Black Ice News

Black Ice are proud to announce another first, with AV and Mike, 'The Tractor' Gregory, successfully completing a swim across the Port Phillip Bay (16 hours 20 mins). They become the first soloists to swim without a shark cage since the 'Team Extreme' relay in 2001 (10 hrs 26 mins ). Unfortunately, due to the poor weather, the swim had to be bought forward one day, which made it impossible for the Hoff to make it a hat trick. It was a well kept secret with the boys only announcing the swim to club members one week before the start. It was good to see Channel 10 covering the swim on their evening news bulletin. 

Next year, Black Ice will be forming two teams in a race across the bay.  The swim will begin at Indented Head and finish at Brighton Baths (35 Kms). The losing team will be shouting drinks and food after the race. We are also contemplating a relay swim from Geelong to Melbourne, a distance of approximately 60 Kms. This should take approximately 15 to 18 hours. I hear a rumour one Black Ice swimmer had already pencilled this swim in in for a solo attempt.

The Black Ice club are now back at Brighton Baths. I would like to thank the management for giving our members a great deal.

Don't forget the annual eight hour English Channel qualifying swim swim which is scheduled for Saturday April 27th at the Baths. It will be a 6am start, although some of the swimmers have opted for a 4am start. The management from the baths have been kind enough to open the club earlier to accommodate our swimmers. I beleive this will be our 13th eight hour swim which has produced more than 20 successful English Channel solo swimmers.

This year Australia will pass 100 successful EC solo swims and to mark this event I will be approaching swimming Australia for some recognition. I recently did an interview with  Time Out magazine, so hopefully it will be out soon in the local newsagents.

Alby