Youngsters take titles at ocean swim

THE second edition of the Four Elements Conservation NPC Ocean Challenge was an overwhelming success with all 120 competitors finishing within the two-and-a-half hour time limit, and a whopping R100 000 was raised for environmental conservation.

The swimmers – ranging in age from 11 to 74 years – took to the ocean at 7am from Durban’s Vetch’s Reef, swimming to North Beach and back in fairly tough conditions. Although everyone swam extremely well, it was 17-year-old Sasha-Lee Corris-Nordengen who took the top title, and the winning prize valued at R6 300, in the 5km Ocean Challenge with a time of 1:06:08.

“It was a great swim! The conditions there were flat although coming back was a bit choppier, but my surf lifesaving background helped and I really enjoyed it,” said the Durban Girls’ College pupil.

Sasha-Lee has represented South Africa from the age of 14 competing recently in the Junior World Open Water Champs in Hungary, the World Champs Lifesaving in France and the Region 5 All Africa Games in Zimbabwe. She has also been selected to represent South Africa in Australia later this year at the International Surf Rescue Challenge.

First in the men’s division was one of the youngest competitors, 14-year-old Chad Michau from Clifton College with a time of 1:08:54.

Michau has overcome a fear of ocean swimming, competing in a few Dolphin Miles, however, this was his first 5km ocean swim making the win an even bigger achievement.

“The conditions were not too bad, a bit choppy, but I enjoyed it. This is my second year swimming competitively and I didn’t expect to do so well,” he said.

Organised by Durban’s Olivia Taylor, the founder of Four Elements Conservation, the Ocean Challenge aims to create awareness about ocean degradation while raising funds for conservation. The Ocean Challenge falls under the banner of Four Elements Conservation NPC, an internationally-recognised environmental organisation which Taylor founded at age 15.

Commenting on the race, Taylor said: “Last year we had 16 competitors and it was a huge success but this year surpassed all my expectations. Every swimmer finished despite the conditions being quite tough. The second leg of the race was difficult because of the currents and wind but the last swimmer came in six minutes before cut-off. The positive feedback was overwhelming and I was excited to note that many competitors travelled long distances to be here – people flew in from Johannesburg and Cape Town,” she said.

A simultaneous beach clean-up, headed by Julia van der Westhuyzen of the Durban Girls’ College Environmental Club, was also a success with a number of youngsters picking up litter between Durban Surf Lifesaving Club and uShaka Beach.

Funds raised at the epic swim will also go towards the Four Elements Evironmental Scholarship Camp which will be awarded to at least six environmentally passionate youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18.