Big Chill Winter Swim 2023

JC Thomas — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:27:44 GMT

La Jolla Cove Swim Club’s 15^th Annual “BIG CHILL” Winter Swim Program

This is a La Jolla Cove Swim Club event for club members only. Swimmers “pool” (even though most of us are not pool swimmers) their miles to reach a common goal. The program started in 2008-9. The Club goal for 2022-2023 is to accumulate enough swim miles to get to a tropical island to be identified later.

Past goals were Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Bora Bora, Bikini Atoll, Guam, New Zealand, Easter Island, Christmas Island and Truk Lagoon (2 year COVID swim) and Panama (R/T). Six years ago we accumulated over 12,000 miles.

This isn’t a serious competition. Have fun, and above all, swim safely and swim SMART! Beware, the Chill can Kill!

Individual goals: Reach personal totals of 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 miles (or even more!). SWIM FOR THE PATCHES!

Cost: FREE, except for maybe the party in May, which was at Duke’s restaurant the last two year.

Report miles as a CUMULATIVE TOTAL. There will be maps and charts in the club display box at the Cove, at the La Jolla Athletic Club, and maybe on the club website.

When in doubt, just estimate as well as you can; we don’t need high accuracy. We operate on the honor system.

If you have a question about distances or rules, send it to the email address below.

Send your CUMULATIVE TOTAL Miles to BIGCHILLSWIM @ AOL.COM

Provide your TOTAL miles in the SUBJECT LINE, as “John Smith has 67 miles total”, when you report.

Send in your miles anytime, preferably at least every other week, on Thursday so we can print new charts for the weekend.

You can sign up anytime until FEBRUARY 15. Sign up as early as possible to enjoy the program with the others.

Don’t hold back your miles. No more than 100 miles may be submitted in one month, unless you accumulated all of the miles in that month. Requests for exceptions may be submitted to the program director (“Mr. Chill”).

Qualifying Miles:

o Accumulate miles swum from Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 through Sunday April 16, 2023.

o Miles swum using a wetsuit, rash guard, fins, mask and snorkel are acceptable.

o Miles swum in the Pacific Ocean anywhere in California (Oceanside, Coronado, OC, LA, SF, etc.), are acceptable.

o Miles swum in salt water outside of San Diego are acceptable for up to 10 (separate or consecutive) days, regardless of the water temperature. This is to accommodate vacations in Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean, etc.

o Miles swum in a lake, river, or other open fresh water are acceptable if the water is 65 degrees or less, or at any temperature for up to 5 (separate or consecutive) days.

o Pool miles are NOT acceptable. Pool swimming isn’t ocean swimming... walls, lines, chlorine, hot water…GROSS!

o DOUBLE Miles may be claimed on the Club event days (which are not necessarily the actual holiday and may change as the program progresses) listed below and under the conditions shown below. A maximum of TWO double bonuses per day may be applied, so if you swim on Xmas Eve and it’s your birthday, claim two doubles, or 4X miles!

The limit of double miles for one swim is 5 miles. So if you swim 10 miles on Xmas Eve and it’s your birthday, you should not claim 40 miles, you should claim 15.

o Opening Days, Saturday, November 12 AND Sunday, November 13.

o Thanksgiving/Turkey Day, Thursday, Nov. 24, Friday the 25^th, Saturday the 26th. AND Sunday the 27th

o Xmas Eve in Coronado (or elsewhere), Saturday, Dec. 24 AND Christmas Day, Sunday Dec. 25

o New Year’s Eve (Day), Saturday Dec. 31 AND Sunday, January 1, at La Jolla Shores ….or any other location.

o Groundhog Day (Feb. 2), celebrated Sunday, Feb. 5

o Super Bowl (“Super Bore”) Sunday, Feb. 12

o Valentine’s Day, “Swim a mile with (or for) your sweetie” Sunday Feb. 12

o St. Patrick’s Day “Swim with a Spuddo in your Speedo!” (Friday. March 17), celebrated Sunday March 19

o BaseBore (base ball) Opening Day (Thursday March 30), celebrated Saturday April 1 OR Sunday April 2

o Easter “Swim with an Eggo in your Speedo!” Saturday April 8 AND Sunday April 9 (Swim Social Event)

o Tax Day, celebrated Saturday April 15 AND Sunday April 16. This is also the END of the CHILL

o Swimmer’s “Pink Dolphin” birthday swim. Miles must be swum wearing only one’s “Birthday Suit” for most of the swim. If possible, the swim should be witnessed by at least one other swimmer. Observers do not get double miles. The club does not encourage illegal acts. If your birthday does not fall within the program dates, you may use a “comp” birthday, which should be on the same day of the month as your birthday and 6 months ahead if possible. For example, an August 6 “comp” birthday would be February 6. If your “comp” birthday is outside the program, pick any month within the program and swim on the same day of the month as your birthday.

o “Super Chill Bonus”: If the ocean water temperature is 55 degrees or below, those swimming without wetsuits may claim a 50% bonus on miles swum. Those who swim with wetsuits may claim a 25% bonus on miles swum.

o “Extreme Chill Bonus”: If the ocean water temperature is 50 degrees or below, those swimming without wetsuits may claim a 100% bonus on miles swum. Those with wetsuits may claim a 50% bonus on miles swum.

o Both Bonuses above may be used at other locations, such as Aquatic Park in SF, Seattle, Alaska, Antarctica….

o Sting ray Bonus (NEW): If you’re stung, you can have a free mile for your pain, and a sting ray survivor patch too.

Rewards:

Personal satisfaction, good exercise, bragging rights, the thrill of survival. Document your insanity for a disability claim
Experience hypothermia on a regular basis. Shivering is a good exercise that involves all the major muscle groups.Party to celebrate the end of the Chill, Cinqo de Mayo with catered food, beer, questionable music and fun. TBD
Patches will be awarded to those who swim 25, 50, 100, 150 or 200 miles, and for the Pink Dolphin Swim.
Awards for the top mileage man and woman.
“Big Chill” hats or TBD

Big Chill Tonga - Final Miles Total

Dan Simonelli — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:00:00 GMT

We finished 1500 miles beyond Tonga and 250 beyond Auckland New Zealand!

Ahhh, the water feels so gooood!

Here are the final miles chart and progress map:

Miles Chart

Progress Map

Big Chill Tonga

Dan Simonelli — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:26:18 GMT

Here are the links to the Mileage Chart and Progress Map

And remember our Big Chill Party on May 4!

Big Chill Fiji

Dan Simonelli — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:38:26 GMT

Check out the Mileage Chart and Progress Map

And remember the Big Chill Party and 'Sink-o de Mayo' on May 5!

Upcoming events

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:42:42 GMT

Mark your calendars (if you don't have one, be sure to buy a 2012 La Jolla Cove Swim Club calendar) so that you don't miss any of the fun in 2012!

Click Here for 2012 Events

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