Francisco Aquatic Park and enter calmer waters after the washing-machine qualities of the tidal action.
Then — all going to plan — we would be able to swim back to the club, be treated to Irish coffees by a rugged-up young lady, and shiver all the way to the men’s sauna, where the tales of the adventure would be recounted over a bottle of whisky and unabashed bohemian nudity.
We, the Bondi Icebergs, who jump into our winter waters for training with blocks of ice on the first weekend of May, in swimming pool brine at 17C, would not be swayed by the legends of Alcatraz. The myth says no man has escaped alive because of sharks, currents and the icy waters.
We jumped in with our sluggos — bathers with the words Bondi Icebergs proudly stamped on our posterior — swimming caps and goggles (no other accessories are permissible), only to be outdone by a SERC member who had his birthday on the day — and swam in his birthday suit.
Eighteen Icebergs were among 80 men and women from both clubs, including a 16-year-old Ice Cube (the name we give swimmers under the age of 18), the youngest Australian male to cross the English Channel, which he finished the week before attempting this swim.
Despite all the briefings and excellent organisation, with strong support crews surrounding us, the swim didn’t go to plan.
The unpredictable flow of the water put the David Lettermans at 10 o’clock instead of two o’clock for most of the swim.
We had to swim hard up against the current most of the way, in the freezing water, with no time to think about the seals that wanted to play with us, fascinated by our presence, or about the possibility of sharks, then had to contend with a morning fog that rolled in quicker than a Tony Abbott anti-Turnbull comment.
There was also the threat of huge container ships that seemed to turn up unexpectedly, as they did during our second swim under the Golden Gate Bridge the next day.
The first two Icebergs to reach the beach after the 2.4km swim, were not in the men’s only sauna.
Young Ice Cube Ned Weiland, (35.14 minutes) and Lauren Spears (35.48 minutes) were dressed and tucking into the pasta, garlic bread and coffee breakfast well before any of the older men could shake off the shivers in the small steaming hot sauna box, with the shared bottle of whisky handed around by the birthday boy.
Eric Lobbecke has been a member of Bondi Icebergs for four years and is an illustrator at The Australian.
Iconic Bondi Icebergs dives into a proud new era
HAVING weathered a few storms, the iconic Bondi Icebergs Club is entering a new era ahead of its 90th birthday in less than two years
Bondi Iceberg v Abercrombie and Fitch
Bondi Icebergs has successfully trademarked its name in Australia but local companies are prevented from doing so in the US.
