Just finished second enticer race at Robina after doing Raby Bay back in December. Great fun , glad the weather held out but there was a little wind on the course, the open /full distance racers would have copped a lot of the wind .

Swim was ok but wow how much weed is in that water. My chain came off immediately out of transition but I was stoked with my time, think I took about 7minutes off my raby bay time (about 10% ! :-( )

Anyone else do this ? Next one at Caloundra - but open water swim in the real sea is a bit daunting, Im still firmly in the breast-stroking camp until the swimming lessons start to have an effect.

I was there and did the full distance - water was ok but swum slower than normal which was annoying, the bike was hard in the wind - could not get comfortable and put in a average time - no PB, the run was ok - not strong but ok - again no PB but could see improvement - except foudn it hard to life a gear near the end

the salt water can be harsh if your not a salty - It just makes me swim faster to get the boody hell out of it quicker but if you get whacked and take a gulp it sucks big time!!!!!!

the only thing stopping me from mooloolaba is the ocean swim - out across the waves etc - the sheltered beaches are getting used to but moolalaba, byron etc is the next step

i totally agree on the swim - I want to do caloundra on feb 5th but its proper open water rather than sheltered. I think that may be why the enticer is cut in half and the full distance is as well ? Plus caloundra means getting up at a more ridiculous 3am instead of the 330am I got up for this one.

Im resigned to breast stroking and "enduring" the swim I'll get some swim lessons in feb and build up , I want to do the full distance in raby bay in April which is a decent length. I realised this weekend why Iget such a buzz from tri's - If I was stood at the start of a 10k race or a half marathon I would not be considering my death as an outcome, fear of drowning and getting into that horrible mucky water is what gives the massive buzz. :-)

Ive taught myself to do 50mtr lengths freestyle in horrible fashion but still gasping for air by the time I get to the end - but given that I couldnt swim 50mtrs in a stretch before doing raby bay enticer Im quite happy with th eprogress. Im resigned to being bottom of pack but just having a blast as first season.

163
don't be put off by the Swim in caloundra !!
it is only in the passage not an ocean swim salt water yes but usually pancake flat...400 metres in a triangle although was different last year ...start was in canal and came out to pumicestone passage and back into sandy beach.
I raced at Robina and going out to start had to pull about 10 reeds off me...Caloundra swim is about 200% better.
I had an average swim monstered the bike and finished with my best run on that course due to lower humidity...overall happy with my effort.
Bribie races are great as well...short race is 300/12/3 ... feb and march still to come.
just have fun and keep smiling.

I did Robina a couple of times last triathlon season and the water is one thing that puts me off and why I am looking forward to Mooloolaba. I know the open water swim idea sounds tougher but I would rather clean/fresh water than the disgusting reedy water at Robina.

sounds so pleasant up there that we could tie a bit of fishing line to the big toe and pick up a whiting or two on the way

163, M'ba was also like a mill pond last year and despite being very ordinary in the swim department, i can honestly say i really enjoyed the swim. if there's a bit of a wave this year it only comes into play at the start and finish, the rest of the time you're behind it anyway.

my 10yo daughter baulked at doing Robina this year becasue she reckons "there's all these nets in the water that grab you". the reeds perhaps?

reeds are just grass that's gotten a little wet miss L

I did not mind the reeds - I heard lots of people at the event talking about them though - I think the swim is actually not bad course even though I was just not great on the day.

think Coloundra will be ok - hate the salt water but I am not a salty but will deal wth it - it just sounds like a fun day

I think the sand will be more annoying in your shoes etc but I think it comes out near a boat ramp so might be some kind of walkway liek they ahve at some events - raby bay had one on a huge angle out of the canal there

I noticed at Robina they racked a lot of the opens and 30 off cats on the grass and there ws lots of grass from mowing so hitting that with wet feet would have been annoying - thankfully I found a clear patch

Im definitely going to do caloundra, just tossing up whether to do the longer distance which I think is 400+15+4 rather than enticer which is 200+5+2. I want to do the longer race but every bone in my body is screaming at me to not commit to that 400m swim. The 300 at robina was a lot tougher than raby bay I think - I think there was definitely more of a pull in the water than at raby bay and it made a big difference I think - plus the water was colder I think - I dunno something sure made it feel a lot tougher.

I really want to do the 15k ride and 5k run - doing 200+5+2 doesn't feel like doing anything at all. On the map for the race the 400 starts down a canal and then out into the main beach so you swim parralel to shore for the bulk of it.

163
you just made your own mind up !!
DO IT !! you will be even more stoked when you finish...
so you might take a few extra minutes in the swim...nobody else cares and either should you !!
4km run I think.
If you are able you can go and rack your bike on sat afternoon and even have a bit of a swim there too...always good to know a course before the start.