Organisers of the iconic Pier to pub are expecting a bigger turnout than ever when an expected 7,000 participants take to the sea off Lorne in January.
2024 will mark the 44th time the event has been staged, with participants and spectators being promised an ‘exhilirating’ experience.
The weekend will kick off on Friday January 12 with the 8 kilometre Lorne Mountain to Surf fun-run, in which competitors will wind their way through breathtaking mountain scenery before descending to the Great Ocean Road coastline to the finish.
The following day brave (and fit) swimmers will plunge from the Lorne Pier into the waters of Louttit Bay for the 1.2 kilometre dash to the foreshore, where huge crowds will cheer them to the finish line.
New to the 2024 line-up will be a swim category dubbed ‘Same Time Swim’ for those who need to swim early or must swim with people outside their age group. This limited number swim wave will be scheduled around midday.
And in a nod to the era of digital fitness, people who are unable to make it to Lorne will still be able to participate by joining the running and swimming events virtually.
Race Director John Takac said Pier to Pub weekend was a highlight of many people’s calendars.
“The Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf have a rich history of bringing people together, promoting fitness and highlighting the natural landscapes of Lorne,” he said.
“The heart of these events beats with the dedication of Lorne Surf Life Saving Club volunteers, who selflessly organise them.
“It’s our lifeline, funding the Club and empowering our vital programs for a safer coastline.”
Mike Napolitano from Lorne Surf Life Saving Club said while the events have become tourist attractions in their own right, they have an even more important purpose.
“It’s our biggest fundraising event, our only fundraising event really, at the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club each year,” Mr Napolitano said.
“(But) it is an iconic event, we have families, friends that have come for decades, it’s been an iconic part of their summers.”
Registrations for Pier to Pub weekend are now open at http://www.lornesurfclub.com.au/pier-to-pub-events/pier-to-pub/swim-waves.
