Pier to pub veteran Rex Deeath reveals his top tips for newbies
Rex Deeath has swam the iconic Pier to pub 31 times, and will again on Saturday.
Geelong
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The first time Rex Deeath swam the Lorne Pier to Pub he vowed never to take part in the gruelling race again.
Now, the Highton man is looking to clock up his 32nd swim and on Saturday will participate alongside his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
“I started when I finished footy,” Mr Deeath said.
“When I first did it I said to myself, ‘I’m never doing that again’.”
Apart from a couple of virtual swims due to Covid, the 74-year-old has made the trip to Lorne every year since.
Mr Deeath’s daughter Carly Fritsch joined her father two years later as a 13-year-old and he was also later joined by wife Sue who has now taken part in 14 swims.
Ms Fritsch, now living in Queensland, is preparing for swim number 30, while husband Mark is getting set for his 8th.
Their son Marley is also gearing up for his maiden entry.
While he loves getting in the water, Mr Deeath says it‘s the community fostered by Lorne Surf Club that keeps bringing him back.
“You walk around and meet people that you only see once a year,” he said.
“Then you might see them after the event and say ‘how did you go?’ and all that.
“You all even get a text now with your times, you used to have to go down and buy the paper on Sunday morning, now we get them straight away which is a breakthrough.”
Mr Deeath said anyone thinking about competing for the first time should “take it all in”.
“Don’t do it for the first time on the day, even if you only swim halfway, just get in the water and try to work it out,” Mr Deeath said.
“If it is your first time, the biggest thing is the number of people in each wave, just wait 10 seconds and swim behind them.
“Just get in and enjoy it, it’s not really about the race.”
For more info, head to lornesurfclub.com.au
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Originally published as Pier to pub veteran Rex Deeath reveals his top tips for newbies
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