Posted on November 06 2013
Probably the best chance you'll ever get at exploring the Laguna coastline and without the stress of a race. If you've never heard of it before, the Aquathon is a casual walk/climb/swim from Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach. Historically it's been 'E-Bay the Ritz' since it ended at the Ritz Carlton where a hundred or so swimmers would show up and take over the jacuzzi and pool at the Ritz.
This year was a bit of a change with a great stop at the Montage in Laguna and by ending at the Salt Creek Grill just short of the Ritz where we got to hang out, eat and drink, and try to warm up near the heaters.
We had about 250 people walking the beach, including a swarm of stand up paddlers that we really just kept seeing at bars. Event organizer Gary Cogorno says that this non-event raised over $5,000 for Miocean to help the non-profit continue the fight against urban runoff.
The shirts feature a handy map on the back that actually came in useful a few times.
My dad (Marc, the owner) has been a part of the Aquathon for years since he grew up in Emerald Bay and for a long time we have sponsored this non-event with shirts and rashguards which came out great this year.
This Fall we not only sponsored the ‘World’s greatest non-event’ but walked and swam the 8+ miles along the Laguna Beach coastline. It’s not a race but by no means is it just a stroll down the beach (well, not all of it)- and this year it was downright dangerous! Ok, not really. Actually the conditions were pretty perfect but we did have a guy in our group end his day in the hospital and we made friends with EMT's (especially when we ran into them later at the Montage).
The accident was our fault for going off the path and trying to slide down a slippery dirt 'path' but in the end one guy went away in an ambulance after slicing his foot open on a palm frond. So that was exciting.
My Dad and I were in the last-of-the-last group, after the hour or more delay while we waited for EMT’s to show up and a few Aquathoners physically carried our friend up the steps to Las Brisas, so rather than make the last ½ mile swim around the point we walked the last stretch just as the fog rolled in.
It was a perfect day for the event and, as always, fun and exciting.