Megan Wallitsch
WILDWOOD, NJ – The Wildwood Beach Patrol hosted its annual Pier to Pier Challenge on July 11 to raise funds for the patrol to buy new equipment. The swim, which is about a mile long, starts at Adventure Pier and ends at Mariner’s Pier of Morey’s Piers on the boardwalk.
The 76 swimmers were made up of teams from local beach patrols, swim teams, and former college swimmers, as well as individuals looking to compete, according to Billy Auty, the event’s race director. Throughout the summer, many of the local patrols host their own competitions, and the Pier to Pier Challenge is another supplemental event that many sign up for.
Swimmers were met with great conditions this year, with great visibility and temperatures in the 70s, according to Auty. “It was kind of a very user-friendly day, definitely.” The surf was also really smooth, and besides some push back on the way in, it was easy to swim through, according to Gabrielle Clark (17), who came in first for the women. “I think it’s gonna be almost a pool swim,” said Angus Blair (20), who came in fourth overall.
While certainly lifeguards and experienced swimmers compete in this event, it is very beginner-friendly, with the length of the course only being a mile and having great conditions. “This is everything from people doing their first open water swim to like veterans,” Auty said. This was Clark’s second time competing in the Pier to Pier Challenge. Last year, when she competed, it was her first-ever open water swim. A USA swimmer, Clark said that this year she felt much more confident in what she was doing and swam with a purpose, “I would say as long as you can swim, go try it out. It doesn’t really matter how fast or slow you’re going, but as long as you can swim, I think you can do it.”
This event has been held for close to 20 years, and each year sees swimmers return to compete again, according to Auty, “If they’re down here on vacation, it’s something they can count on.” Blair has not done the swim before, but is looking forward to a summer full of open water swims, this one included. “I’m down here for the summer, just want to get into every race that I can and do my best.” Sebastian Leal (20), who came in fifth overall, has been training alongside Blair for the competition season, both in the pool and in the open water in Sea Isle to practice riding the current. “We just try to practice every little thing we can to prepare for all the races,” Leal said.
Safety was at the forefront of the event, with somewhere between 20 and 25 lifeguards on duty. There were a few of the patrol’s personal watercraft patrolling the area manned with guards, as well as 12-15 guards on paddleboards, and guards on stand, according to Auty. Not to mention, of course, the many lifeguards competing in the swim as well.
One thing that truly sets this swim apart from other open water swims is the atmosphere. The Wildwood Beach requires no fees or beach tags, so athletes are able to come, compete, and then enjoy the rest of their day on the beach or up at the boardwalk. Open water swimming opens up a whole different part of the world, according to Auty. Prior to the swim, dolphins were swimming around throughout what would become the course.
Clark noted that something about open water swimming that she loves is that it is co-ed, and you get to swim against all age groups and genders of swimmers. “I think it’s a lot more fun than competing in like just normal swimming because there’s such like a bigger atmosphere,” Clark said. Being able to swim in the ocean is also an essential skill that Blair thinks people should have, “So I think it’s good to, you know, get these skills to be able to swim, save people, and also save yourself when you’re in the ocean.”