Safety & Risk Management

The Pool to Peak Ocean Swim Committee reserves the right to change and/or shorten the course subject to conditions.

Board and ski paddlers, rubber dinghies and safety personnel will patrol the course for the duration of the race.

Qualified personnel in emergency first aid and medical procedures will be on the beach. If a swimmer feels unable to proceed, they should attract the attention of water safety personnel.

Swimmers enter this event at their own personal risk, they are responsible for their own physical condition, and are urged to train and have a medical check prior to entry.

Safety officials may take a swimmer deemed incapable of completing the course out of the water at any time. Any swimmer who has not passed the halfway buoy after 45 minutes may be asked to default and will be taken out of the water and transported to shore. Any swimmer who pulls out of the race must notify race officials immediately.

Race Rules & Conditions

1. Entries are restricted to persons who have adequately trained for this event and it is at the final discretion of the swim committee.
2. The minimum entry age for the 800m and 2km swim is 13 years. The minimum entry age for the 400m swim is 10 years.
3. Swimmers physical condition will be their own responsibility and all participants are encouraged to train in preparation for this event.
4. Flotation devices, fins and wet-suits are only allowed if you have entered the “Skins, Fins & Friends” division in the 800m event.
5. All swimmers must wear their prescribed cap and ankle timing device.
6. There will be safety craft patrolling the course. Signal them if you need any assistance. Your safety is our priority.
7. Water safety officers have the final authority to remove a competitor from the water if required.
8. You must swim with your age group to be eligible for a medal.
9. All decisions of the swim committee will be considered absolute and final.

Risk Warning (Section 5M Civil Liability Act 2002)

A warning is given to all entrants in the Newport SLSC Pool to Peak Ocean Swims that there is the risk of harm to their person and/or property arising from any inadequacy of physical condition or stamina to complete the swim, hazardous sea and beach conditions including sea currents, waves and the presence of seacraft and sea creatures.

Waiver

1. I, the undersigned, in consideration of and as a condition of acceptance of my entry for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, hereby waive all and any claims, right of cause of action which I or they might otherwise have for or any arising out of my life or injury, damage or loss of any description whatsoever which I may suffer or sustain in the cause of or consequent upon my entry or participation in the said event.
2. I accept full responsibility to inform myself/ourselves and assess all the dangers hazards and risks of entry in this event and rely solely on my/our own assessment of these dangers, hazards and risks before participating in the event and notwithstanding any decision thereon made by Newport SLSC and other persons, corporations and bodies involved, engaged in promoting or staging the Newport SLSC Pool to Peak Ocean Swims.
3. This waiver, release and discharge shall be and operate separately in favour of all persons, corporations and bodies involved or otherwise engaged in promotion or staging the event and all persons or companies involved shall so operate whether or not the loss, injury or damage is attributable to the act of neglect of any or more of them.
4. I hereby acknowledge that Newport SLSC shall have no liability and that I have sole responsibility for my personal possessions and athletic equipment during the event.
5. I hereby attest and verify that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained for this competition and that I agree to be bound by the official rules and regulations of said event.
6. I hereby consent to receive medical treatment, which may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident and or illness during the event.
7. I hereby agree that in the event of a race cancellation due to a storm, rain, inclement seas or weather, winds or other ‘Acts of God’ conditions my enrolment shall be non-refundable.
8. I permit free use of my name and picture in broadcasts, telecasts and the press as they pertain to the Pool to Peak Oceans Swims and the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series.

Male/Female Categories

• 10-12 years (400 m only)
• 13-19 years
• 20-29 years
• 30-39 years
• 40-49 years
• 50-59 years
• 60-69 years
• 70 years +

Skins, Fins & Friends (last wave of the 800 m event only – no medals for this event category)