STG Stingers ocean and pool swim training Bondi and Sydney city.

Training with a fabulous bunch of people has improved my swimming and kept me motivated. Check the STG Fitness timetable for information on STG Stingers ocean and pool swim squads.
Check STG Fitness or contact Coach Colin or Coach Shaun for further information.

Pool swim training Cook + Phillip pool

* Meet shallow end of the 50m pool, pull buoy recommended for all sessions

Monday – 7pm - 8pm (endurance)
Thursday – 7pm - 8pm (endurance/technique - bring hand paddles, flippers and pull buoy)

Ocean Swim training Bondi beach

* Meet Bondi Bathers Surf Club (next to Bondi Pavilion)

Tuesday – 6.30pm - 7.30pm (ins and outs/surf knowledge and awareness)
Saturday – 10.30am - 11.30am (ins and outs/surf knowledge and awareness)



Notes from coach Colin:

Cook + Phillip squad training
Opportunity to build a great base for the ocean swim / Triathlon season. It's a great time to make an appointment with me, before or after squad, to discuss next seasons goals. It's also a great time to put in some km's to build swim fitness and strength. It's a great time to put in some technique work and develop a better more efficient stroke for the coming season.

Bondi ocean swimming
Conditions change every week and no matter how many times you swim in the surf there is always something to learn. My focus is to teach as many ocean swimming skills as I can, and continue to help you read all types of surf conditions.



For triathlon training timetable, prices and more information: STG Fitness.

STG Stingers Ocean Swim Champion trophy 2008/09

Coach Colin has announced the 2008/09 season points races.

The competition is open to all paid STG members.

STG Stingers who compete in the races listed below are awarded points according to their place in their relative age category. I.e. if you were first in the Women's 40 - 44 age category you would score max points of 1000. Best 4 results count toward the overall championship. It's a great chance for everyone to have a go at winning this prestigious title.

November 2008
Nov 23: Balmain - Dawny's Cockatoo Challenge
1 km, 2.4 km - Balmain

Nov 30: Island Challenge, Coogee
2.4 km - Coogee


December 2008
Dec 7: Bondi-Bronte
2 km


January 2009
Jan 11: North Bondi - The Roughwater
2km

Jan 25: The Big Swim, Palm Beach - Whale Beach
2.7km


February 2009
Feb 1: The Cole Classic, Manly
2km

Feb 8: North Bondi Classic
2km - Bondi


March 2009
Mar 1: Sydney Harbour Swim Classic
2km- registration, start-finish Man o' War Steps, by Sydney Opera House


April 2009
Apr 5: 11th North Steyne Ocean Swim
2.8km

Apr 19: DY2K Ocean Swim and Duathlon, Dee Why
ocean swim 2km

Entries: www.oceanswims.com
Contact STG Fitness

Launch of STG Stingers ocean swimming group

The STG Stingers ocean swimming group was launched at the STG 2007/08 trophy night.

According to Coach Colin the goal of this ocean swimming group is to grow over the 2008/09 summer months and have STG Stinger representation at all the major NSW ocean swims. STG Stingers will also be running Stinger club championships with points being awarded based on the same model as STG Triathlon club championships. List of eligible races.

Coaches Shaun and and Colin invite anyone interested to come on down and join STG Stingers, currently Saturdays from 10:30 am and Tuesday evenings 6:30 pm. Meeting at Bondi Bathers SLSC right in the middle of Bondi Beach, anyone that can swim a continuous 1000m in the pool is eligible to partake.

Sessions are instructional, challenging but above all, truly enjoyable. After training we bask in the Bondi sunlight whilst drinking coffee and chatting about the sessions exploits.

Stay tuned for our new range of, swimmers, caps, T shirts and rash vests featuring the Stinger logo.

For more information contact STG Fitness.

Sydney ocean temperature and surf conditions

These sites come in handy to survey the ocean conditions.

Sydney ocean temperature - from Manly hydraulics lab.

Real surf - surf reports.

Swellnet - daily surf reports and forecasts.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology – Sydney forecast and Sydney rain location and intensity.

Vanuatu ocean swim video - Port Vila and Santo Espiritu

Fellow ocean swimmer Dee has posted a You Tube video of pacificswims.com's Vanuatu Ocean Swims.
"Another 2 great events from Pacificswims.com - featuring Port Vila, Aore Island Resort, Blue Holes, Champagne Beach, Cascade Waterfalls"

Vanuatu ocean swims - Port Vila and Espiritu Santo 2008

Arriving late in the evening to a humid and damp Port Vila we weren’t sure what to expect from the Vanuatu ocean swims. Port Vila provided calm, pool-like conditions, while the strong current in the Segond channel tested swimmers in the Santo Espiritu Aore swim.

Port Vila swim

The 1.5km and 3.2km swims attracted a field over of 100 swimmers. Set in the calm, sheltered waters of Port Vila this swim would prove to be a pool swimmers dream. Starting and finishing at Numbawan café the course circumnavigated Iririki Island. Navigation wasn’t a problem, dodge a few moored boats and keep the Island on your right! Apart from a few sea lice near the moored boats this swim was relaxed and easy, typical of the friendly South Pacific.

Santo Espiritu Aore swim

A short flight delivered us to Espiritu Santo, our next swimming destination. Santo is a beautiful island, although you can’t help but get the feeling that nothing much has changed since the Americans picked up and left after World War II. We stayed on Aore Island Resort and numerous ferry trips provided us with opportunities to survey channel conditions. It was evident that a strong current would prevail and this was especially true on race day. The field of 50 swimmers battled the chop and a 5 knot current. The finish line was deceptive…it looked close but the strong current meant it was difficult to reach!


Highlights
• Swimming over coral, Nemo fish and starfish
• Finish lines decorated with palm fronds and hibiscus flowers
• Local produce – Santo beef, Port Vila ribs, French red wine and cocktails
• The locals who took on the Segond channel in the outrigger canoe race and swim
• Port Vila “Masterbathers club”, try saying that 10 times fast after a few Tusker beers!



Port Vila 3.2km swim Time
Josh Minogue (M 20-29) 00:36:23
Kate Brookes-Peterson (F 20-29) 00:39:03
Susan Elliott (F 30-39) 00:53:52 (3rd place female 30-39)
Michael Elliott (M 20–29) 01:00:39

Santo Espiritu Aore
Josh Minogue (M 20-29) 00:32:54
Kate Brookes-Peterson (F 20-29) 00:33:00
Susan Elliott (F 30-39) 00:50:07 (3rd female overall)
Michael Elliott (M 20–29) 00:55:37


Full results and race report available from pacificswims.com

Susan and Michael Elliott's wedding

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our wedding and wished us well on the occassion of our marriage on 3 May 2008. View photos of the day on Picasa.

Susan and Michael Elliott's wedding

You can also view Mark Houlihan's photos at Houls.com.