Call them what you want: the brave, the fadas, the “couillus”. This Sunday morning, 180 swimmers took the plunge to crossing the Corniche in Marseille. On the menu, two events: the 1500 meters in combination, with or without fin, and the main event, the 500 meters without wetsuit, reserved for the more adventurous.
– Paul Tilliez
60 participants, 10 minutes of racing and water at 14 degrees, it wakes up: “In my opinion, it is rather at -8 ° C smiles a participant just out of the water. At one point I really wondered what the hell I was doing here. “ On the finish line, a swimmer empties the contents of her thermos on her shoulders “It’s hot water, 45 or 50 degrees.”
“It seems that it is at 14 degrees, in my opinion, it is rather at -8 ° C” – Alice, a participant
The prize goes to this Lyonnais: Wilfrid Frigo, who came down on purpose to participate. With a name like that, impossible to be cautious : “15 degrees is cold, but it’s not insurmountable either, there is no risk of hypothermia.”
– Paul Tilliez
If the idea is to spend a moment of relaxation, not everyone can participate, there are selection criteria. For example, the 180 swimmers are all licensed in clubs and practice swimming on a regular basis.
The race postponed to December
The Marseille Swimming Team, in charge of the organization of the event, would like this crossing of the Corniche in the month of december becomes a tradition in Marseille. Initially organized in September, the race has already been postponed several times due to covid-19, but also weather conditions, with a particularly strong wind at this time of year.
– Paul Tilliez