GOING OUT: Make a splash at the MINA mile swim
Get your swim caps out. Race 1 of one of the swimming season’s highlight events, the 2011/12 Zoggs Mina Mile Open Water Swimming Series, kicks off this Friday November 18 in the bay waters in front of Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina in Dubai.
Open to novice and advanced swimmers of all ages and abilities, the main event will be a one mile (1600 metre) swim with four different male and female aged categories: 18 years and under, 19 to 35 years, 36 to 49 years, and 50 years and over.
A 200m swim for those aged 12 and younger will also take place and be divided into two categories, eight years and under, and nine to 12 years.
For those who feel the mile swim is just out of reach, a two-category male and female 400m (featuring yours truly) and 800m swim is also on offer for ages 18 and under, as well as 19 and over.
Still a bit of a stretch? Then bring your buddies in for back-up and take on one of the relay races instead, open to junior and senior schools, swim clubs, companies, individual teams and families. These will comprise three swimmers per team, with each team member having to swim 100m.
Also included in this year’s Series once again is the increasingly popular 6.5km marathon swim. The event is being organised by Super Sports Events in association with Club Mina and Dubai International Marine Club.
Zoggs, as title sponsor for the third year running, are supported by Oakley, Palmers, Sport360º, Island Tribe Sunscreen, Connector Magazine, Wild Wadi, The Heavenly Spa, The Westin Mina Seyahi and Slazenger Energy Drink, so all first, second and third place winners in the 23 events on the day should expect to win some exciting prizes alongside race medals.
“As the Zoggs Mina Mile now enters its seventh year and 11th race in total, it has grown in stature and is now a well established event on the swimming calendar for competitive and social swimmers.
“It is the only event to offer a marathon swim in the UAE for local and international swimmers and gives all the opportunity of competing in an open water swimming race.
“Over 150 local and international swimmers have already confirmed their entries and I am sure this number will grow to close on 250,” commented Warren van der Merwe, Managing Director of Super Sports.
All event details and online entries can be found at www.supersportsdubai.com.
What: Zoggs Mina Mile Open Water Swimming Series, Race 1
When: Friday November 18, 7am to 1pm.
Where: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai.
Price: Entry fees are Dh125 per adult and Dh75 for juniors aged 18 and under, and will allow all swimmers to swim in as many events as they wish to on the day. Dh10 from each entry will also be donated to the Starwood Charity “Road to Awareness”.
Registration Deadline: Entry closes this Wednesday.
Contact: Contact Warren van de Merwe on 050 657 5021 or events@supersportsdubai.com.
