Survive the harsh conditions, and be willing to leave your comfort zone.
On Sunday, the Cal men’s swim team will have to do just that at the 14th annual RCP Tiburon Mile Swim.
Considered the most demanding and prestigious open-water swim competition in the world, the Tiburon Mile has become a way for swimmers to test their limits when they take on the brisk, unwelcoming waters of the bay and swim one nautical mile from Angel Island to the shores of Tiburon into the marina.
Founded in 1999 by Robert C. Placak, the Tiburon Mile has become an annual Bay Area staple, fostering open-water competition while raising money for local charities. This year’s event will feature some of the premier open-water swimmers, including Olympic gold medalist Ous Mellouli. Exhibition it may be, but this yearly event maintains its reputation as an extremely competitive contest with many participants being among the best of the best.
The Tiburon Mile will kick off the 2013-14 season, in which the Bears look to build on the success ofon recent years, just two years removed from a national championship. Sunday’s race will serve as an early test for the squad as they experience a highly competitive atmosphere in a punishing environment.
“In this format, you can’t see the bottom,” said Cal men’s swim coach David Durden. “You can’t see where you’re going or where you’re finishing.”
Speed will be as crucial as always, but in this particular race, it may take a backseat to strategy. The routes the swimmers choose to take after the first 200 yards most likely will determine the victors. Open water will present new challenges for the team, especially for those used to swimming in the confines of a regulation pool rather than in the face of hostile weather.
“I think the most important thing is strategy,” said Janardan Burns. “If you can sight better than other people, you could easily in, and it doesn’t even matter how fast you are.”
The most eyes will be squarely on the young Burns, a competitive open-water swimmer and a member of the U.S. National Junior Team in the 10K who embraces the grueling nature of open-water swimming.
“It’s over before you know it,” Burns said. “There’s a lot of good competition.”
Burns will be joining a Cal’s men’s swim team enjoying an era of success but hoping to improve from last season’s runner-up status — a task as daunting as swimming a mile through the icy-cold water of the bay.